451 по фаренгейту
The Sieve and the Sand
"Now,"saidMildred,"my‘family’ispeople. Theytellmethings;Ilaugh,theylaugh! Andthecolours!"
"Yes,Iknow."
"Andbesides,ifCaptainBeattyknewaboutthosebooks—"Shethoughtaboutit. Herfacegrewamazedandthenhorrified. "Hemightcomeandburnthehouseandthe‘family. ’That’sawful!Thinkofourinvestment.WhyshouldIread?Whatfor?"
"Whatfor!Why!"saidMontag."Isawthedamnedestsnakeintheworldtheothernight. Itwasdeadbutitwasalive. Itcouldseebutitcouldn’tsee.Youwanttoseethatsnake. It’satEmergencyHospitalwheretheyfiledareportonallthejunkthesnakegotoutofyou! Wouldyouliketogoandchecktheirfile? Maybeyou’dlookunderGuyMontagormaybeunderFearorWar. Wouldyouliketogotothathousethatburntlastnight? Andrakeashesforthebonesofthewomanwhosetfiretoherownhouse! WhataboutClarisseMcClellan,wheredowelookforher? Themorgue!Listen!"
Thebomberscrossedtheskyandcrossedtheskyoverthehouse,gasping,murmuring,whistlinglikeanimmense,invisiblefan,circlinginemptiness.
"JesusGod,"saidMontag. "Everyhoursomanydamnthingsinthesky! Howinhelldidthosebombersgetupthereeverysinglesecondofourlives! Whydoesn’tsomeonewanttotalkaboutit? We’vestartedandwontwoatomicwarssince1960. Isitbecausewe’rehavingsomuchfunathomewe’veforgottentheworld? Isitbecausewe’resorichandtherestoftheworld’ssopoorandwejustdon’tcareiftheyare? I’veheardrumours;theworldisstarving,butwe’rewell-fed.Isittrue,theworldworkshardandweplay? Isthatwhywe’rehatedsomuch?
