Марсианские хроники
August 1999: The Earth Men
Allthroughthemidnighthallpeoplewerejugglingthinvioletflames,shifting,changing,fornighttimewasthetimeofchangeandaffliction.
"Magicians,sorcerers,"whisperedoneoftheEarthMen.
"No,hallucination.Theypasstheirinsanityoverintoussothatweseetheirhallucinationstoo.Telepathy.Autosuggestionandtelepathy."
"Isthatwhatworriesyou,sir?"
"Yes.Ifhallucinationscanappearthis«real»tous,toanyone,ifhallucinationsarecatchingandalmostbelievable,it’snowondertheymistookusforpsychotics.Ifthatmancanproducelittlebluefirewomenandthatwomantheremeltintoapillar,hownaturalifnormalMartiansthinkweproduceourrocketshipwithourminds."
"Oh,"saidhismenintheshadows.
Aroundthem,inthevasthall,flamesleapedblue,flared,evaporated.Littledemonsofredsandranbetweentheteethofsleepingmen.Womenbecameoilysnakes.Therewasasmellofreptilesandanimals.
Inthemorningeveryonestoodaroundlookingfresh,happy,andnormal.Therewerenoflamesordemonsintheroom.Thecaptainandhismenwaitedbythesilverdoor,hopingitwouldopen.
Mr.Xxxarrivedafteraboutfourhours.Theyhadasuspicionthathehadwaitedoutsidethedoor,peeringinatthemforatleastthreehoursbeforehesteppedin,beckoned,andledthemtohissmalloffice.
Hewasajovial,smilingman,ifonecouldbelievethemaskhewore,foruponitwaspaintednotonesmile,butthree.Behindit,hisvoicewasthevoiceofanotsosmilingpsychologist.
