Марсианские хроники

           Oh,theword«escape»wasradical,too,Itellyou!"

           "Wasit?"

           "Itwas!Everyman,theysaid,mustfacereality.MustfacetheHereandNow!Everythingthatwasnotsomustgo.Allthebeautifulliteraryliesandflightsoffancymustbeshotinmid-air.SotheylinedthemupagainstalibrarywalloneSundaymorningthirtyyearsago,in1975;theylinedthemup,St.NicholasandtheHeadlessHorsemanandSnowWhiteandRumpelstiltskinandMotherGoose—oh,whatawailing!—andshotthemdown,andburnedthepapercastlesandthefairyfrogsandoldkingsandthepeoplewholivedhappilyeverafter(forofcourseitwasafactthatnobodylivedhappilyeverafter!),andOnceUponATimebecameNoMore!AndtheyspreadtheashesofthePhantomRickshawwiththerubbleoftheLandofOz;theyfilletedthebonesofGlindatheGoodandOzmaandshatteredPolychromeinaspectroscopeandservedJackPumpkinheadwithmeringueattheBiologists’Ball!TheBeanstalkdiedinabrambleofredtape!SleepingBeautyawokeatthekissofascientistandexpiredatthefatalpunctureofhissyringe.AndtheymadeAlicedrinksomethingfromabottlewhichreducedhertoasizewhereshecouldnolongercry«Curiouserandcuriouser,»andtheygavetheLookingGlassonehammerblowtosmashitandeveryRedKingandOysteraway!"

           Heclenchedhisfists.Lord,howimmediateitwas!Hisfacewasredandhewasgaspingforbreath.

           AsforMr.Bigelow,hewasastoundedatthislongexplosion.Heblinkedandatlastsaid,"Sorry.Don’tknowwhatyou’retalkingabout.