The First Men in the Moon by H.G. Wells

The First Men in the Moon by H.G. Wells
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dropping

craters grouped

Cavor

scorching, blinding sun

using

, thrusting himself

then I hauled the blanket from beneath feet and got about and over head and eyes abruptly closed the shutters again , snapped one open again and closed , then suddenly began snapping them all open , each safely into its steel roller there came jar , and then were rolling over and over , bumping against the glass and against the big bale of_our luggage , and clutching each_other , and outside some white substance splashed as_if were rolling down slope snow . .

over , clutch , bump , clutch , bump , over . .

came thud , and i_was half buried under the bale of_our possessions, and for space everything was still then I_could hear Cavor puffing and grunting, and_the snapping shutter its sash I_made effort , thrust back our blanket - wrapped luggage , and emerged from beneath our open windows were just visible deeper black set with stars

were still alive , and were lying in_the darkness of_the shadow of_the wall of_the great crater into which had fallen

sat getting our breath again , and feeling the bruises on_our limbs I don't think either had had very clear expectation of_such rough handling as_we had received I struggled painfully feet " and now ," said I, " look at_the landscape of_the moon but 's tremendously dark , Cavor ! "

the glass was dewy , and I spoke I wiped with blanket " 're half hour beyond the day ," he_said " we_must wait "

it_was impossible distinguish anything might_have_been sphere steel for all that could_see rubbing with_the blanket simply smeared the glass , and fast I wiped , became opaque again with freshly condensed moisture mixed with increasing quantity blanket hairs of_course I ought not to_have used the blanket efforts clear the glass I slipped upon_the damp surface , and hurt shin against one_of_the oxygen cylinders that protruded from_our bale

the thing was exasperating - it_was absurd here were just arrived upon_the moon , amidst we_knew not what wonders, and all could_see was_the gray and streaming wall of_the bubble in_which had come

" confound ! " I_said , " but at_this rate we_might_have stopped home ;" and I squatted on_the bale and shivered , and drew blanket closer about

abruptly the moisture turned spangles and fronds frost " can_you reach the electric heater ," said Cavor " yes - that black knob we_shall freeze "

I_did_not wait to_be told twice " and now ," said I, what_are to_do ? "

" wait ," lie said

" wait ? "

" of_course we_shall_have wait until our air gets warm again , and then this glass will clear we_can 't anything till then 's night here yet ; we_must wait for_the day overtake meanwhile , don't you feel hungry ? "

for space I_did_not answer him , but sat fretting I turned reluctantly from_the smeared puzzle of_the glass and stared his face " yes ," I_said , " I_am hungry I_feel somehow enormously disappointed I had expected - I don't know what I had , but not this "

I summoned philosophy , and rearranging blanket about sat down on_the bale again and began first meal on_the moon I don't think I finished - I forget presently , first patches, then running rapidly together into wider spaces, came the clearing of_the glass , came the drawing of_the misty veil that hid the moon world from_our eyes

peered out upon_the landscape of_the moon

chapter 7

sunrise on_the moon

as_we saw first was_the wildest and most desolate scenes were enormous amphitheatre, vast circular plain the floor of_the giant crater its cliff - like walls closed every side from_the westward the light of_the unseen sun fell upon them , reaching to_the very foot of_the cliff , and showed disordered escarpment drab and grayish rock , lined here and there with banks and crevices snow this_was perhaps dozen miles away , but first intervening atmosphere diminished in_the slightest the minutely detailed brilliancy with_which these things glared they stood out clear and dazzling against background starry blackness that seemed our earthly eyes rather gloriously spangled velvet curtain than_the spaciousness of_the sky

the eastward cliff was first merely starless selvedge to_the starry dome rosy flush , creeping pallor , announced the commencing day only the Corona , the Zodiacal light , huge cone - shaped , luminous haze , pointing towards the splendour of_the morning , warned of_the imminent nearness of_the sun

whatever light was about was reflected by_the westward cliffs showed huge undulating plain , cold and gray , gray that deepened eastward into_the absolute raven darkness of_the cliff shadow innumerable rounded gray summits, ghostly hummocks, billows snowy substance , stretching crest beyond crest remote obscurity , gave_us our first inkling of_the distance of_the crater wall these hummocks looked like snow at_the_time i_thought they were snow but they were_not - they were mounds and masses frozen air ?

it_was first , and then , sudden , swift , and amazing, came the lunar day

the sunlight had crept down the cliff , touched the drifted masses its base and incontinently came striding with seven- leagued boots towards the distant cliff seemed shift and quiver , and at_the touch of_the dawn reek gray vapour poured upward from_the crater floor , whirls and puffs and drifting wraiths gray , thicker and broader and denser , until last the whole westward plain was steaming like wet handkerchief held before_the fire , and_the cliffs were more than $refracted$ glare beyond

" it_is air ," said Cavor " must_be air - - would_not rise like this - at_the mere touch sun - beam and at_this pace . . "

peered upwards " look ! " he_said

" what ? " I asked

" in_the sky already on_the blackness - little touch blue see ! the stars seem larger and_the little ones and all those dim nebulosities saw empty space - they_are hidden ! "

swiftly , steadily , the day approached gray summit after gray summit was overtaken by_the blaze , and turned smoking white intensity last there_was nothing to_the west but bank surging fog , the tumultuous advance and ascent cloudy haze the distant cliff had receded farther and farther , had loomed and changed through_the whirl , and foundered and vanished last its confusion

nearer came that steaming advance , nearer and nearer , coming fast as_the shadow cloud before_the south - west wind about rose thin anticipatory haze

Cavor gripped arm " what ? " I_said

" look ! the sunrise ! the sun ! "

turned about and pointed to_the brow of_the eastward cliff , looming above the haze about , scarce lighter than_the darkness of_the sky but now its line was marked strange reddish shapes, tongues vermilion flame that writhed and danced I fancied must_be spirals vapour that had caught the light and made this crest fiery tongues against the sky , but indeed was_the solar prominences I_saw , crown fire about_the sun that_is forever hidden from earthly eyes our atmospheric veil

and then - the sun !

steadily , inevitably came brilliant line , came thin edge intolerable effulgence that took circular shape , became bow , became blazing sceptre, and hurled shaft heat as_though it_was spear

seemed verily stab eyes ! I cried aloud and turned about blinded , groping for_my blanket beneath the bale

and with_that incandescence came sound , the first sound that had reached from without since left the earth , hissing and rustling, the stormy trailing of_the aerial garment of_the advancing day and with_the coming of_the sound and_the light the sphere lurched , and blinded and dazzled staggered helplessly against each_other lurched again , and_the hissing grew louder I had shut eyes perforce , i_was making clumsy efforts to_cover head with blanket , and this second lurch sent off feet I fell against the bale , and opening eyes had momentary glimpse of_the air just outside our glass it_was running - it_was boiling - like snow into which white - hot rod thrust what had_been solid air had suddenly at_the touch of_the ' sun become paste , mud , slushy liquefaction , that hissed and bubbled into gas

there came still more violent whirl of_the sphere and had clutched one another another moment were spun about again pound went and over , and then i_was all fours the lunar dawn had hold meant show little men what the moon could with_us

I caught second glimpse things without , puffs vapour, half liquid slush , excavated , sliding, falling, sliding dropped into darkness I went down with Cavor's knees chest then he_seemed fly away from , and for moment I lay with all the breath out of_my body staring upward toppling crag of_the melting stuff had splashed over , buried , and now thinned and boiled off I_saw the bubbles dancing on_the glass above I heard Cavor exclaiming feebly

then some huge landslip in_the thawing air had caught , and spluttering expostulation , began roll down slope , rolling faster and faster , leaping crevasses and rebounding from banks, faster and faster , westward into_the white - hot boiling tumult of_the lunar day

Clutching one another spun about , pitched this_way and_that , our bale packages leaping , pounding collided , gripped, were torn asunder - our heads met, and_the whole universe burst into fiery darts and stars ! on_the earth we_should_have smashed one another dozen times, but on_the moon , luckily for_us , our weight was only_one - sixth what it_is terrestrially, and fell very mercifully I recall sensation utter sickness , feeling as_if brain were upside down within skull , and then -

something was work upon face , some thin feelers worried ears then I discovered the brilliance of_the landscape around was mitigated blue spectacles Cavor bent over , and I_saw his face upside down , his eyes also protected tinted goggles his breath came irregularly , and_his lip was bleeding from bruise " better ? " he_said , wiping the blood with_the back of_his hand

everything seemed swaying for space , but that was simply giddiness I perceived that had closed some_of_the shutters in_the outer sphere save - from_the direct blaze of_the sun i_was aware that about was very brilliant

" lord ! I gasped " but this -"

I craned neck to_see I perceived there_was blinding glare outside , utter change from_the gloomy darkness of_our first impressions " have I been insensible long ? " I asked

"I don't know - the chronometer broken some little time . . dear chap ! I_have_been afraid . "

I lay for space taking this I_saw his face still bore evidences emotion for while I_said nothing I passed inquisitive hand over contusions, and surveyed [' face for similar damages the back of_my right hand had suffered most , and was skinless and raw forehead was bruised and had bled handed little measure with some_of_the restorative - I forget the name - had brought with_us after time I_felt little better I began stretch limbs carefully soon I_could talk

" wouldn't have_done ," I_said , as_though there had_been interval

" ! wouldn't "

thought , his hands hanging over his knees peered through_the glass and then stared

" good lord ! " he_said " ! "

" what has happened ? " I asked after pause " have jumped to_the tropics ? "

" it_was I expected this air has evaporated - if_it_is air any rate , has , and_the surface of_the moon showing we_are lying bank earthy rock here and there bare soil exposed queer sort soil ! "

occurred him that_it_was unnecessary explain assisted into sitting position , and I could_see with own eyes

chapter 8

lunar morning

the harsh emphasis , the pitiless black and white scenery had altogether disappeared the glare of_the sun had taken upon itself faint tinge amber ; the shadows upon_the cliff of_the crater wall were deeply

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