Марсианские хроники

           "Couldtheydothat?"demandedSamuelTeece,pacingabouttheporch."Ain’ttherealaw?"

           "Itain’tasifthey’redeclarin’war,"saidGrandpaquietly.

           "Wheredotheygetoff,Goddamnit,workin’insecret,plottin’?"shoutedTeece.

           "Scheduleisforallthistown’sniggerstogatheroutbyLoonLake.Rocketsbethereatoneo’clock,pick’emup,take’emtoMars."

           "Telephonethegovernor,calloutthemilitia,"criedTeece."Theyshould’vegivennotice!"

           "Herecomesyourwoman,Teece."

           Thementurnedagain.

           Astheywatched,downthehotroadinthewindlesslightfirstonewhitewomanandthenanotherarrived,allofthemwithstunnedfaces,allofthemrustlinglikeancientpapers.Someofthemwerecrying,somewerestern.Allcametofindtheirhusbands.Theypushedthroughbarroomswingdoors,vanishing.Theyenteredcool,quietgroceries.Theywentinatdrugshopsandgarages.Andoneofthem,Mrs.ClaraTeece,cametostandinthedustbythehardwareporch,blinkingupatherstiffandangryhusbandastheblackriverflowedfullbehindher.

           "It’sLucinda,Pa;yougottocomehome!"

           "I’mnotcomin’homefornodamndarkie!"

           "She’sleaving.What’llIdowithouther?"

           "Fetchforyourself,maybe.Iwon’tgetdownonmykneestostopher."

           "Butshe’slikeafamilymember,"Mrs.Teecemoaned.

           "Don’tshout!Iwon’thaveyoublubberin’inpublicthiswayaboutnogoddamn—"

           Hiswife’ssmallsobstoppedhim.Shedabbedathereyes.