Марсианские хроники

           Itcamefromtheskyagain,landed,andthetallmansteppedoutandtalkedtome,tellingmelittlejokes,laughing,anditwaspleasant."

           Mr.Ktouchedapillar.Fountsofwarmwaterleapedup,steaming;thechillvanishedfromtheroom.Mr.K’sfacewasimpassive.

           "Andthen,"shesaid,"thisman,whosaidhisstrangenamewasNathanielYork,toldmeIwasbeautifuland—andkissedme."

           "Ha!"criedthehusband,turningviolentlyaway,hisjawworking.

           "It’sonlyadream."Shewasamused.

           "Keepyoursilly,femininedreamstoyourself!"

           "You’reactinglikeachild."Shelapsedbackuponthefewremainingremnantsofchemicalmist.Afteramomentshelaughedsoftly."Ithoughtofsomemoreofthedream,"sheconfessed.

           "Well,whatisit,whatisit?"heshouted.

           "Yll,you’resobad-tempered."

           "Tellme!"hedemanded."Youcan’tkeepsecretsfromme!"Hisfacewasdarkandrigidashestoodoverher.

           "I’veneverseenyouthisway,"shereplied,halfshocked,halfentertained."AllthathappenedwasthisNathanielYorkpersontoldme—well,hetoldmethathe’dtakemeawayintohisship,intotheskywithhim,andtakemebacktohisplanetwithhim.It’sreallyquiteridiculous."

           "Ridiculous,isit!"healmostscreamed."Youshouldhaveheardyourself,fawningonhim,talkingtohim,singingwithhim,ohgods,allnight;youshouldhaveheardyourself!"

           "Yll!"

           "When’shelanding?Where’shecomingdownwithhisdamnedship?"

           "Yll,loweryourvoice."