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

УI did not hear, seёor,Ф said Hernando quietly.

УThe war!Ф shouted the young man as if no one could hear. УItТs come, the atom war, the end of the world!Ф

УSeёor, seёor,Ф said Hernando.

УThank you, thank you for your help. Good-by,Ф said the young man.

УGood-by,Ф they all said in the rain, not seeing him.

He stood while the car engaged its gears and rattled off down, fading away, through the valley. Finally it was gone, with the young women in it, the last car, the newspapers held and fluttered over their heads.

Hernando did not move for a long time. The rain ran very cold down his cheeks and along his fingers and into the woven garment on his legs. He held his breath, waiting, tight and tensed.

He watched the highway, but it did not move again. He doubted that it would move much for a very long time.

The rain stopped. The sky broke through the clouds. In ten minutes the storm was gone, like a bad breath. A sweet wind blew the smell of the jungle up to him. He could hear the river moving gently and easily on its way. The jungle was very green; everything was fresh. He walked down through the field to his house and picked up his plow. With his hands on it he looked at the sky beginning to burn hot with the sun.

His wife called out from her work. УWhat happened, Hernando?Ф

УIt is nothing,Ф he replied.

He set the plow in the furrow, he called sharply to his burro, УBurrrrrrr-o!Ф And they walked together through the rich field, under the clearing sky, on their tilled land by the deep river.

УWhat do they mean, Сthe worldТ?Ф he said.


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The Man


CAPTAIN HART stood in the door of the rocket. УWhy donТt they come?Ф he said.

УWho knows?Ф said Martin, his lieutenant. УDo I know, Captain?Ф

УWhat kind of a place is this, anyway?Ф The captain lighted a cigar. He tossed the match out into the glittering meadow. The grass started to burn.

Martin moved to stamp it out with his boot.

УNo,Ф ordered Captain Hart, Уlet it burn. Maybe theyТll come see whatТs happening then, the ignorant fools.Ф

Martin shrugged and withdrew his foot from the spreading fire.

Captain Hart examined his watch. УAn hour ago we landed here, and does the welcoming committee rush out with a brass band to shake our hands? No indeed! Here we ride millions of miles through space and the fine citizens of some silly town on some unknown planet ignore us!Ф He snorted, tapping his watch. УWell, IТll just give them five more minutes, and thenЧЧФ

УAnd then what?Ф asked Martin, ever so politely, watching the captain's jowls shake.

УWeТll fly over their damned city again and scare hell out of them.Ф His voice grew quieter. УDo you think, Martin, maybe they didnТt see us land?Ф