Марсианские хроники
December 2005: The Silent Towns
Hemovedhisbonyhandsinhispockets,whichweretinklingwithnewdimes.Occasionallyhetossedadimetotheground.Helaughedtemperately,doingthis,andwalkedon,sprinklingbrightdimeseverywhere.
HisnamewasWalterGripp.HehadaplacermineandaremoteshackfarupintheblueMartianhillsandhewalkedtotownonceeverytwoweekstoseeifhecouldmarryaquietandintelligentwoman.Overtheyearshehadalwaysreturnedtohisshack,aloneanddisappointed.Aweekago,arrivingintown,hehadfounditthisway!
Thatdayhehadbeensosurprisedthatherushedtoadelicatessen,flungwideacase,andorderedatriple-deckerbeefsandwich.
"Comingup!"hecried,atowelonhisarm.
Heflourishedmeatsandbreadbakedthedaybefore,dustedatable,invitedhimselftosit,andateuntilhehadtogofindasodafountain,whereheorderedabicarbonate.Thedruggist,beingoneWalterGripp,wasastoundinglypoliteandfizzedonerightupforhim!
Hestuffedhisjeanswithmoney,allhecouldfind.Heloadedaboy’swagonwithten-dollarbillsandranlickety-splitthroughtown.Reachingthesuburbs,hesuddenlyrealizedhowshamefullysillyhewas.Hedidn’tneedmoney.Herodetheten-dollarbillsbacktowherehe’dfoundthem,countedadollarfromhisownwallettopayforthesandwiches,droppeditinthedelicatessentill,andaddedaquartertip.
ThatnightheenjoyedahotTurkishbath,asucculentfiletcarpetedwithdelicatemushrooms,importeddrysherry,andstrawberriesinwine.
