Марсианские хроники
October 2026: The Million-Year Picnic
ThisshookRobertoutofhisfunkandelicitedyelpsoffrightenedbutesctaticjoyfromMichael,whoclungtoMom’slegsandwatchedthewaterpourbyhisnoseinawettorrent.
Dadswervedtheboat,cutspeed,andduckedthecraftintoalittlebranchcanalandunderanancient,crumblingstonewharfthatsmelledofcrabflesh.Theboatrammedthewharfhardenoughtothrowthemallforward,butnoonewashurt,andDadwasalreadytwistedtoseeiftheripplesonthecanalwereenoughtomaptheirrouteintohiding.Waterlineswentacross,lappedthestones,andrippledbacktomeeteachother,settling,tobedappledbythesun.Itallwentaway.
Dadlistened.Sodideverybody.
Dad’sbreathingechoedlikefistsbeatingagainstthecoldwetwharfstones.Intheshadow,Mom’scateyesjustwatchedFatherforsomecluetowhatnext.
Dadrelaxedandblewoutabreath,laughingathimself.
"Therocket,ofcourse.I’mgettingjumpy.Therocket."
Michaelsaid,"Whathappened,Dad,whathappened?"
"Oh,wejustblewupourrocket,isall,"saidTimothy,tryingtosoundmatter-of-fact."I’veheardrocketsblownupbefore.Oursjustblew."
"Whydidweblowupourrocket?"askedMichael."Huh,Dad?"
"It’spartofthegame,silly!"saidTimothy.
"Agame!"MichaelandRobertlovedtheword.
"Dadfixeditsoitwouldblowupandnoone’dknowwherewelandedorwent!Incasetheyevercamelooking,see?"
"Ohboy,asecret!"
"Scaredbymyownrocket,"admittedDadtoMom."Iamnervous.
