"Imagine the largest hall ever been in, imperfectly lit with blue light and obscured by gray-blue fog, surging with metallic or livid-gray creatures mad diversity as hinted Imagine this hall to end in an open archway beyond still larger hall, and beyond this yet another and still larger one, and so on end vista, dimly seen, flight of steps, like the steps of Ara Coeli at Rome, ascend out of sight Higher and higher these steps appear as one draws nearer their base But at last under huge archway and beheld the summit steps, and upon it the Grand Lunar exalted throne

" seated in relatively blaze of incandescent blue This, darkness about him gave him an effect of floating in blue-black void small, self-luminous cloud at first, brooding sombre throne; his brain case measured many yards in diameter For some reason that fathom number of blue search-lights radiated from behind the throne he sat, and immediately encircling him was halo About him, and little and indistinct glow, number of body-servants sustained and supported him, and overshadowed and standing in huge semicircle beneath him were his intellectual subordinates, his remembrancers and computators and searchers and servants, and all the distinguished insects court moon Still lower stood ushers and messengers, and then all down the countless steps throne were guards, and base, enormous, various, indistinct, vanishing at last into an absolute black, vast swaying multitude minor dignitaries moon Their feet made perpetual scraping whisper rocky floor, as their limbs moved with rustling murmur

"As I entered the penultimate hall the music rose and expanded into an imperial magnificence of sound, shrieks news-bearers died away . .

"I entered the last and greatest hall . .

"My procession opened out like fan My ushers and guards went right and left, three litters bearing myself and Phi-oo and Tsi-puff marched across shiny darkness of floor foot giant stairs Then began vast throbbing hum, that mingled music The two Selenites dismounted, but bidden remain seated - I imagine as special honour The music ceased, but not that humming, arid by simultaneous movement of ten thousand respectful heads my attention was directed enhaloed supreme intelligence that hovered above me

"At first as I peered radiating glow this quintessential brain looked like an opaque, featureless bladder with dim, undulating ghosts of convolutions writhing visibly within Then beneath its enormity and just above the edge throne one saw with start minute elfin eyes peering glow No face, but eyes, as peered through holes At first I no more than these two staring little eyes, and then below I distinguished the little dwarfed body and its insect-jointed limbs shrivelled and white The eyes stared down at me with strange intensity, lower part swollen globe was wrinkled Ineffectual-looking little hand-tentacles steadied this shape throne . .

" great pitiful One forgot the hall crowd

"I ascended the staircase by jerks It seemed darkly glowing brain case above us spread over me, and took more and more whole effect into itself as I drew nearer The tiers of attendants and helpers grouped about their master seemed to dwindle and fade night that shadowy attendants were busy spraying that great brain with cooling spray, and patting and sustaining it own part, I sat gripping my swaying litter and staring Grand Lunar, unable my gaze aside And at last, as I reached little landing that was separated only by ten steps or so supreme seat, the woven splendour music reached climax and ceased, and left naked, as it were, vastness, beneath the still scrutiny Grand Lunar's eyes

" scrutinising the first man he had ever seen . .

"My eyes dropped at last greatness ant figures blue mist about him, and then down the steps massed Selenites, still and expectant in their thousands, packed floor below Once again an unreasonable horror reached out towards me . . And passed

" pause came the salutation assisted from my litter, and stood awkwardly while number of curious and deeply symbolical gestures were vicariously performed by two slender officials The encyclopaedic galaxy learned that had accompanied me entrance last hall appeared two steps above me and left and right of me, in readiness Grand Lunar's need, and Phi-oo's pale brain placed itself about half-way throne position communicate easily without turning his back on either the Grand Lunar or myself Tsi-puff took up position behind him Dexterous ushers sidled sideways towards me, keeping full face Presence I seated myself Turkish fashion, and Phi-oo and Tsi-puff also knelt down above me There came pause The eyes nearer court went from me Grand Lunar and came back , and hissing and piping of expectation passed across the hidden multitudes below and ceased

"That humming ceased

" first and last time in my experience the moon was silent

"I became aware of faint wheezy noise The Grand Lunar was addressing me like the rubbing of finger upon pane of glass

"I watched him attentively for time, and then glanced alert Phi-oo amidst these slender beings ridiculously thick and fleshy and solid; my head all jaw and black hair My eyes went back Grand Lunar He had ceased; his attendants were busy, shining superfices was glistening and running with cooling spray

"Phi-oo meditated through an interval He consulted Tsi-puff Then he began piping his recognisable English - at first little nervously, not very clear

"'M'm - the Grand Lunar - wishes - wishes - he gathers - m'm - men - that man planet earth He wishes that he welcomes you - welcomes you - and wishes to learn - learn, if use the word - the state of your world, reason why you came '

"He paused about to reply when he resumed He proceeded to remarks the drift was not very clear, though inclined they were intended complimentary me earth was moon what the sun is earth, and Selenites desired very greatly to learn earth and men He then told me in compliment also, the relative magnitude and diameter of earth and moon, perpetual wonder and speculation the Selenites had regarded our planet I meditated with downcast eyes, and decided to reply that men too had wondered what might lie moon, and had judged it dead, little recking magnificence as I had seen that day The Grand Lunar, in token of recognition, caused his long blue rays to rotate in very confusing manner, and all great hall ran the pipings and whisperings and rustlings report of what I had said He then proceeded to Phi-oo number of inquiries which were easier to answer

"He understood, he explained, that we lived surface earth, air and sea were outside the globe; the latter part, indeed, he already knew astronomical specialists very anxious more detailed information of what this extraordinary state of affairs, for solidity earth there had always been disposition regard it as uninhabitable He endeavoured first to ascertain the extremes of temperature we earth beings were exposed, and deeply interested by my descriptive treatment of clouds and rain His imagination was assisted fact lunar atmosphere outer galleries night side infrequently very foggy inclined to marvel that find the sunlight too intense eyes, and was interested in my attempt to explain sky was tempered to bluish colour refraction air, though if he clearly understood that I explained how the iris human eyes can contract the pupil and save the delicate internal structure excess of sunlight, and was allowed to approach within few feet Presence this structure seen This led to comparison lunar and terrestrial eyes The former is excessively sensitive to such light as men , but it can also see heat, and every difference in temperature moon renders objects visible

"The iris was quite new organ Grand Lunar For time he amused himself by flashing his rays into my face and watching my pupils contract As consequence, dazzled and blinded for some little time . .