451 по фаренгейту
The Sieve and the Sand
Faber’shandsitchedonhisknees. "MayI?"
"Sorry."Montaggavehimthebook.
"It’sbeenalongtime.I’mnotareligiousman. Butit’sbeenalongtime." Faberturnedthepages,stoppinghereandtheretoread. "It’sasgoodasIremember. Lord,howthey’vechangedit—inour‘parlours’thesedays. Christisoneofthe‘family’now. IoftenwonderitGodrecognizesHisownsonthewaywe’vedressedhimup,orisitdressedhimdown? He’saregularpeppermintsticknow, allsugar-crystalandsaccharinewhenheisn’tmakingveiledreferencestocertaincommercialproductsthateveryworshipperabsolutelyneeds. "Fabersniffedthebook. "Doyouknowthatbookssmelllikenutmegorsomespicefromaforeignland?IlovedtosmellthemwhenIwasaboy. Lord,therewerealotoflovelybooksonce,beforeweletthemgo." Faberturnedthepages. "Mr.Montag,youarelookingatacoward. Isawthewaythingsweregoing,alongtimeback.Isaidnothing. I’moneoftheinnocentswhocouldhavespokenupandoutwhennoonewouldlistentothe‘guilty,’ butIdidnotspeakandthusbecameguiltymyself. Andwhenfinallytheysetthestructuretoburnthebooks,usingthe,firemen,Igruntedafewtimesandsubsided,fortherewerenoothersgruntingoryellingwithme,bythen. Now,it’stoolate." FaberclosedtheBible. "Well—supposeyoutellmewhyyoucamehere?"
"Nobodylistensanymore.Ican’ttalktothewallsbecausethey’reyellingatme. Ican’ttalktomywife;shelistenstothewalls. IjustwantsomeonetohearwhatIhavetosay. AndmaybeifItalklongenough,it’llmakesense. AndIwantyoutoteachmetounderstandwhatIread."
FaberexaminedMontag’sthin,blue-jowledface. "Howdidyougetshakenup? Whatknockedthetorchoutofyourhands?"
