Марсианские хроники
June 2001: — and the Moon Be Still as Bright
Hisfacewassolemn.Spenderwatched,thinking:Youpoorman,whatanightthisis!Theydon’tknowwhatthey’redoing.TheyshouldhavehadanorientationprogrambeforetheycametoMarstotellthemhowtolookandhowtowalkaroundandbegoodforafewdays.
"Thatdoesit."Thecaptainbeggedoffandsatdown,sayinghewasexhausted.Spenderlookedatthecaptain’schest.Itwasn’tmovingupanddownveryfast.Hisfacewasn’tsweaty,either.
Accordion,harmonica,wine,shout,dance,wail,roundabout,dashofpan,laughter.
BiggsweavedtotherimoftheMartiancanal.Hecarriedsixemptybottlesanddroppedthemonebyoneintothedeepbluecanalwaters.Theymadeempty,hollow,drowningsoundsastheysank.
"Ichristenthee,Ichristenthee,Ichristenthee—"saidBiggsthickly."IchristentheeBiggs,Biggs,BiggsCanal—"
Spenderwasonhisfeet,overthefire,andalongsideBiggsbeforeanyonemoved.HehitBiggsonceintheteethandonceintheear.Biggstoppledandfelldownintothecanalwater.AfterthesplashSpenderwaitedsilentlyforBiggstoclimbbackupontothestonebank.BythattimethemenwereholdingSpender.
"Hey,what’seatingyou,Spender?Hey?"theyasked.
Biggsclimbedupandstooddripping.HesawthemenholdingSpender."Well,"hesaid,andstartedforward.
"That’senough,"snappedCaptainWilder.ThemenbrokeawayfromSpender.Biggsstoppedandglancedatthecaptain.
"Allright,Biggs,getsomedryclothes.
