Марсианские хроники

           We’dlikesomeonetogiveusthekeytothecityorsomethinglikethat,andwe’dlikesomebodytoshakeourhandsandsay«Hooray»andsay«Congratulations,oldman!»Thataboutsumsitup."

           Mr.Iiiwasatall,vaporous,thinmanwiththickblindbluecrystalsoverhisyellowisheyes.Hebentoverhisdeskandbroodeduponsomepapers,glancingnowandagainwithextremepenetrationathisguests.

           "Well,Ihaven’ttheformswithmehere,Idon’tthink."Herummagedthroughthedeskdrawers."Now,wheredidIputtheforms?"Hemused."Somewhere.Somewhere.Oh,hereweare!Now!"Hehandedthepapersovercrisply."You’llhavetosignthesepapers,ofcourse."

           "Dowehavetogothroughallthisrigmarole?"

           Mr.Iiigavehimathickglassylook."Yousayyou’refromEarth,don’tyou?Well,thenthere’snothingforitbutyousign."

           Thecaptainwrotehisname."Doyouwantmycrewtosignalso?"

           Mr.Iiilookedatthecaptain,lookedatthethreeothers,andburstintoashoutofderision."Themsign!Ho!Howmarvelous!Them,oh,themsign!"Tearssprangfromhiseyes.Heslappedhiskneeandbenttolethislaughterjerkoutofhisgapingmouth.Heheldhimselfupwiththedesk."Themsign!"

           Thefourmenscowled."What’sfunny?"

           "Themsign!"sighedMr.Iii,weakwithhilarity."Soveryfunny.I’llhavetotellMr.Xxxaboutthis!"Heexaminedthefilled-outform,stilllaughing."Everythingseemstobeinorder."Henodded.