Первые люди на Луне
Chapter 2 — The First Making of Cavorite
Amassofsmokeandashes,andasquareofbluishshiningsubstancerusheduptowardsthezenith.Alargefragmentoffencingcamesailingpastme,droppededgeways,hitthegroundandfellflat,andthentheworstwasover.Theaerialcommotionfellswiftlyuntilitwasamerestronggale,andIbecameoncemoreawarethatIhadbreathandfeet.ByleaningbackagainstthewindImanagedtostop,andcouldcollectsuchwitsasstillremainedtome.
Inthatinstantthewholefaceoftheworldhadchanged.Thetranquilsunsethadvanished,theskywasdarkwithscurryingclouds,everythingwasflattenedandswayingwiththegale.Iglancedbacktoseeifmybungalowwasstillinageneralwaystanding,thenstaggeredforwardstowardsthetreesamongstwhichCavorhadvanished,andthroughwhosetallandleaf-denudedbranchesshonetheflamesofhisburninghouse.
Ienteredthecopse,dashingfromonetreetoanotherandclingingtothem,andforaspaceIsoughthiminvain.ThenamidstaheapofsmashedbranchesandfencingthathadbankeditselfagainstaportionofhisgardenwallIperceivedsomethingstir.Imadearunforthis,butbeforeIreacheditabrownobjectseparateditself,roseontwomuddylegs,andprotrudedtwodrooping,bleedinghands.Sometatteredendsofgarmentflutteredoutfromitsmiddleportionandstreamedbeforethewind.
ForamomentIdidnotrecognisethisearthylump,andthenIsawthatitwasCavor,cakedinthemudinwhichhehadrolled.Heleantforwardagainstthewind,rubbingthedirtfromhiseyesandmouth.
Heextendedamuddylumpofhand,andstaggeredapacetowardsme.
