Первые люди на Луне

           Soitwasatfirst;andthen,sudden,swift,andamazing,camethelunarday.

           Thesunlighthadcreptdownthecliff,ittouchedthedriftedmassesatitsbaseandincontinentlycamestridingwithseven-leaguedbootstowardsus.Thedistantcliffseemedtoshiftandquiver,andatthetouchofthedawnareekofgreyvapourpouredupwardfromthecraterfloor,whirlsandpuffsanddriftingwraithsofgrey,thickerandbroaderanddenser,untilatlastthewholewestwardplainwassteaminglikeawethandkerchiefheldbeforethefire,andthewestwardcliffswerenomorethanrefractedglarebeyond.

           “Itisair,”saidCavor.“Itmustbeair—oritwouldnotriselikethis—atthemeretouchofasun-beam.Andatthispace....”

           Hepeeredupwards.“Look!”hesaid.

           “What?”Iasked.

           “Inthesky.Already.Ontheblackness—alittletouchofblue.See!Thestarsseemlarger.Andthelittleonesandallthosedimnebulositieswesawinemptyspace—theyarehidden!”

           Swiftly,steadily,thedayapproachedus.Greysummitaftergreysummitwasovertakenbytheblaze,andturnedtoasmokingwhiteintensity.Atlasttherewasnothingtothewestofusbutabankofsurgingfog,thetumultuousadvanceandascentofcloudyhaze.Thedistantcliffhadrecededfartherandfarther,hadloomedandchangedthroughthewhirl,andfounderedandvanishedatlastinitsconfusion.

           Nearercamethatsteamingadvance,nearerandnearer,comingasfastastheshadowofacloudbeforethesouth-westwind.Aboutusroseathinanticipatoryhaze.

           Cavorgrippedmyarm.“What?”Isaid.