Марсианские хроники
August 1999: The Earth Men
Thelittletownwasfullofpeopledriftinginandoutofdoors,sayinghellotooneanother,wearinggoldenmasksandbluemasksandcrimsonmasksforpleasantvariety,maskswithsilverlipsandbronzeeyebrows,masksthatsmiledormasksthatfrowned,accordingtotheowners’dispositions.
Thefourmen,wetfromtheirlongwalk,pausedandaskedalittlegirlwhereMr.Iii’shousewas.
"There."Thechildnoddedherhead.
Thecaptaingoteagerly,carefullydownononeknee,lookingintohersweetyoungface."Littlegirl,Iwanttotalktoyou."
Heseatedheronhiskneeandfoldedhersmallbrownhandsneatlyinhisownbigones,asifreadyforabed-timestorywhichhewasshapinginhismindslowlyandwithagreatpatienthappinessindetails.
"Well,here’showitis,littlegirl.SixmonthsagoanotherrocketcametoMars.TherewasamannamedYorkinit,andhisassistant.Whateverhappenedtothem,wedon’tknow.Maybetheycrashed.Theycameinarocket.Sodidwe.Youshouldseeit!Abigrocket!Sowe’retheSecondExpedition,followinguptheFirst!AndwecameallthewayfromEarth…"
Thelittlegirldisengagedonehandwithoutthinkingaboutit,andclappedanexpressionlessgoldenmaskoverherface,Thenshepulledforthagoldenspidertoyanddroppedittothegroundwhilethecaptaintalkedon.Thetoyspiderclimbedbackuptoherkneeobediently,whileshespeculateduponitcoollythroughtheslitsofheremotionlessmaskandthecaptainshookhergentlyandurgedhisstoryuponher.
"We’reEarthMen,"hesaid.
