Марсианские хроники

           WithanentireAmericancitybelowfromwhichtodrawneededsupplies,abrilliantmanmightdoanything.

           Thesoundoftheirfootstepswasmuffledinthesand.Atthegraveyard,astheyturnedin,twomenwerealreadyspadingouttheearth.

           Theyreturnedtotherocketinthelateafternoon.

           Williamsonnoddedatthestonehut."Whatarewegoingtodoaboutthem?"

           "Idon’tknow,"saidthecaptain.

           "Areyougoingtoturnthemoff?"

           "Off?"Thecaptainlookedfaintlysurprised."Itneverenteredmymind."

           "You’renottakingthembackwithus?"

           "No,itwouldbeuseless."

           "Youmeanyou’regoingtoleavethemhere,likethat,astheyare!"

           ThecaptainhandedWilliamsonagun."Ifyoucandoanythingaboutthis,you’reabettermanthanI."

           FiveminuteslaterWilliamsonreturnedfromthehut,sweating."Here,takeyourgun.Iunderstandwhatyoumeannow.Iwentinthehutwiththegun.Oneofthedaughterssmiledatme.Sodidtheothers,Thewifeofferedmeacupoftea.Lord,it’dbemurder!"

           Wildernodded."There’llneverbeanythingasfineasthemagain.They’rebuilttolast;ten,fifty,twohundredyears.Yes,they’veasmuchrightto—tolifeasyouorIoranyofus."Heknockedouthispipe."Well,getaboard.We’retakingoff.Thiscity’sdonefor,we’llnotbeusingit."

           Itwaslateintheday.Acoldwindwasrising.Themenwereaboard.Thecaptainhesitated.Williamsonsaid,"Don’ttellmeyou’regoingbacktosay—good-by—tothem?"

           ThecaptainlookedatWilliamsoncoldly