Марсианские хроники
June 2001: — and the Moon Be Still as Bright
"Stopit!"Hecrushedhisbodywithhisminduntilalltheshakingwassqueezedoutofit.Hishandslaycalmlynowuponhissilentknees.
Hearoseandstrappedaportablestoragelockeronhisbackwithquietefficiency.Hishandbegantotrembleagain,justforabreathofaninstant,buthesaid,"No!"veryfirmly,andthetremblingpassed.Then,walkingstiffly,hemovedoutbetweenthehotredhillsoftheland,alone.
Thesunburnedfartherupthesky.Anhourlaterthecaptainclimbeddownoutoftherockettogetsomehamandeggs.Hewasjustsayinghellotothefourmensittingtherewhenhestoppedandnoticedafaintsmellofgunfumesontheair.Hesawthecooklyingontheground,withthecampfireunderhim.Thefourmensatbeforefoodthatwasnowcold.
AmomentlaterParkhillandtwoothersclimbeddown.Thecaptainstoodintheirway,fascinatedbythesilentmenandthewaytheysatattheirbreakfast.
"Callthemen,allofthem,"saidthecaptain.
Parkhillhurriedoffdownthecanalrim.
ThecaptaintouchedCheroke.Cheroketwistedquietlyandfellfromhischair.Sunlightburnedinhisbristledshorthairandonhishighcheekbones.
Themencamein.
"Who’smissing?"
"It’sstillSpender,sir.WefoundBiggsfloatinginthecanal."
"Spender!"
Thecaptainsawthehillsrisinginthedaylight,Thesunshowedhisteethinagrimace."Damnhim,"hesaidtiredly."Whydidn’thecomeandtalktome?"
"Heshould’vetalkedtome,"criedParkhill,eyesblazing.
