Марсианские хроники
April 2000: The Third Expedition
Andaftertheybuiltthetownfrommymind,theypopulateditwiththemost-lovedpeoplefromallthemindsofthepeopleontherocket!
Andsupposethosetwopeopleinthenextroom,asleep,arenotmymotherandfatheratall,ButtwoMartians,incrediblybrilliant,withtheabilitytokeepmeunderthisdreaminghypnosisallofthetime.
Andthatbrassbandtoday?Whatastartlinglywonderfulplanitwouldbe.First,foolLustig,thenHinkston,thengatheracrowd;andallthemenintherocket,seeingmothers,aunts,uncles,sweethearts,deadten,twentywearsago,naturally,disregardingorders,rushoutandabandonship.Whatmorenatural?Whatmoreunsuspecting?Whatmoresimple?Amandoesn’tasktoomanyquestionswhenhismotherissoddenlybroughtbacktolife;he’smuchtoohappy.Andhereweallaretonight,invarioushouses,invariousbeds,withnoweaponstoprotectus,andtherocketliesinthemoonlight,empty.Andwouldn’titbehorribleandterrifyingtodiscoverthatallofthiswaspartofsomegreatcleverplanbytheMartianstodivideandconquerus,andkillus?Sometimeduringthenight,perhaps,mybrotherhereonthisbedwillchangeform,melt,shift,andbecomeanotherthing,aterriblething,aMartian.Itwouldbeverysimpleforhimjusttoturnoverinbedandputaknifeintomyheart.Andinallthoseotherhousesdownthestreet,adozenotherbrothersorfatherssuddenlymeltingawayandtakingknivesanddoingthingstotheunsuspecting,sleepingmenofEarth…
Hishandswereshakingunderthecovers.Hisbodywascold.
