Марсианские хроники

           Justnamestome.FromwhatIhear,theBurningwasagoodthing."

           "Getout!"screamedStendahl."You’vedoneyourjob,nowletmealone,youidiot!"

           Mr.Bigelowsummonedhiscarpentersandwentaway.

           Mr.StendahlstoodalonebeforehisHouse.

           "Listenhere,"hesaidtotheunseenrockets."IcametoMarstogetawayfromyouClean-Mindedpeople,butyou’reflockinginthickereveryday,likefliestooffal.SoI’mgoingtoshowyou.I’mgoingtoteachyouafinelessonforwhatyoudidtoMr.PoeonEarth.Asofthisday,beware.TheHouseofUsherisopenforbusiness!"

           Hepushedafistatthesky.

           Therocketlanded.Amansteppedoutjauntily.HeglancedattheHouse,andhisgrayeyesweredispleasedandvexed.Hestrodeacrossthemoattoconfrontthesmallmanthere.

           "YournameStendahl?"

           "Yes."

           "I’mGarrett,InvestigatorofMoralClimates."

           "SoyoufinallygottoMars,youMoralClimatepeople?Iwonderedwhenyou’dappear."

           "Wearrivedlastweek.We’llsoonhavethingsasneatandtidyasEarth."ThemanwavedanidentificationcardirritablytowardtheHouse."Supposeyoutellmeaboutthatplace,Stendahl?"

           "It’sahauntedcastle,ifyoulike."

           "Idon’tlike.Stendahl,Idon’tlike.Thesoundofthatword«haunted.»"

           "Simpleenough.InthisyearofourLord2005Ihavebuiltamechanicalsanctuary.