Марсианские хроники

           Me,I’monmywaytoGreenCitytonight;that’sthenewcolonywejustraisedovernearIllinoisHighway.You’remixedup.WebroughtinamillionboardfeetofOregonlumberandacoupledozentonsofgoodsteelnailsandhammeredtogethertwoofthenicestlittlevillagesyoueversaw.Tonightwe’rewarmingoneofthem.AcouplerocketsarecominginfromEarth,bringingourwivesandgirlfriends.There’llbebarndancesandwhisky—"

           TheMartianwasnowdisquieted."Yousayitisoverthatway?"

           "Therearetherockets."Tomaswalkedhimtotheedgeofthehillandpointeddown."See?"

           "No."

           "Damnit,theretheyare!Thoselongsilverthings."

           "No."

           NowTomaslaughed."You’reblind!"

           "Iseeverywell.Youaretheonewhodoesnotsee."

           "Butyouseethenewtown,don’tyou?"

           "Iseenothingbutanocean,andwateratlowtide."

           "Mister,thatwater’sbeenevaporatedforfortycenturies."

           "Ah,now,now,thatisenough."

           "It’strue,Itellyou."

           TheMartiangrewveryserious."Tellmeagain.YoudonotseethecitythewayIdescribeit?Thepillarsverywhite,theboatsveryslender,thefestivallights—oh,Iseethemclearly!Andlisten!Icanhearthemsinging.It’snospaceawayatall."

           Tomaslistenedandshookhishead."No."

           "AndI,ontheotherhand,"saidtheMartian,"cannotseewhatyoudescribe.Well."

           Again.theywerecold.Anicewasintheirflesh.

           "Canitbe…?"

           "What?"

           "Yousay«fromthesky»?"

           "Earth."