Марсианские хроники

           HewasTomandJamesandamannamedSwitchman,anothernamedButterfield;hewasthetownmayorandtheyounggirlJudithandthehusbandWilliamandthewifeClarisse.Hewasmeltingwaxshapingtotheirminds.Theyshouted,theypressedforward,pleading.Hescreamed,threwouthishands,hisfacedissolvingtoeachdemand."Tom!"criedLaFarge."Alice!"another."William!"Theysnatchedhiswrists,whirledhimabout,untilwithonelastshriekofhorrorhefell.

           Helayonthestones,meltedwaxcooling,hisfaceallfaces,oneeyeblue,theothergolden,hairthatwasbrown,red,yellow,black,oneeyebrowthick,onethin,onehandlarge,onesmall.

           Theystoodoverhimandputtheirfingerstotheirmouths.Theybentdown.

           "He’sdead,"someonesaidatlast.

           Itbegantorain.

           Therainfelluponthepeople,andtheylookedupatthesky.

           Slowly,andthenmorequickly,theyturnedandwalkedawayandthenstartedrunning,scatteringfromthescene.Inaminutetheplacewasdesolate.OnlyMr.andMrs.LaFargeremained,lookingdown,handinhand,terrified.

           Therainfellupontheupturned,unrecognizableface.

           Annasaidnothingbutbegantocry.

           "Comealonghome,Anna,there’snothingwecando,"saidtheoldman.

           Theyclimbeddownintotheboatandwentbackalongthecanalinthedarkness.Theyenteredtheirhouseandlitasmallfireandwarmedtheirhands,Theywenttobedandlaytogether,coldandthin,listeningtotherainreturnedtotheroofabovethem.

           "Listen,"saidLaFargeatmidnight