"What do you mean by 'relatively motionless'?" asked M'Nicholl, who was carefully studying the situation.
"I mean, of course, not absolutely motionless," answered Barbican; "absolute immobility is, as you are well aware, altogether impossible, but motionless with regard to the Earth and the—"
"By Mahomet's jackass!" interrupted Ardan hastily, "I must say we're a precious set of imbéciles!"
"I don't deny it, dear friend," said Barbican quietly, notwithstanding the unceremonious interruption; "but why do you say so just now?"
"Because though we are possessed of the power of retarding the velocity that takes us from the Moon, we have never thought of employing it!"
"What do you mean?"
"Do you forget the rockets?"
"It's a fact!" cried M'Nicholl. "How have we forgotten them?"
"I'm sure I can't tell," answered Barbican, "unless, perhaps, because we had too many other things to think about. Your thought, my dear friend, is a most happy one, and, of course, we shall utilize it."
"When? How soon?"