Марсианские хроники

           Heputhishandsdownandputhisheadintohishandsandbegantocrygently.

           HeburnedwhatwasleftofNewNewYorkthatmorningatthree.

           Hetookatorchandmovedintotheplasticcityandwiththeflametouchedthewallshereorthere.Thecitybloomedupingreattossesofheatandlight.Itwasasquaremileofillumination,bigenoughtobeseenoutinspace.ItwouldbeckontherocketdowntoMr.Hathawayandhisfamily.

           Hisheartbeatingrapidlywith.pain,hereturnedtothehut."See?"Heheldupadustybottleintothelight."WineIsaved,justfortonight.Iknewthatsomedaysomeonewouldfindus!We’llhaveadrinktocelebrate!"

           Hepouredfiveglassesfull.

           "It’sbeenalongtime,"hesaid,gravelylookingintohisdrink."Rememberthedaythewarbroke?Twentyyearsandsevenmonthsago.AndalltherocketswerecalledhomefromMars.AndyouandIandthechildrenwereoutinthemountains,doingarchaeologicalwork,researchontheancientsurgicalmethodsoftheMartians.Weranourhorses,almostkillingthem,remember?Butwegotheretothecityaweeklate.Everyonewasgone.Americahadbeendestroyed;everyrockethadleftwithoutwaitingforstragglers,remember,remember?Anditturnedoutweweretheonlyonesleft?Lord,Lord,howtheyearspass.Icouldn’thavestooditwithoutyouhere,allofyou.I’dhavekilledmyselfwithoutyou.Butwithyou,itwasworthwaiting.Here’stous,then."Heliftedhisglass."Andtoourlongwaittogether."Hedrank.