Марсианские хроники
April 2005: Usher II
"Imustsayyou’retakingthisallsowell."
"Itwasenoughjusttobeabletocreatethisplace.TobeabletosayIdidit.TosayInurturedamedievalatmosphereinamodern,incredulousworld."
"I’veasomewhatreluctantadmirationforyourgeniusmyself,sir."Garrettwatchedamistdriftby,whisperingandwhispering,shapedlikeabeautifulandnebulouswoman.Downamoistcorridoramachinewhirled.Likethestufffromacotton-candycentrifuge,mistssprangupandfloated,murmuring,inthesilenthalls.
Anapeappearedoutofnowhere.
"Holdon!"criedGarrett.
"Don’tbeafraid,"Stendahltappedtheanimal’sblackchest."Arobot.Copperskeletonandall,likethewitch.See?"Hestrokedthefur,andunderitmetaltubingcametolight.
"Yes."Garrettputoutatimidhandtopetthething."Butwhy,Mr.Stendahl,whyallthis?Whatobsessedyou?"
"Bureaucracy,Mr.Garrett.ButIhaven’ttimetoexplain.Thegovernmentwilldiscoversoonenough."Henoddedtotheape."Allright.Now."
TheapekilledMr.Garrett.
"Arewealmostready,Pikes?"
Pikeslookedupfromthetable."Yes,sir."
"You’vedoneasplendidjob."
"Well,I’mpaidforit,Mr.Stendahl,"saidPikessoftlyasheliftedtheplasticeyelidoftherobotandinsertedtheglasseyeballtofastentherubberoidmusclesneatly."There."
"ThespittingimageofMr.Garrett."
"Whatdowedowithhim,sir?"PikesnoddedattheslabwheretherealMr.Garrettlaydead.
"Betterburnhim,Pikes.Wewouldn’twanttwoMr.
