Марсианские хроники

           "Changingandchanging.Thetrap."

           "There,there,boy."LaFargestrokedtheboy’ssoftcurlsandTomceased.

           LaFargehelpedwifeandsonfromtheboat.

           "Hereweare!"Annasmiledatallthelights,listeningtothemusicfromthedrinkinghouses,thepianos,thephonographs,watchingpeople,arminarm,stridingbyinthecrowdedstreets.

           "IwishIwashome,"saidTom.

           "Younevertalkedthatwaybefore,"saidthemother."YoualwayslikedSaturdaynightsintown."

           "Stayclosetome,"whisperedTom."Idon’twanttogettrapped."

           Annaoverheard."Stoptalkingthatway;comealong!"

           LaFargenoticedthattheboyheldhishand.LaFargesqueezedit."I’llstickwithyou,Tommy-boy."Helookedatthethrongscomingandgoinganditworriedhimalso."Wewon’tstaylong."

           "Nonsense,we’llspendtheevening,"saidAnna.

           Theycrossedastreet,andthreedrunkenmencareenedintothem.Therewasmuchconfusion,aseparation,awheelingabout,andthenLaFargestoodstunned.

           Tomwasgone.

           "Whereishe?"askedAnnairritably."Himalwaysrunningoffaloneanychancehegets.Tom!"shecalled.

           Mr.LaFargehurriedthroughthecrowd,butTomwasgone.

           "He’llcomeback;he’llbeattheboatwhenweleave,"saidAnnacertainly,steeringherhusbandbacktowardthemotion-picturetheater.Therewasasuddencommotioninthecrowd,andamanandwomanrushedbyLaFarge.Herecognizedthem.JoeSpauldingandhiswife.Theyweregonebeforehecouldspeaktothem.