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

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

coming

, clutched

clung

I gasped painful laugh i_was tremendously confused Cavor bent down arid shouted piping tones for_me to_be careful

I had forgotten that on_the moon , with only eighth part of_the earth 's mass and quarter of_its diameter , weight was barely sixth what it_was earth but now that fact insisted being remembered

" we_are out mother earth 's leading - strings now ," he_said

with guarded effort I raised myself to_the top , and moving cautiously rheumatic patient , stood beside him under the blaze of_the sun the sphere lay behind its dwindling snowdrift thirty feet away

far as_the eye could_see over the enormous disorder rocks that formed the crater floor , the same bristling scrub that surrounded was starting into life , diversified here and there bulging masses cactus form , and scarlet and purple lichens that grew fast they seemed crawl over the rocks the whole area of_the crater seemed to_me then to_be one similar wilderness up_to_the very foot of_the surrounding cliff

this cliff was apparently bare vegetation save its base , and with buttresses and terraces and platforms that did_not very greatly attract our attention at_the_time it_was many miles away from_us every direction , seemed to_be almost at_the centre of_the crater , and saw through certain haziness that drove before_the wind for there_was even wind now in_the thin air , swift yet weak wind that chilled exceedingly but exerted little pressure it_was blowing I round the crater , seemed , to_the hot illuminated side from_the foggy darkness under the sunward wall it_was difficult look into_this eastward fog ; had peer with half - closed eyes beneath the shade of_our hands, because of_the fierce intensity of_the motionless sun

" seems_to_be deserted ," said Cavor, " absolutely desolate "

I looked about again I retained even then clinging hope some quasi - human evidence , some pinnacle building , some house engine , but everywhere one looked spread the tumbled rocks peaks and crests, and_the darting scrub and those bulging cacti that swelled and swelled , flat negation seemed all such hope

" looks as_though these plants had themselves ," I_said " I_see trace any_other creature "

" insects - birds, ! not trace , not scrap nor particle animal life there_was - what would they_do in_the night ? . ; there 's just these plants alone "

I shaded eyes with hand " 's like the landscape dream these things are less like earthly land plants than_the things one imagines among_the rocks at_the bottom of_the sea look at_that yonder ! one might imagine lizard changed into plant and_the glare ! "

" this_is only the fresh morning ," said Cavor

sighed and looked about him " this_is world for men ," he_said " and yet way - appeals "

became silent for time , then commenced his meditative humming

I started gentle touch , and found thin sheet livid lichen lapping over shoe I kicked and fell powder , and each speck began grow

I heard Cavor exclaim sharply , and perceived that one_of_the fixed bayonets of_the scrub had pricked him hesitated , his eyes sought among_the rocks about sudden blaze pink had crept ragged pillar crag it_was most extraordinary pink , livid magenta

" look ! " said I, turning, and behold Cavor had vanished

for instant I stood transfixed then I_made hasty step look over the verge of_the rock but surprise his disappearance I forgot once more that were on_the moon the thrust of_my foot that I_made striding would_have carried yard earth ; on_the moon carried six - good five yards over the edge for_the moment the thing had something of_the effect of_those nightmares when one falls and falls for while one falls sixteen feet in_the first second fall earth , on_the moon one falls two , and with only sixth one 's weight I fell, rather I jumped down , about ten yards I suppose seemed to_take quite long_time , five six seconds, i_should think I floated through_the air and fell like feather , knee- deep snow - drift in_the bottom gully blue - gray , white - veined rock

I looked about "Cavor ! " I cried ; but Cavor was visible

"Cavor ! " I cried louder , and_the rocks echoed

I turned fiercely to_the rocks and clambered to_the summit of_them "Cavor ! " I cried voice sounded like the voice lost lamb

the sphere , too , was not sight , and for moment horrible feeling desolation pinched heart

then I_saw him he_was laughing and gesticulating attract attention he_was bare patch rock twenty thirty yards away I_could_not hear his voice , but " jump " said his gestures I hesitated , the distance seemed enormous yet I reflected that surely I must_be_able clear greater than Cavor

I_made step back , gathered myself together , and leapt with all might I seemed shoot right in_the air as_though i_should never come down

it_was horrible and delightful , and wild nightmare , to_go flying off in_this fashion I realised leap had_been altogether too violent I flew clean over Cavor's head and beheld spiky confusion gully spreading meet fall I_gave yelp alarm I put out hands and straightened legs

I hit huge fungoid bulk that burst all about , scattering mass orange spores every direction , and covering with orange powder I rolled over spluttering, and came rest convulsed with breathless laughter

I became aware Cavor's little round face peering over bristling hedge shouted some faded inquiry "Eh ? " I tried shout , but could_not do_so for want breath he_made his way towards , coming gingerly among_the bushes

" 've got to_be careful ," he_said " this moon has discipline she 'll let_us smash ourselves "

helped feet " you exerted yourself too_much ," he_said , dabbing at_the yellow stuff with_his hand remove from garments

I stood passive and panting, allowing him beat off the jelly from knees and elbows and lecture upon misfortunes " don't quite allow for_the gravitation our muscles are scarcely educated yet we_must practise little , when_you have got your breath "

I pulled two_or_three little thorns out of_my hand , and sat for time boulder rock muscles were quivering, and I had that feeling personal disillusionment that comes at_the first fall to_the learner cycling earth

suddenly occurred Cavor that_the cold air in_the gully , after_the brightness of_the sun , might give_me fever clambered back into_the sunlight we_found that beyond few abrasions I had received serious injuries from tumble , and Cavor's suggestion were presently looking round for some safe and easy landing- place for_my next leap chose rocky slab some ten yards off , separated from_us little thicket olive - green spikes

" imagine there ! " said Cavor, who was assuming the airs trainer , and pointed spot about four feet from toes this leap I managed without difficulty , and I_must confess I_found certain satisfaction Cavor's falling short foot and tasting the spikes of_the scrub " one has_to careful you_see ," he_said , pulling out his thorns, and with_that ceased to_be mentor and became fellow -learner in_the art lunar locomotion

chose still easier jump and did without difficulty , and then leapt back again , and and fro several_times , accustoming our muscles to_the new standard I_could never have believed had I not experienced , how rapid that adaptation would_be very little time indeed , certainly after fewer than thirty leaps, we_could judge the effort necessary for distance with almost terrestrial assurance

and all this_time the lunar plants were growing around , higher and denser and more entangled , every moment thicker and taller , spiked plants, green cactus masses, fungi , fleshy and lichenous things , strangest radiate and sinuous shapes but were intent upon our leaping, that for time gave heed to_their unfaltering expansion

extraordinary elation had taken possession Partly, i_think , it_was our sense release from_the confinement of_the sphere mainly , however , the thin sweetness of_the air , which I_am certain contained much larger proportion oxygen than our terrestrial atmosphere in_spite of_the strange quality all about , I_felt adventurous and experimental cockney would placed for_the first time among mountains and I_do_not_think occurred either , face_to_face though were with_the unknown , to_be very greatly afraid

were bitten spirit enterprise selected lichenous kopje perhaps fifteen yards away , and landed neatly its summit one after_the other " good ! " cried each_other ; " good ! " and Cavor made three steps and went off tempting slope snow good twenty yards and more beyond I stood for moment struck by_the grotesque effect of_his soaring - his dirty cricket cap, and spiky hair , his little round body , his arms and_his knicker-bockered legs tucked tightly - against the weird spaciousness of_the lunar scene gust laughter seized , and then I stepped off to_follow plump ! I dropped beside him

we_made few gargantuan strides, leapt three four times more , and sat down last lichenous hollow our lungs were painful sat holding our sides and recovering our breath , looking appreciation one another Cavor panted something about "amazing sensations " and then came thought into head for_the moment did_not seem particularly appalling thought , simply natural question arising out_of_the situation

" by_the_way ," I_said , " where exactly is_the sphere ? "

Cavor looked "Eh ? "

the full meaning what were saying struck sharply

"Cavor ! " I cried , laying hand on_his arm , " where is_the sphere ? "

chapter 10

lost men in_the moon

his face caught something of_my dismay stood and stared about him at_the scrub that fenced and rose about , straining upward passion growth put dubious hand to_his lips spoke with sudden lack assurance " i_think ," he_said slowly , " left . somewhere . about there "

pointed hesitating finger that wavered ARC

"I'm not sure " his look consternation deepened "Anyhow," he_said , with_his eyes , " can 't far "

had both stood we_made unmeaning ejaculations, our eyes sought in_the twining, thickening jungle round about

all about on_the sunlit slopes frothed and swayed the darting shrubs, the swelling cactus , the creeping lichens, and wherever the shade remained the snow -drifts lingered north , south , east , and west spread identical monotony unfamiliar forms and somewhere , buried already among this tangled confusion , was our sphere , our home , our only provision , our only hope escape from_this fantastic wilderness ephemeral growths into which had come

" i_think after all ," he_said , pointing suddenly , " might_be over there "

" ," I_said " we_have turned curve see ! here_is_the mark of_my heels 's clear the thing must_be more to_the eastward , much more - the sphere must_be over there "

" i_think ," said Cavor, "I kept the sun upon right all the time "

" every leap , seems to_me ," I_said , " shadow flew before "

stared into one another 's eyes the area of_the crater had become enormously vast our imaginations, the growing thickets already impenetrably dense

" good heavens ! what fools we_have_been ! "

" 's evident that we_must find again ," said Cavor, " and_that soon the sun grows stronger we_should_be fainting with_the heat already if_it wasn't dry and . I'm hungry "

I stared him I had_not suspected this aspect of_the matter before but came to_me once - positive craving " yes ," I_said with emphasis " I_am hungry too "

stood with look active resolution " certainly we_must find the sphere "

calmly possible surveyed the interminable reefs and thickets that formed the floor of_the crater , each weighing silence the chances of_our finding the sphere before were overtaken heat and hunger