Марсианские хроники
October 2026: The Million-Year Picnic
"I’mgivingyoualotmoreinexchange,Mike!"
"What?"Michaelheldoffthetears,curious,butquitereadytocontinueincaseDad’sfurtherrevelationwasasdisconcertingastheoriginal.
"I’mgivingyouthiscity,Mike.It’syours."
"Mine?"
"ForyouandRobertandTimothy,allthreeofyou,toownforyourselves."
Timothyboundedfromtheboat"Look,guys,allforus!Allofthat!"HewasplayingthegamewithDad,playingitlargeandplayingitwell.Later,afteritwasalloverandthingshadsettled,hecouldgooffbyhimselfandcryfortenminutes.Butnowitwasstillagame,stillafamilyouting,andtheotherkidsmustbekeptplaying.
MikejumpedoutwithRobert.TheyhelpedMom.
"Becarefulofyoursister,"saidDad,andnobodyknewwhathemeantuntillater.
Theyhurriedintothegreatpink-stonedcity,whisperingamongthemselves,becausedeadcitieshaveawayofmakingyouwanttowhisper,towatchthesungodown.
"Inaboutfivedays,"saidDadquietly,"I’llgobackdowntowhereourrocketwasandcollectthefoodhiddenintheruinsthereandbringithere;andI’llhuntforBertEdwardsandhiswifeanddaughtersthere."
"Daughters?"askedTimothy."Howmany?"
"Four."
"Icanseethat’llcausetroublelater."Momnoddedslowly.
"Girls."MichaelmadeafacelikeanancientMartianstoneimage."Girls."
"Aretheycominginarockettoo?"
"Yes.Iftheymakeit.FamilyrocketsaremadefortraveltotheMoon,notMars.Wewereluckywegotthrough."
