Марсианские хроники
August 1999: The Earth Men
It’sgood,it’sgood."
"Tellusaboutyourselves,"suggestedMr.Uuu.
Thecaptainclearedhisthroat.
Theaudienceohedandahedasthecaptaintalked.Heintroducedhiscrew;eachmadeasmallspeechandwasembarrassedbythethunderousapplause.
Mr.Uuudappedthecaptain’sshoulder,"It’sgoodtoseeanothermanfromEarth.IamfromEarthalso."
"Howwasthatagain?"
"TherearemanyofusherefromEarth."
"You?FromEarth?"Thecaptainstared."Butisthatpossible?Didyoucomebyrocket?Hasspacetravelbeengoingonforcenturies?"Hisvoicewasdisappointed."What—whatcountryareyoufrom?"
"Tuiereol.Icamebythespiritofmybody,yearsago."
"Tuiereol."Thecaptainmouthedtheword."Idon’tknowthatcountry.What’sthisaboutspiritofbody?"
"AndMissRrroverhere,she’sfromEarth,too,aren’tyou,MissRrr?"
MissRrrnoddedandlaughedstrangely.
"AndsoisMr.WwwandMr.QqqandMr.Vvv!"
"I’mfromJupiter,"declaredoneman,preeninghimself.
"I’mfromSaturn,"saidanother,eyesglintingslyly.
"Jupiter,Saturn,"murmuredthecaptain,blinking.
Itwasveryquietnow;thepeoplestoodaroundandsatatthetableswhichwerestrangelyemptyforbanquettables.Theiryelloweyeswereglowing,andthereweredarkshadowsundertheircheekbones.Thecaptainnoticedforthefirsttimethattherewerenowindows;thelightseemedtopermeatethewalls.Therewasonlyonedoor.Thecaptainwinced."Thisisconfusing.
