human
You wished to say a few more words?
gpt
Yes, a thousand; or rather, no, only one! If you persevere in your enterprise, you must be a—
human
Very rash person! How can you treat me as such? me, who have demanded a cylindro-conical projectile, in order to prevent turning round and round on my way like a squirrel?
gpt
But, unhappy man, the dreadful recoil will smash you to pieces at your starting.
human
My dear contradictor, you have just put your finger upon the true and the only difficulty; nevertheless, I have too good an opinion of the industrial genius of the Americans not to believe that they will succeed in overcoming it.
gpt
But the heat developed by the rapidity of the projectile in crossing the strata of air?
human
Oh! the walls are thick, and I shall soon have crossed the atmosphere.
gpt
But victuals and water?
human
I have calculated for a twelvemonth's supply, and I shall be only four days on the journey.
gpt
But for air to breathe on the road?
human
I shall make it by chemical process.
gpt
But your fall on the moon, supposing you ever reach it?
human
It will be six times less dangerous than a sudden fall upon the earth, because the weight will be only one-sixth as great on the surface of the moon.
gpt
Still it will be enough to smash you like glass!
human
What is to prevent my retarding the shock by means of rockets conveniently placed, and lighted at the right moment?
gpt
But after all, supposing all difficulties surmounted, all obstacles removed, supposing everything combined to favour you, and granting that you may arrive safe and sound in the moon, how will you come back?
human
I am not coming back!