Марсианские хроники
October 2026: The Million-Year Picnic
Perhapswe’llfail.Ihopenot.We’vehadagoodlottoseeandlearnfrom.Weplannedthistripyearsago,beforeyouwereborn.Eveniftherehadn’tbeenawarwewouldhavecometoMars,Ithink,toliveandformourownstandardofliving.ItwouldhavebeenanothercenturybeforeMarswouldhavebeenreallypoisonedbytheEarthcivilization.Now,ofcourse—"
Theyreachedthecanal.Itwaslongandstraightandcoolandwetandreflectiveinthenight.
"I’vealwayswantedtoseeaMartian,"saidMichael."Wherearethey,Dad?Youpromised."
"Theretheyare,"saidDad,andheshiftedMichaelonhisshoulderandpointedstraightdown.
TheMartianswerethere.Timothybegantoshiver.
TheMartianswerethere—inthecanal—reflectedinthewater.TimothyandMichaelandRobertandMomandDad.
TheMartiansstaredbackupatthemforalong,longsilenttimefromtheripplingwater…
