Марсианские хроники

           Floatin’inspace,aroundandaroundearth,everandever,coldandwayout,Lord!Youhearthat,youthere!"

           Silence.Theriverwasbroadandcontinuous.Havingenteredallcottonshacksduringthehour,havingfloodedallthevaluablesout,itwasnowcarryingtheclocksandthewashboards,thesilkboltsandcurtainrodsondowntosomedistantblacksea.

           Hightidepassed.Itwastwoo’clock.Lowtidecame.Soontheriverwasdriedup,thetownsilent,thedustsettlinginafilmonthestores,theseatedmen,thetallhottrees.

           Silence.

           Themenontheporchlistened.

           Hearingnothing,theyextendedtheirthoughtsandtheirimaginationsoutandintothesurroundingmeadows.Intheearlymorningthelandhadbeenfilledwithitsusualconcoctionsofsound.Hereandthere,withstubbornpersistencetocustom,therehadbeenvoicessinging,thehoneylaughterunderthemimosabranches,thepickaninniesrushinginclearwaterlaughteratthecreek,movementsandbendingsinthefields,jokesandshoutsofamusementfromtheshingleshackscoveredwithfreshgreenvine.

           Nowitwasasifagreatwindhadwashedthelandcleanofsounds.Therewasnothing.Skeletondoorshungopenonleatherhinges.Rubber-tireswingshunginthesilentair,uninhibited.Thewashingrocksattheriverwereempty,andthewatermelonpatches,ifany,wereleftalonetoheattheirhiddenliquorsinthesun.Spidersstartedbuildingnewwebsinabandonedhuts;duststartedtosiftinfromunpatchedroofsingoldenspicules.