Марсианские хроники

           Sheglancedupathimwithsly,brighteyes.

           "I’mveryalert,"hesaid."Strange."

           "Comebacktothebeautyshop,"shesaid."Iwanttoshowyousomething."

           Shetookhiminthroughtheglassdoorandwalkedhimovertoalargewhitebox."WhenIdrovefromTexasCity,"shesaid,"Ibroughtthiswithme."Sheuntiedthepinkribbon."Ithought:Well,hereIam,theonlyladyonMars,andhereistheonlyman,and,well…"Sheliftedthelidandfoldedbackcrisplayersofwhisperypinktissuepaper.Shegaveitapat."There."

           WalterGrippstared.

           "Whatisit?"heasked,beginningtotremble.

           "Don’tyouknow,silly?It’salllaceandallwhiteandallfineandeverything."

           "No,Idon’tknowwhatitis."

           "It’saweddingdress,silly!"

           "Isit?"Hisvoicecracked.

           Heshuthiseyes.Hervoicewasstillsoftandcoolandsweet,asithadbeenonthephone.Butwhenheopenedhiseyesandlookedather…

           Hebackedup."Hownice,"hesaid.

           "Isn’tit?"

           "Genevieve."Heglancedatthedoor.

           "Yes?"

           "Genevieve,I’vesomethingtotellyou."

           "Yes?"Shedriftedtowardhim,theperfumesmellthickaboutherroundwhiteface.

           "ThethingIhavetosaytoyouis…"hesaid.

           "Yes?"

           "Good-by!"

           Andhewasoutthedoorandintohiscarbeforeshecouldscream.

           Sheranandstoodonthecurbasheswungthecarabout.

           "WalterGriff,comebackhere!"shewailed,flingingupherarms.

           "Gripp,"hecorrectedher.

           "Gripp!"sheshouted