Марсианские хроники
February 1999: Ylla
Itwassounexpectedanddifferent.Helookedatmeandhesaid,«I’vecomefromthethirdplanetinmyship.MynameisNathanielYork—»"
"Astupidname;it’snonameatall,"objectedthehusband.
"Ofcourseit’sstupid,becauseit’sadream,"sheexplainedsoftly."Andhesaid,«Thisisthefirsttripacrossspace.Thereareonlytwoofusinourship,myselfandmyfriendBert.»"
"Anotherstupidname."
"Andhesaid,«We’refromacityonEarth;that’sthenameofourplanet,»"continuedMrs.K."That’swhathesaid.«Earth»wasthenamehespoke.Andheusedanotherlanguage.SomehowIunderstoodhim.Withmymind.Telepathy,Isuppose."
Mr.Kturnedaway.Shestoppedhimwithaword."Yll?"shecalledquietly."Doyoueverwonderif—well,iftherearepeoplelivingonthethirdplanet?"
"Thethirdplanetisincapableofsupportinglife,"statedthehusbandpatiently."Ourscientistshavesaidthere’sfartoomuchoxygenintheiratmosphere."
"Butwouldn’titbefascinatingiftherewerepeople?Andtheytraveledthroughspaceinsomesortofship?"
"Really,Ylla,youknowhowIhatethisemotionalwailing.Let’sgetonwithourwork."
Itwaslateinthedaywhenshebegansingingthesongasshemovedamongthewhisperingpillarsofrain.Shesangitoverandoveragain.
"What’sthatsong?"snappedherhusbandatlast,walkingintositatthefiretable.
"Idon’tknow."Shelookedup,surprisedatherself.Sheputherhandtohermouth,unbelieving.Thesunwassetting.
