Марсианские хроники
June 2001: — and the Moon Be Still as Bright
"I’vefoundsomeundergroundpassagesandaplacetoliveyou’llneverfind.I’llwithdrawtheretoliveforafewweeks.Untilyou’reoffguard.I’llcomeoutthentopickyouoff,onebyone."
Thecaptainnodded."Tellmeaboutyourcivilizationhere,"hesaid,wavinghishandatthemountaintowns.
"Theyknewhowtolivewithnatureandgetalongwithnature.Theydidn’ttrytoohardtobeallmenandnoanimal.That’sthemistakewemadewhenDarwinshowedup.WeembracedhimandHuxleyandFreud,allsmiles.AndthenwediscoveredthatDarwinandourreligionsdidn’tmix.Oratleastwedidn’tthinktheydid,Wewerefools.WetriedtobudgeDarwinandHuxleyandFreud.Theywouldn’tmoveverywell.So,likeidiots,wetriedknockingdownreligion."
"Wesucceededprettywell.Welostourfaithandwentaroundwonderingwhatlifewasfor.Ifartwasnomorethanafrustratedoutflingingofdesire,ifreligionwasnomorethanself-delusion,whatgoodwaslife?Faithhadalwaysgivenusanswerstoallthings.ButitallwentdownthedrainwithFreudandDarwin.Wewereandstillarealostpeople."
"AndtheseMartiansareafoundpeople?"inquiredthecaptain.
"Yes.Theyknewhowtocombinescienceandreligionsothetwoworkedsidebyside,neitherdenyingtheother,eachenrichingtheother."
"Thatsoundsideal."
"Itwas.I’dliketoshowyouhowtheMartiansdidit."
"Mymenarewaiting."
"We’llbegonehalfanhour.Tellthemthat,sir."
