Первые люди на Луне

           Iremembervaguelythatwedeclaredourintentionofstandingnononsensefromanyconfoundedinsects,thatwedecideditillbecamementohideshamefullyuponameresatellite,thatweequippedourselveswithhugearmfulsofthefungus—whetherformissilepurposesornotIdonotknow—and,heedlessofthestabsofthebayonetscrub,westartedforthintothesunshine.

           AlmostimmediatelywemusthavecomeupontheSelenites.Thereweresixofthem,andtheyweremarchinginsinglefileoverarockyplace,makingthemostremarkablepipingandwhiningsounds.Theyallseemedtobecomeawareofusatonce,allinstantlybecamesilentandmotionless,likeanimals,withtheirfacesturnedtowardsus.

           ForamomentIwassobered.

           “Insects,”murmuredCavor,“insects!AndtheythinkI’mgoingtocrawlaboutonmystomach—onmyvertebratedstomach!

           “Stomach,”herepeatedslowly,asthoughhechewedtheindignity.

           Thensuddenly,withasortoffury,hemadethreevaststridesandleapttowardsthem.Heleaptbadly;hemadeaseriesofsomersaultsintheair,whirledrightoverthem,andvanishedwithanenormoussplashamidstthecactusbladders.WhattheSelenitesmadeofthisamazing,andtomymindundignifiedirruptionfromanotherplanet,Ihavenomeansofguessing.Iseemtorememberthesightoftheirbacksastheyraninalldirections,butIamnotsure.Alltheselastincidentsbeforeoblivioncamearevagueandfaintinmymind.IknowImadeasteptofollowCavor,andtrippedandfellheadlongamongtherocks.Iwas,Iamcertain,suddenlyandvehementlyill