451 по фаренгейту
It was a pleasure to burn
Youalwaysdreadtheunfamiliar.Surelyyouremembertheboyinyourownschoolclasswhowasexceptionally‘bright,’didmostoftherecitingandansweringwhiletheotherssatlikesomanyleadenidols,hatinghim.Andwasn’titthisbrightboyyouselectedforbeatingsandtorturesafterhours? Ofcourseitwas.Wemustallbealike.Noteveryonebornfreeandequal,astheConstitutionsays,buteveryonemadeequal. Eachmantheimageofeveryother;thenallarehappy,fortherearenomountainstomakethemcower,tojudgethemselvesagainst. So!Abookisaloadedguninthehousenextdoor.Burnit.Taketheshotfromtheweapon.Breachman’smind. Whoknowswhomightbethetargetofthewell-readman?Me?Iwon’tstomachthemforaminute. Andsowhenhouseswerefinallyfireproofedcompletely,allovertheworld(youwerecorrectinyourassumptiontheothernight)therewasnolongerneedoffiremenfortheoldpurposes. Theyweregiventhenewjob,ascustodiansofourpeaceofmind,thefocusofourunderstandableandrightfuldreadofbeinginferior; officialcensors,judges,andexecutors.That’syou,Montag,andthat’sme."
ThedoortotheparlouropenedandMildredstoodtherelookinginatthem,lookingatBeattyandthenatMontag. Behindherthewallsoftheroomwerefloodedwithgreenandyellowandorangefireworkssizzlingandburstingtosomemusiccomposedalmostcompletelyoftrap-drums,tom-toms,andcymbals. Hermouthmovedandshewassayingsomethingbutthesoundcoveredit.
Beattyknockedhispipeintothepalmofhispinkhand,studiedtheashesasiftheywereasymboltobediagnosedandsearchedformeaning.
"Youmustunderstandthatourcivilizationissovastthatwecan’thaveourminoritiesupsetandstirred. Askyourself,Whatdowewantinthiscountry,aboveall?
