Марсианские хроники

           "Whatseemstobethetrouble?"

           "Youthinkwe’reinsane,andwe’renot,"saidthecaptain.

           "Contrarily,Idonotthinkallofyouareinsane."Thepsychologistpointedalittlewandatthecaptain."No.Justyou,sir.Theothersaresecondaryhallucinations."

           Thecaptainslappedhisknee,"Sothat’sit!That’swhyMr.IiilaughedwhenIsuggestedmymensignthepaperstoo!"

           "Yes,Mr.Iiitoldme."Thepsychologistlaughedoutofthecarved,smilingmouth."Agoodjoke.WherewasI?Secondaryhallucinations,yes.Womencometomewithsnakescrawlingfromtheirears.WhenIcurethem,thesnakesvanish."

           "We’llbegladtobecured.Gorightahead."

           Mr.Xxxseemedsurprised."Unusual.Notmanypeoplewanttobecured.Thecureisdrastic,youknow."

           "Cureahead!I’mconfidentyou’llfindwe’reallsane."

           "Letmecheckyourpaperstobesurethey’reinorderfora«cure.»"Hecheckedafile."Yes.Youknow,suchcasesasyoursneedspecial«curing.»Thepeopleinthathallaresimplerforms.Butonceyou’vegonethisfar,Imustpointout,withprimary,secondary,auditory,olfactory,andlabialhallucinations,aswellastactileandopticalfantasies,itisprettybadbusiness.Wehavetoresorttoeuthanasia."

           Thecaptainleapedupwitharoar."Lookhere,we’vestoodquiteenough!Testus,tapourknees,checkourhearts,exerciseus,askquestions!"

           "Youarefreetospeak."

           Thecaptainravedforanhour.Thepsychologistlistened.

           "Incredible,"hemused.