Марсианские хроники
June 2001: — and the Moon Be Still as Bright
Andsomehowthemountainswillneversoundrighttous;we’llgivethemnewnames,buttheoldnamesarethere,somewhereintime,andthemountainswereshapedandseenunderthosenames.Thenameswe’llgivetothecanalsandmountainsandcitieswillfalllikesomuchwateronthebackofamallard.NomatterhowwetouchMars,we’llnevertouchit.Andthenwe’llgetmadatit,andyouknowwhatwe’lldo?We’llripitup,riptheskinoff,andchangeittofitourselves."
"Wewon’truinMars,"saidthecaptain."It’stoobigandtoogood."
"Youthinknot?WeEarthMenhaveatalentforruiningbig,beautifulthings.Theonlyreasonwedidn’tsetuphot-dogstandsinthemidstoftheEgyptiantempleofKarnakisbecauseitwasoutofthewayandservednolargecommercialpurpose.AndEgyptisasmallpartofEarth.Buthere,thiswholethingisancientanddifferent,andwehavetosetdownsomewhereandstartfoulingitup.We’llcallthecanaltheRockefellerCanalandthemountainKingGeorgeMountainandtheseatheDupontsea,andthere’llbeRooseveltandLincolnandCoolidgecitiesanditwon’teverberight,whentherearethepropernamesfortheseplaces."
"That’llbeyourjob,asarchaeologists,tofindouttheoldnames,andwe’llusethem."
"Afewmenlikeusagainstallthecommercialinterests."Spenderlookedattheironmountains."Theyknowwe’reheretonight,tospitintheirwine,andIimaginetheyhateus."
Thecaptainshookhishead."There’snohatredhere."Helistenedtothewind.
