Марсианские хроники

           "Ed!"

           "John,youbum,you!"

           "You’relookingfine,Ed,but,Ed,whatisthis?Youhaven’tchangedovertheyears.Youdied,Iremember,whenyouweretwenty-sixandIwasnineteen.GoodGod,somanyyearsago,andhereyouareand,Lord,whatgoeson?"

           "Mom’swaiting,"saidEdwardBlack,grinning.

           "Mom?"

           "AndDadtoo."

           "Dad?"Thecaptainalmostfellasifhehadbeenhitbyamightyweapon.Hewalkedstifflyandwithoutco.ordination."MomandDadalive?Where?"

           "AttheoldhouseonOakKnollAvenue."

           "Theoldhouse."Thecaptainstaredindelightedamaze."Didyouhearthat,Lustig,Hinkston?"

           Hinkstonwasgone.Hehadseenhisownhousedownthestreetandwasrunningforit.Lustigwaslaughing."Yousee,Captain,whathappenedtoeveryoneontherocket?Theycouldn’thelpthemselves."

           "Yes.Yes."Thecaptainshuthiseyes."WhenIopenmyeyesyou’llbegone."Heblinked."You’restillthere.God,Ed,butyoulookfine!"

           "Comeon,lunch’swaiting.ItoldMom."

           Lustigsaid,"Sir,I’llbewithmygrandfolksifyouneedme."

           "What?Oh,fine,Lustig.Later,then."

           Edwardseizedhisarmandmarchedhim."There’sthehouse.Rememberit?"

           "Hell!BetIcanbeatyoutothefrontporch!"

           Theyran.ThetreesroaredoverCaptainBlack’shead;theearthroaredunderhisfeet.HesawthegoldenfigureofEdwardBlackpullaheadofhimintheamazingdreamofreality.Hesawthehouserushforward,thescreendoorswingwide."Beatyou!"criedEdward.