Марсианские хроники

           It’stimeyouknewthisisn’tafishingtripatall.Iputofftellingyou.Earthisgone.Interplanetarytravelwon’tbebackforcenturies,maybenever.Butthatwayoflifeproveditselfwrongandstrangleditselfwithitsownhands.You’reyoung.I’lltellyouthisagaineverydayuntilitsinksin."

           Hepausedtofeedmorepaperstothefire.

           "Nowwe’realone.Weandahandfulofotherswho’lllandinafewdays.Enoughtostartover.EnoughtoturnawayfromallthatbackonEarthandstrikeoutonanewline—"

           Thefireleapeduptoemphasizehistalking.Andthenallthepapersweregoneexceptone.AllthelawsandbeliefsofEarthwereburntintosmallhotasheswhichsoonwouldbecarriedoffinawind.

           TimothylookedatthelastthingthatDadtossedinthefire.ItwasamapoftheWorld,anditwrinkledanddistorteditselfhotlyandwent—flimpf—andwasgonelikeawarm,blackbutterfly.Timothyturnedaway.

           "NowI’mgoingtoshowyoutheMartians,"saidDad."Comeon,allofyou.Here,Alice."Hetookherhand.

           Michaelwascryingloudly,andDadpickedhimupandcarriedhim,andtheywalkeddownthroughtheruinstowardthecanal.

           Thecanal.Wheretomorroworthenextdaytheirfuturewiveswouldcomeupinaboat,smalllaughinggirlsnow,withtheirfatherandmother.

           Thenightcamedownaroundthem,andtherewerestars.ButTimothycouldn’tfindEarth.Ithadalreadyset.Thatwassomethingtothinkabout.

           Anightbirdcalledamongtheruinsastheywalked.Dadsaid,"YourmotherandIwilltrytoteachyou