Марсианские хроники
August 1999: The Earth Men
WhereonEarthisthisTuiereol?IsitnearAmerica?"
"WhatisAmerica?"
"YouneverheardofAmerica!Yousayyou’refromEarthandyetyoudon’tknow!"
Mr.Uuudrewhimselfupangrily."Earthisaplaceofseasandnothingbutseas.Thereisnoland.IamfromEarth,andknow."
"Waitaminute."Thecaptainsatback."YoulooklikearegularMartian.Yelloweyes.Brownskin."
"Earthisaplaceofalljungle,"saidMissRrrproudly."I’mfromOrri,onEarth,acivilizationbuiltofsilver!"
NowthecaptainturnedhisheadfromandthentoMr.UuuandthentoMr.WwwandMr.ZzzandMr.NnnandMr.HhhandMr.Bbb.Hesawtheiryelloweyeswaxingandwaninginthelight,focusingandunfocusing.Hebegantoshiver.Finallyheturnedtohismenandregardedthemsomberly.
"Doyourealizewhatthisis?"
"What,sir?"
"Thisisnocelebration,"repliedthecaptaintiredly."Thisisnobanquet.Thesearen’tgovernmentrepresentatives.Thisisnosurpriseparty.Lookattheireyes.Listentothem!"
Nobodybreathed.Therewasonlyasoftwhitemoveofeyesinthecloseroom.
"NowIunderstand"—thecaptain’svoicewasfaraway—"whyeveryonegaveusnotesandpasseduson,onefromtheother,untilwemetMr.Iii,whosentusdownacorridorwithakeytoopenadoorandshutadoor.Andhereweare…"
"Wherearewe,sir?"
Thecaptainexhaled."Inaninsaneasylum."
Itwasnight.Thelargehalllayquietanddimlyilluminatedbyhiddenlightsourcesinthetransparentwalls.
