451 по фаренгейту
It was a pleasure to burn
Heheldbothhandsoverhiseyesandappliedasteadypressurethereasiftocrushmemoryintoplace. Itwassuddenlymoreimportantthananyotherthinginalife-timethatheknewwherehehadmetMildred.
"Itdoesn’tmatter. "Shewasupinthebathroomnow,andheheardthewaterrunning,andtheswallowingsoundshemade.
"No,Iguessnot,"hesaid.
Hetriedtocounthowmanytimessheswallowedandhethoughtofthevisitfromthetwozinc-oxide-facedmenwiththecigarettesintheirstraight-linedmouthsandtheelectronic-eyedsnakewindingdownintothelayeruponlayerofnightandstoneandstagnantspringwater, andhewantedtocallouttoher,howmanyhaveyoutakentonight!thecapsules!howmanywillyoutakelaterandnotknow?andsoon,everyhour!ormaybenottonight,tomorrownight! Andmenotsleeping,tonightortomorrownightoranynightforalongwhile;nowthatthishasstarted. Andhethoughtofherlyingonthebedwiththetwotechniciansstandingstraightoverher,notbentwithconcern,butonlystandingstraight,armsfolded. Andherememberedthinkingthenthatifshedied,hewascertainhewouldn’tcry.Foritwouldbethedyingofanunknown,astreetface,anewspaperimage, anditwassuddenlysoverywrongthathehadbeguntocry,notatdeathbutatthethoughtofnotcryingatdeath,asillyemptymannearasillyemptywoman,whilethehungrysnakemadeherstillmoreempty.
Howdoyougetsoempty?hewondered.Whotakesitoutofyou?Andthatawfulflowertheotherday,thedandelion!Ithadsummedupeverything,hadn’tit?"Whatashame!You’renotinlovewithanyone!"Andwhynot?
Well,wasn’tthereawallbetweenhimandMildred,whenyoucamedowntoit?
