Марсианские хроники
June 2001: — and the Moon Be Still as Bright
"Andyoucertainlywon’tletmestaywithouttrouble.I’llhavetokillyouall."
"You’reoptimistic."
"Ihavesomethingtofightforandlivefor;thatmakesmeabetterkiller.I’vegotwhatamountstoareligion,now.It’slearninghowtobreathealloveragain.Andhowtolieinthesungettingatan,lettingthesunworkintoyou.Andhowtohearmusicandhowtoreadabook.Whatdoesyourcivilizationoffer?"
Thecaptainshiftedhisfeet.Heshookhishead."I’msorrythisishappening.I’msorryaboutitall."
"Iamtoo.IguessI’dbettertakeyoubacknowsoyoucanstarttheattack."
"Iguessso."
"Captain,Iwon’tkillyou.Whenit’sallover,you’llstillbealive."
"What?"
"IdecidedwhenIstartedthatyou’dbeuntouched."
"Well…"
"I’llsaveyououtfromtherest.Whenthey’redead,perhapsyou’llchangeyourmind."
"No,"saidthecaptain."There’stoomuchEarthbloodinme.I’llhavetokeepafteryou."
"Evenwhenyouhaveachancetostayhere?"
"It’sfunny,butyes,evenwiththat.Idon’tknowwhy.I’veneveraskedmyself.Well,hereweare."Theyhadreturnedtotheirmeetingplacenow."Willyoucomequietly,Spender?Thisismylastoffer."
"Thanks,no."Spenderputouthishand."Onelastthing.Ifyouwin,domeafavor.Seewhatcanbedonetorestricttearingthisplanetapart,atleastforfiftyyears,untilthearchaeologistshavehadadecentchance,willyou?"
"Right."
