S. Lewis : Arthur's Classic Novels VII 'HAVING A doze?' said Devine. 'A bit blase about new planets by now?' 'Can you see anything?' interrupted Weston. 'I can't manage the shutters, damn them,' returned Devine. 'We may as well get to the manhole.' Ransom awoke from his brown study. The two partners were working together close beside him in the semi-darkness. He was cold and his body, though in fact much lighter than on Earth, still felt intolerably heavy. But a vivid sense of his situation returned to him; some fear, but more curiosity. It might mean death, but what a scaffold! Already cold air was coming in from without, and light. He moved his head impatiently to catch some glimpse between the labouring shoulders of the two men. A moment later the last nut was unscrewed. He was looking out through the manhole. Naturally enough all he saw was the ground - a circle of pale pink, almost of white; whether very close and short vegetation or very wrinkled and granulated rock or soil he could not say.
