Марсианские хроники

           Perhapstenminuteslateraboatfloateddowntheserenesurfaceofthecanal,atalllankmanwithblackhairpolingitalongwithleisurelydrivesofhisarms."Evening,BrotherLaFarge,"hesaid,pausingathistask.

           "EveningSaul,what’stheword?"

           "Allkindsofwordstonight.YouknowthatfellownamedNomlandwholivesdownthecanalinthetinhut?"

           LaFargestiffened."Yes?"

           "Youknowwhatsortofrascalhewas?"

           "RumorhaditheleftEarthbecausehekilledaman."

           Saulleanedonhiswetpole,gazingatLaFarge."Rememberthenameofthemanhekilled?"

           "Gillings,wasn’tit?"

           "Right.Gillings.Well,abouttwohoursagoMr.NomlandcamerunningtotowncryingabouthowhehadseenGillings,alive,hereonMars,today,thisafternoon!Hetriedtogetthejailtolockhimupsafe.Thejailwouldn’t.SoNomlandwenthome,andtwentyminutesago,asIgetthestory,blewhisbrainsoutwithagun.Ijustcamefromthere."

           "Well,well,"saidLaFarge.

           "Thedarnedestthingshappen,"saidSaul."Well,goodnight,LaFarge."

           "Goodnight."

           Theboatdriftedondowntheserenecanalwaters.

           "Supper’shot,"calledtheoldwoman.

           Mr.LaFargesatdowntohissupperand,knifeinhand,lookedoveratTom."Tom,"hesaid,"whatdidyoudothisafternoon?"

           "Nothing,"saidTom,hismouthfull."Why?"

           "Justwantedtoknow."Theoldmantuckedhisnapkinin.

           Atseventhatnighttheoldwomanwantedtogototown."Haven’tbeenthereinmonths,"shesaid.ButTomdesisted.