Марсианские хроники
February 1999: Ylla
Youknow,anearlystartandallthat,"hesaidverycasually.
"Butwenevergothisearlyintheyear!"
"Justthisonce,Ithought—"Hesmiled."Dousgoodtogetaway.Somepeaceandquiet.Youknow.Youhaven’tanythingelseplanned?We’llgo,won’twe?"
Shetookabreath,waited,andthenreplied,"No."
"What?"Hiscrystartledthebirds.Thecanopyjerked.
"No,"shesaidfirmly."It’ssettled.Iwon’tgo."
Helookedather.Theydidnotspeakafterthat.Sheturnedaway.
Thebirdsflewon,tenthousandflrebrandsdownthewind.
Inthedawnthesun,throughthecrystalpillars,meltedthefogthatsupportedYllaassheslept.Allnightshehadhungabovethefloor,buoyedbythesoftcarpetingofmistthatpouredfromthewallswhenshelaydowntorest.Allnightshehadsleptonthissilentriver,likeaboatuponasoundlesstide.Nowthefogburnedaway,themistlevellowereduntilshewasdepositedupontheshoreofwakening.
Sheopenedhereyes.
Herhusbandstoodoverher.Helookedasifhehadstoodthereforhours,watching.Shedidnotknowwhy,butshecouldnotlookhimintheface.
"You’vebeendreamingagain!"hesaid."Youspokeoutandkeptmeawake.Ireallythinkyoushouldseeadoctor."
"I’llbeallright."
"Youtalkedalotinyoursleep!"
"DidI?"Shestartedup.
Dawnwascoldintheroom.Agraylightfilledherasshelaythere.
"Whatwasyourdream?"
Shehadtothinkamomenttoremember."Theship.
