Первые люди на Луне
Chapter 3 — The Building of the sphere
IfoundIhadjustenoughmoneytopayformylodgingwithher.Idecidedtostopthenightthere.Shewasatalkativebody,andamongmanyotherparticularsIlearntshehadneverbeentoLondon.“Canterbury’sasfaraseverIbeen,”shesaid.“I’mnotoneofyourgad-aboutsort.”
“Howwouldyoulikeatriptothemoon?”Icried.
“Ineverdidholdwiththemballooneys,”shesaidevidentlyundertheimpressionthatthiswasacommonexcursionenough.“Iwouldn’tgoupinone—notforeverso.”
Thisstruckmeasbeingfunny.AfterIhadsuppedIsatonabenchbythedooroftheinnandgossipedwithtwolabourersaboutbrickmaking,andmotorcars,andthecricketoflastyear.Andintheskyafaintnewcrescent,blueandvagueasadistantAlp,sankwestwardoverthesun.
ThenextdayIreturnedtoCavor.“Iamcoming,”Isaid.“I’vebeenalittleoutoforder,that’sall.”
ThatwastheonlytimeIfeltanyseriousdoubtourenterprise.Nervespurely!AfterthatIworkedalittlemorecarefully,andtookatrudgeforanhoureveryday.Andatlast,savefortheheatinginthefurnace,ourlabourswereatanend.
