Марсианские хроники
June 2001: — and the Moon Be Still as Bright
"Fromthelookoftheircitiestheywereagraceful,beautiful,andphilosophicalpeople.Theyacceptedwhatcametothem.Theyaccededtoracialdeath,thatmuchweknow,andwithoutalast-momentwaroffrustrationtotumbledowntheircities.Everytownwe’veseensofarhasbeenflawlesslyintact.Theyprobablydon’tmindusbeinghereanymorethanthey’dmindchildrenplayingonthelawn,knowingandunderstandingchildrenforwhattheyare.And,anyway,perhapsallthiswillchangeusforthebetter".
"Didyounoticethepeculiarquietofthemen,Spender,untilBiggsforcedthemtogethappy?Theylookedprettyhumbleandfrightened.Lookingatallthis,weknowwe’renotsohot;we’rekidsinrompers,shoutingwithourplayrocketsandatoms,loudandalive.ButonedayEarthwillbeasMarsistoday.Thiswillsoberus.It’sanobjectlessonincivilizations.We’lllearnfromMars.Nowsuckinyourchin.Let’sgobackandplayhappy.Thatfifty-dollarfinestillgoes."
Thepartywasnotgoingtoowell.Thewindkeptcominginoffthedeadsea.ItmovedaroundthemenanditmovedaroundthecaptainandJeffSpenderastheyreturnedtothegroup.Thewindpulledatthedustandtheshiningrocketandpulledattheaccordion,andthedustgotintothevampedharmonica.Thedustgotintheireyesandthewindmadeahighsingingsoundintheair.Assuddenlyasithadcomethewinddied.
Butthepartyhaddiedtoo.
Themenstooduprightagainstthedarkcoldsky.
