Chapter 4 — Inside the Sphere

           “Goon,”saidCavor,asIsatacrosstheedgeofthemanhole,andlookeddownintotheblackinteriorofthesphere.Wetwowerealone.Itwasevening,thesunhadset,andthestillnessofthetwilightwasuponeverything.

           Idrewmyotherleginsideandsliddownthesmoothglasstothebottomofthesphere,thenturnedtotakethecansoffoodandotherimpedimentafromCavor.Theinteriorwaswarm,thethermometerstoodateighty,andasweshouldloselittleornoneofthisbyradiation,weweredressedinshoesandthinflannels.Wehad,however,abundleofthickwoollenclothingandseveralthickblanketstoguardagainstmischance.

           ByCavor’sdirectionIplacedthepackages,thecylindersofoxygen,andsoforth,looselyaboutmyfeet,andsoonwehadeverythingin.Hewalkedabouttherooflessshedforatimeseekinganythingwehadoverlooked,andthencrawledinafterme.Inotedsomethinginhishand.

           “Whathaveyougotthere?”Iasked.

           “Haven’tyoubroughtanythingtoread?”

           “GoodLord!No.”

           “Iforgottotellyou.Thereareuncertainties—Thevoyagemaylast—Wemaybeweeks!”

           “But—”

           “Weshallbefloatinginthisspherewithabsolutelynooccupation.”

           “IwishI’dknown—”

           Hepeeredoutofthemanhole.“Look!”hesaid.“There’ssomethingthere!”

           “Istheretime?”

           “Weshallbeanhour.”

           Ilookedout.ItwasanoldnumberofTit-Bitsthatoneofthemenmusthavebrought.FartherawayinthecornerIsawatornLloyd’sNews.Iscrambledbackintothespherewiththesethings.“Whathaveyougot?”Isaid.