He did not answer that question. "No," he concluded, "we just have to go.

We shall see when we get there."

I remembered something. "Of course, there's my minerals, anyhow," I said;

"whatever the conditions may be."

Presently he told me he wished to alter our course a little by letting the

earth tug at us for a moment. He was going to open one earthward blind

for thirty seconds. He warned me that it would make my head swim, and

advised me to extend my hands against the glass to break my fall. I did as

he directed, and thrust my feet against the bales of food cases and air

cylinders to prevent their falling upon me. Then with a click the window

flew open. I fell clumsily upon hands and face, and saw for a moment

between my black extended fingers our mother earth--a planet in a

downward sky.

We were still very near--Cavor told me the distance was perhaps eight

hundred miles and the huge terrestrial disc filled all heaven. But already

it was plain to see that the world was a globe. The land below us was in

twilight and vague, but westward the vast gray stretches of the Atlantic

shone like molten silver under the receding day. I think I recognised the

cloud-dimmed coast-lines of France and Spain and the south of England, and

then, with a click, the shutter closed again, and I found myself in a

state of extraordinary confusion sliding slowly over the smooth glass.

When at last things settled themselves in my mind again, it seemed quite

The First Men In The Moon