"Bradbury, Ray - The Illustrated Man" - читать интересную книгу автора (Bradbury Ray)

Willie Johnson held the rope in his hands. Those around him watched to see what he might do. His wife Hattie waited, clutching his arm.

She wanted to get at the hate of them all, to pry at it and work at it until she found a little chink, and then pull out a pebble or a stone or a brick and then a part of the wall, and, once started, the whole edifice might roar down and be done away with. It was teetering now. But which was the keystone, and how to get at it? How to touch them and get a thing started in all of them to make a ruin of their hate?

She looked at Willie there in the strong silence and the only thing she knew about the situation was him and his life and what had happened to him, and suddenly he was the keystone; suddenly she knew that if he could be pried loose, then the thing in all of them might be loosened and torn away.

УMisterЧФ She stepped forward. She didnТt even know the first words to say. The crowd stared at her back; she felt them staring. УMisterЧФ

The man turned to her with a tired smile.

УMister,Ф she said, Уdo you know Knockwood Hill in Greenwater, Alabama?Ф

The old man spoke over his shoulder to someone within the ship. A moment later a photographic map was handed out and the man held it, waiting.

УYou know the big oak on top of that hill, mister?Ф The big oak. The place where WillieТs father was shot and hung and found swinging in the morning wind.

УYes.Ф

УIs that still there?Ф asked Hattie.

УItТs gone,Ф said the old man. УBlown up. The hillТs all gone, and the oak tree too. You see?Ф He touched the photograph.

УLet me see that,Ф said Willie, jerking forward and looking at the map.

Hattie blinked at the white man, heart pounding.

УTell me about Greenwater,Ф she said quickly.

УWhat do you want to know?Ф

УAbout Dr. Phillips. Is he still alive?Ф

A moment in which the information was found in a clicking machine within the rocket .

УKilled in the war.Ф

УAnd his son?Ф

УDead.Ф

УWhat about their house?Ф

УBurned. Like all the other houses.Ф

УWhat about that other big tree on Knockwood Hill?Ф

УAll the trees wentЧburned.Ф

УThat tree went, youТre sure?Ф said Willie.