Марсианские хроники

           Initcopperbatsflyonelectronicbeams,brassratsscuttleinplasticcellars,robotskeletonsdance;robotvampires,harlequins,wolves,andwhitephantoms,compoundedofchemicalandingenuity,livehere."

           "That’swhatIwasafraidof,"saidGarrett,smilingquietly."I’mafraidwe’regoingtohavetotearyourplacedown."

           "Iknewyou’dcomeoutassoonasyoudiscoveredwhatwenton."

           "I’dhavecomesooner,butweatMoralClimateswantedtobesureofyourintentionsbeforewemovedin.WecanhavetheDismantlersandBurningCrewherebysupper.Bymidnightyourplacewillberazedtothecellar.Mr.Stendahl,Iconsideryousomewhatofafool,sir.Spendinghard-earnedmoneyonafolly.Why,itmusthavecostyouthreemilliondollars—"

           "Fourmillion!But,Mr.Garrett,Iinheritedtwenty-fivemillionwhenveryyoung.Icanaffordtothrowitabout.Seemsadreadfulshame,though,tohavetheHousefinishedonlyanhourandhaveyouraceoutwithyourDismantlers.Couldn’tyoupossiblyletmeplaywithmyToyforjust,well,twenty-fourhours?"

           "Youknowthelaw.Stricttotheletter.Nobooks,nohouses,nothingtobeproducedwhichinanywaysuggestsghosts,vampires,fairies,oranycreatureoftheimagination."

           "You’llbeburningBabbittsnext!"

           "You’vecausedusalotoftrouble,Mr.Stendahl.It’sintherecord.Twentyyearsago.OnEarth.Youandyourlibrary."

           "Yes,meandmylibrary.Andafewotherslikeme.Oh,Poe’sbeenforgottenformanyyearsnow,andOzandtheothercreatures.