Марсианские хроники
August 1999: The Earth Men
Youpoor,wonderfulman.Youwillbehappierdead.Haveyouanylastwords?"
"Stop,forGod’ssake!Don’tshoot!"
"Yousadcreature.Ishallputyououtofthismiserywhichhasdrivenyoutoimaginethisrocketandthesethreemen.ItwillbemostengrossingtowatchyourfriendsandyourrocketvanishonceIhavekilledyou.IwillwriteaneatpaperonthedissolvementofneuroticimagesfromwhatIperceiveheretoday."
"I’mfromEarth!MynameisJonathanWilliams,andthese—"
"Yes,Iknow,"soothedMr.Xxx,andfiredhisgun.
Thecaptainfellwithabulletinhisheart.Theotherthreemenscreamed.
Mr.Xxxstaredatthem."Youcontinuetoexist?Thisissuperb!Hallucinationswithtimeandspatialpersistence!"Hepointedthegunatthem."Well,I’llscareyouintodissolving."
"No!"criedthethreemen,
"Anauditoryappeal,evenwiththepatientdead,"observedMr.Xxxasheshotthethreemendown.
Theylayonthesand,intact,notmoving.
Hekickedthem.Thenherappedontheship.
"Itpersists!Theypersist!"Hefiredhisgunagainandagainatthebodies.Thenhestoodback.Thesmilingmaskdroppedfromhisface.
Slowlythelittlepsychologist’sfacechanged.Hisjawsagged.Thegundroppedfromhisfingers.HiseyesweredullandvacantHeputhishandsupandturnedinablindcirde.Hefumbledatthebodies,salivafillinghismouth.
"Hallucinations,"hemumbledfrantically."Taste.Sight.Smell.Sound.Feeling."Hewavedhishands.Hiseyesbulged.Hismouthbegantogiveoffafaintfroth
