Марсианские хроники
April 2000: The Third Expedition
Butcertainlyatownlikethiscouldnotoccurwithoutdivineintervention.Thedetail.ItfillsmewithsuchfeelingsthatIdon’tknowwhethertolaughorcry."
"Doneither,then,untilweknowwhatwe’reupagainst."
"Upagainst?"Lustigbrokein."Againstnothing,Captain.It’sagood,quietgreentown,alotliketheold-fashionedoneIwasbornin.Ilikethelooksofit."
"Whenwereyouborn,Lustig?"
"Nineteen-fifty,sir."
"Andyou,Hinkston?"
"Nineteenfifty-five,sir.Grinnell,Iowa.Andthislookslikehometome."
"Hinkston,Lustig,Icouldbeeitherofyourfathers.I’mjusteightyyearsold.Bornin1920inIllinois,andthroughthegraceofGodandasciencethat,inthelastfiftyyears,knowshowtomakesomeoldmenyoungagain,hereIamonMars,notanymoretiredthantherestofyou,butinfinitelymoresuspicious.Thistownoutherelooksverypeacefulandcool,andsomuchlikeGreenBluff,Illinois,thatitfrightensme.It’stoomuchlikeGreenBluff."Heturnedtotheradioman."RadioEarth.Tellthemwe’velanded.That’sall.Tellthemwe’llradioafullreporttomorrow."
"Yes,sir."
CaptainBlacklookedouttherocketportwithhisfacethatshouldhavebeenthefaceofamaneightybutseemedlikethefaceofamaninhisfortiethyear."Tellyouwhatwe’lldo,Lustig;youandIandHinkston’lllookthetownover.Theothermen’llstayaboard.Ifanythinghappenstheycangetthehellout.Alossofthreemen’sbetterthanawholeship.
