Марсианские хроники

           ThePrematureBurial.Andtheothers.ThePit,thePendulum,andtheape,thechimney,theMurdersintheRueMorgue.InabookIburned,yes!"

           "Anotherdrink,Garrett.Here,holdyourglasssteady."

           "Mylord,youhaveanimagination,haven’tyou?"

           Theystoodandwatchedfiveothersdie,oneinthemouthofadragon,theothersthrownoffintotheblacktarn,sinkingandvanishing.

           "Wouldyouliketoseewhatwehaveplannedforyou?"askedStendahl.

           "Certainly,"saidGarrett."What’sthedifference?We’llblowthewholedamnthingup,anyway.You’renasty."

           "Comealongthen.Thisway."

           AndheledGarrettdownintothefloor,throughnumerouspassagesanddownagainuponspiralstairsintotheearth,intothecatacombs.

           "Whatdoyouwanttoshowmedownhere?"saidGarrett.

           "Yourselfkilled."

           "Aduplicate?"

           "Yes.Andalsosomethingelse."

           "What?"

           "TheAmontillado,"saidStendahl,goingaheadwithablazinglanternwhichheheldhigh.Skeletonsfrozehalfoutofcoffinlids.Garrettheldhishandtohisnose,hisfacedisgusted.

           "Thewhat?"

           "Haven’tyoueverheardoftheAmontillado?"

           "No!"

           "Don’tyourecognizethis?"Stendahlpointedtoacell.

           "ShouldI?"

           "Orthis?"Stendahlproducedatrowelfromunderhiscapesmiling.

           "What’sthatthing?"

           "Come,"saidStendahl.

           Theysteppedintothecell.Inthedark,Stendahlaffixedthechainstothehalf-drunkenman.

           "ForGod’ssake,whatareyoudoing?"shoutedGarrett,rattlingabout.

           "I’mbeingironic.