Марсианские хроники
August 1999: The Earth Men
"MostdetaileddreamfantasyI’veeverheard."
"Goddamnit,we’llshowyoutherocketship!"screamedthecaptain.
"I’dliketoseeit.Canyoumanifestitinthisroom?"
"Oh,certainly.It’sinthatfileofyours,underR."
Mr.Xxxpeeredseriouslyintohisfile.Hewent"Tsk"andshutthefilesolemnly."Whydidyoutellmetolook?Therocketisn’tthere."
"Ofcoursenot,youidiot!Iwasjoking.Doesaninsanemanjoke?"
"Youfindsomeoddsensesofhumor.Now,takemeouttoyourrocket.Iwishtoseeit."
Itwasnoon.Thedaywasveryhotwhentheyreachedtherocket.
"So."Thepsychologistwalkeduptotheshipandtappedit.Itgongedsoftly."MayIgoinside?"heaskedslyly.
"Youmay."
Mr.Xxxsteppedinandwasgoneforalongtime.
"Ofallthesilly,exasperatingthings."Thecaptainchewedacigarashewaited."FortwocentsI’dgobackhomeandtellpeoplenottobotherwithMars.Whatasuspiciousbunchoflouts."
"Igatherthatagoodnumberoftheirpopulationareinsane,sir.Thatseemstobetheirmainreasonfordoubting."
"Nevertheless,thisisallsodamnedirritating."
Thepsychologistemergedfromtheshipafterhalfanhourofprowling,tapping,listening,smelling,tasting.
"Nowdoyoubelieve!"shoutedthecaptain,asifheweredeaf.
Thepsychologistshuthiseyesandscratchedhisnose."ThisisthemostincredibleexampleofsensualhallucinationandhypnoticsuggestionI’veeverencountered.Iwentthroughyour«rocket,»asyoucallit."Hetappedthehull.
