Марсианские хроники

           Suddenlyitwasnotatheory.Suddenlyhewasveryafraid.

           Heliftedhimselfinbedandlistened.ThenightwasveryquietThemusichadstopped.Thewindhaddied.Hisbrotherlaysleepingbesidehim.

           Carefullyheliftedthecovers,rolledthemback.Heslippedfrombedandwaswalkingsoftlyacrosstheroomwhenhisbrother’svoicesaid,"Whereareyougoing?"

           "What?"

           Hisbrother’svoicewasquitecold."Isaid,wheredoyouthinkyou’regoing?"

           "Foradrinkofwater."

           "Butyou’renotthirsty."

           "Yes,yes,Iam."

           "No,you’renot."

           CaptainJohnBlackbrokeandranacrosstheroom.Hescreamed.Hescreamedtwice.

           Heneverreachedthedoor.

           Inthemorningthebrassbandplayedamournfuldirge.Fromeveryhouseinthestreetcamelittlesolemnprocessionsbearinglongboxes,andalongthesun-filledstreet,weeping,camethegrandmasandmothersandsistersandbrothersandunclesandfathers,walkingtothechurchyard,wheretherewerenewholesfreshlydugandnewtombstonesinstalled.Sixteenholesinall,andsixteentombstones.

           Themayormadealittlesadspeech,hisfacesometimeslookinglikethemayor,sometimeslookinglikesomethingelse.

           MotherandFatherBlackwerethere,withBrotherEdward,andtheycried,theirfacesmeltingnowfromafamiliarfaceintosomethingelse.

           GrandpaandGrandmaLustigwerethere,weeping,theirfacesshiftinglikewax,shimmeringasallthingsshimmeronahotday.

           Thecoffinswerelowered