Марсианские хроники

           "Thisisn’tarecord,"saidthewoman’svoice."Hello!Oh,hello,thereissomeonealive!Whereareyou?"Shegaveadelightedscream.

           Walteralmostcollapsed."You!"Hestoodupjerkily,eyeswild."Goodlord,whatluck,what’syourname?"

           "GenevieveSelsor!"Sheweptintothereceiver."Oh,I’msogladtohearfromyou,whoeveryouare!"

           "WalterGripp!"

           "Walter,hello,Walter!"

           "Hello,Genevieve!"

           "Walter.It’ssuchanicename.Walter,Walter!"

           "Thankyou."

           "Walter,whereareyou?"

           Hervoicewassokindandsweetandfine.Heheldthephonetighttohisearsoshecouldwhispersweetlyintoit.Hefelthisfeetdriftoffthefloor.Hischeeksburned.

           "I’minMarlinVillage,"hesaid."I—"

           Buzz.

           "Hello?"hesaid.

           Buzz.

           Hejiggledthehook.Nothing.

           Somewhereawindhadblowndownapole.Asquicklyasshehadcome,GenevieveSelsorwasgone.

           Hedialed,butthelinewasdead.

           "Iknowwheresheis,anyway."Heranoutofthehouse.Thesunwasrisingashebackedabettle-carfromthestranger’sgarage,filleditsbackseatwithfoodfromthehouse,andsetoutateightymilesanhourdownthehighway,headingforNewTexasCity.Athousandmiles,hethought.GenevieveSelsor,sittight,you’llhearfromme!

           Hehonkedhishornoneveryturnoutoftown.

           Atsunset,afteranimpossibledayofdriving,hepulledtotheroadside,kickedoffhistightshoes,laidhimselfoutintheseat,andslidthegrayHomburgoverhiswearyeyes.Hisbreathingbecameslowandregular.