Марсианские хроники
June 2001: — and the Moon Be Still as Bright
Thecaptainhesitated,thenroseandcalledanorderdownthehill.
SpenderledhimoverintoalittleMartianvillagebuiltallofcoolperfectmarble.Thereweregreatfriezesofbeautifulanimals,white-limbedcatthingsandyellow-limbedsunsymbols,andstatuesofbull-likecreaturesandstatuesofmenandwomenandhugefine-featureddogs.
"There’syouranswer,Captain."
"Idon’tsee."
"TheMartiansdiscoveredthesecretoflifeamonganimals.Theanimaldoesnotquestionlife.Itlives.Itsveryreasonforlivingislife;itenjoysandrelisheslife.Yousee—thestatuary,theanimalsymbols,againandagain."
"Itlookspagan."
"Onthecontrary,thoseareGodsymbols,symbolsoflife.ManhadbecometoomuchmanandnotenoughanimalonMarstoo.AndthemenofMarsrealizedthatinordertosurvivetheywouldhavetoforgoaskingthatonequestionanylonger:Whylive?Lifewasitsownanswer.Lifewasthepropagationofmorelifeandthelivingofasgoodalifeispossible.TheMartiansrealizedthattheyaskedthequestion«Whyliveatall?»attheheightofsomeperiodofwaranddespair,whentherewasnoanswer.Butoncethecivilizationcalmed,quieted,andwarsceased,thequestionbecamesenselessinanewway.Lifewasnowgoodandneedednoarguments."
"ItsoundsasiftheMartianswerequitenaive."
"Onlywhenitpaidtobenaive.Theyquittryingtoohardtodestroyeverything,tohumbleeverything.
