Первые люди на Луне

           “IwillownthatIamstillbynomeansinduratedtothepeculiareffectoftheSeleniteappearance,andtofindmyself,asitwere,adriftonthisbroadseaofexcitedentomologywasbynomeansagreeable.JustforaspaceIhadsomethingverylikewhatIshouldimaginepeoplemeanwhentheyspeakofthe‘horrors.’Ithadcometomebeforeintheselunarcaverns,whenonoccasionIhavefoundmyselfweaponlessandwithanundefendedback,amidstacrowdoftheseSelenites,butneverquitesovividly.Itis,ofcourse,asabsolutelyirrationalafeelingasonecouldwellhave,andIhopegraduallytosubdueit.Butjustforamoment,asIsweptforwardintothewelterofthevastcrowd,itwasonlybygrippingmylittertightlyandsummoningallmywill-powerthatIsucceededinavoidinganoutcryorsomesuchmanifestation.Itlastedperhapsthreeminutes;thenIhadmyselfinhandagain.

           “Weascendedthespiralofaverticalwayforsometime,andthenpassedthroughaseriesofhugehallsdome-roofedandelaboratelydecorated.TheapproachtotheGrandLunarwascertainlycontrivedtogiveoneavividimpressionofhisgreatness.Eachcavernoneenteredseemedgreaterandmoreboldlyarchedthanitspredecessor.Thiseffectofprogressivesizewasenhancedbyathinhazeoffaintlyphosphorescentblueincensethatthickenedasoneadvanced,androbbedeventhenearerfiguresofclearness.Iseemedtoadvancecontinuallytosomethinglarger,dimmer,andlessmaterial.

           “Imustconfessthatallthismultitudemademefeelextremelyshabbyandunworthy.