Марсианские хроники
April 2000: The Third Expedition
Upontheporchwerehairygeraniumsandanoldswingwhichwashookedintotheporchceilingandwhichnowswungbackandforth,backandforth,inalittlebreeze.Atthesummitofthehousewasacupolawithdiamondleaded-glasswindowsandadunce-caproof!Throughthefrontwindowyoucouldseeapieceofmusictitled"BeautifulOhio"sittingonthemusicrest.
Aroundtherocketinfourdirectionsspreadthelittletown,greenandmotionlessintheMartianspring.Therewerewhitehousesandredbrickones,andtallelmtreesblowinginthewind,andtallmaplesandhorsechestnuts.Andchurchsteepleswithgoldenbellssilentinthem.
Therocketmenlookedoutandsawthis.Thentheylookedatoneanotherandthentheylookedoutagain.Theyheldtoeachother’selbows,suddenlyunabletobreathe,itseemed,Theirfacesgrewpale.
"I’llbedamned,"whisperedLustig,rubbinghisfacewithhisnumbfingers."I’llbedamned."
"Itjustcan’tbe,"saidSamuelHinkston.
"Lord,"saidCaptainJohnBlack.
Therewasacallfromthechemist."Sir,theatmosphereisthinforbreathing.Butthere’senoughoxygen.It’ssafe."
"Thenwe’llgoout,"saidLustig.
"Holdon,"saidCaptainJohnBlack."Howdoweknowwhatthisis?"
"It’sasmalltownwiththinbutbreathableairinit,sir."
"Andit’sasmalltownthelikeofEarthtowns,"saidHinkston,thearchaeologist"Incredible.Itcan’tbe,butitis."
CaptainJohnBlacklookedathimidly.
