Марсианские хроники

           "Eventheagreementforeuthanasiaiffinaldecisiononsuchastepisnecessary."Hechuckled.

           "Agreementforwhat?"

           "Don’ttalk.Ihavesomethingforyou.Here.Takethiskey."

           Thecaptainflushed."It’sagreathonor."

           "Notthekeytothecity,youfool!"snappedMr.Iii."JustakeytotheHouse.Godownthatcorridor,unlockthebigdoor,andgoinsideandshutthedoortight.Youcanspendthenightthere.InthemorningI’llsendMr.Xxxtoseeyou."

           Dubiouslythecaptaintookthekeyinhand.Hestoodlookingatthefloor.Hismendidnotmove.Theyseemedtobeemptiedofalltheirbloodandtheirrocketfever.Theyweredraineddry.

           "Whatisit?What’swrong?"inquiredMr.Iii."Whatareyouwaitingfor?Whatdoyouwant?"Hecameandpeeredupintothecaptain’sface,stooping."Outwithit,you!"

           "Idon’tsupposeyoucouldeven—"suggestedthecaptain."Imean,thatis,tryto,orthinkabout…"Hehesitated."We’veworkedhard,we’vecomealongway,andmaybeyoucouldjustshakeourhandsandsay«Welldone!»doyou—think?"Hisvoicefaded.

           Mr.Iiistuckouthishandstiffly."Congratulations!"Hesmiledacoldsmile."Congratulations."Heturnedaway."Imustgonow.Usethatkey."

           Withoutnoticingthemagain,asiftheyhadmelteddownthroughthefloor,Mr.Iiimovedabouttheroompackingalittlemanuscriptcasewithpapers.