Марсианские хроники
April 2026: The Long Years
Hathawayshieldedhiseyesandatlastsaid,"CaptainWilder!"
"Whoisit?"askedCaptainWilder,andjumpeddownandstoodtherelookingattheoldman.Heputhishandout."Goodlord,it’sHathaway!"
"That’sright."Theylookedintoeachother’sfaces.
"Hathaway,frommyoldcrew,fromtheFourthExpedition."
"It’sbeenalongtime,Captain."
"Toolong.It’sgoodtoseeyou."
"I’mold,"saidHathawaysimply.
"I’mnotyoungmyselfanymore.I’vebeenouttoJupiterandSaturnandNeptunefortwentyyears."
"Iheardtheyhadkickedyouupstairssoyouwouldn’tinterferewithcolonialpolicyhereonMars."Theoldmanlookedaround."You’vebeengonesolongyoudon’tknowwhat’shappened—"
Wildersaid,"Icanguess.We’vecircledMarstwice.Foundonlyoneotherman,nameofWalterGripp,abouttenthousandmilesfromhere,Weofferedtotakehimwithus,buthesaidno.Thelastwesawofhimhewassittinginthemiddleofthehighwayinarockingchair,smokingapipe,wavingtous.Marsisprettywelldead,notevenaMartianalive.WhataboutEarth?"
"YouknowasmuchasIdo.OnceinawhileIgettheEarthradio,veryfaintly.Butit’salwaysinsomeotherlanguage.I’msorrytosayIonlyknowLatin.Afewwordscomethrough.ItakeitmostofEarth’sashambles,butthewargoeson.Areyougoingback,sir?"
"Yes.We’recurious,ofcourse.Wehadnoradiocontactsofaroutinspace.We’llwanttoseeEarth,nomatterwhat."
