JUST for a moment that hostile pause endured. I suppose that both we and the Selenites
did some very rapid thinking. My clearest impression was that there was nothing to put
my back against, and that we were bound to be surrounded and killed. The overwhelming
folly of our presence there loomed over me in black, enormous reproach. Why had I ever
launched my self on this mad, inhuman expedition?
Cavor came to my side and laid his hand on my arm. His pale and terrified face was
ghastly in the blue light.
"We can't do anything," he said. "It's a mistake. They don't understand. We must go. As
they want us to go."
I looked down at him, and then at the fresh Selenites who were coming to help their
fellows. "If I had my hands free - "
"It's no use," he panted.
And he turned about and led the way in the direction that had been indicated for us.
I followed, trying to look as subdued as possible, and feeling at the chains about my
wrists. My blood was boiling. I noted nothing more of that cavern, though it seemed to
take a long time before we had marched across it, or if I noted anything I forgot it as I
saw it. My thoughts were concentrated, I think, upon my chains and the Selenites, and
particularly upon the helmeted ones with the goads. At first they marched parallel with
us, and at a respectful distance, but presently they were overtaken by three others, and
then they drew nearer, until they were within arms length again. I winced like a beaten
horse as they came near to us. The shorter, thicker Selenite marched at first on our right
flank, but presently came in front of us again.
How well the picture of that grouping has bitten into my brain; the back of Cavor's
downcast head just in front of me, and the dejected droop of his shoulders, and our
guide's gaping visage, perpetually jerking about him, and the goad-bearers on either side,
watchful, yet open-mouthed - a blue monochrome. And after all, I do remember one other
thing besides the purely personal affair, which is, that a sort of gutter came presently
across the floor of the cavern, and then ran along by the side of the path of rock we
followed. And it was full of that same bright blue luminous stuff that flowed out of the
great machine. I walked close beside it, and I can testify it radiated not a particle of heat.
It was brightly shining, and yet it was neither warmer nor colder than anything else in the
cavern.
