Марсианские хроники
April 2000: The Third Expedition
Don’tstandthere!"
Inthelivingroomoftheoldhouseitwascool,andagrandfatherclocktickedhighandlongandbronzedinonecorner.Thereweresoftpillowsonlargecouchesandwallsfilledwithbooksandarugcutinathickrosepattern,andicedteainthehand,sweating,andcoolonthethirstytongue.
"Here’stoourhealth."Grandmatippedherglasstoherporcelainteeth.
"Howlongyoubeenhere,Grandma?"saidLustig.
"Eversincewedied,"shesaidtartly.
"Eversinceyouwhat?"CaptainJohnBlacksetdownhisglass.
"Ohyes."Lustignodded."They’vebeendeadthirtyyears."
"Andyousittherecalmly!"shoutedthecaptain.
"Tush."Theoldwomanwinkedglitteringly."Whoareyoutoquestionwhathappens?Hereweare.What’slife,anyway?Whodoeswhatforwhyandwhere?Allweknowishereweare,aliveagain,andnoquestionsasked.Asecondchance."Shetoddledoverandheldoutherthinwrist."Feel."Thecaptainfelt."Solid,ain’tit?"sheasked.Henodded."Well,then,"shesaidtriumphantly,"whygoaroundquestioning?"
"Well,"saidthecaptain,"it’ssimplythatweneverthoughtwe’dfindathinglikethisonMars."
"Andnowyou’vefoundit.Idaresaythere’slotsoneveryplanetthat’llshowyouGod’sinfiniteways."
"IsthisHeaven?"askedHinkston.
"Nonsense,no.It’saworldandwegetasecondchance.Nobodytolduswhy.ButthennobodytolduswhywewereonEarth,either.ThatotherEarth,Imean.Theoneyoucamefrom.
