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

УThey saw us. They looked up as we flew over.

УThen why arenТt they running across the field? Are they hiding? Are they yellow?Ф

Martin shook his head. УNo. Take these binoculars, sir. See for yourself. EverybodyТs walking around. TheyТre not frightened. TheyЧwell, they just donТt seem to care.

Captain Hart placed the binoculars to his tired eyes. Martin looked up and had time to observe the lines and the grooves of irritation, tiredness, nervousness there. Hart looked a million years old; he never slept, he ate little, and drove himself on, on. Now his mouth moved, aged and drear, but sharp, under the held binoculars.

УReally, Martin, I donТt know why we bother. We build rockets, we go to all the trouble of crossing space, searching for them, and this is what we get. Neglect. Look at those idiots wander about in there. DonТt they realize how big this is? The first space flight to touch their provincial land. How many times does that happen? Are they that blasщ?Ф

Martin didnТt know.

Captain Hart gave him back the binoculars wearily. УWhy do we do it, Martin? This space travel, I mean. Always on the go. Always searching. Our insides always tight, never any rest.Ф

УMaybe weТre looking for peace and quiet. Certainly thereТs none on Earth,Ф said Martin.

УNo, thereТs not, is there?Ф Captain Hart was thoughtful, the fire damped down. УNot since Darwin, eh? Not since everything went by the board, everything we used to believe in, eh? Divine power and all that. And so you think maybe thatТs why weТre going out to the stars, eh, Martin? Looking for our lost souls, is that it? Trying to get away from our evil planet to a good one?Ф

УPerhaps, sir. Certainly weТre looking for something.Ф

Captain Hart cleared his throat and tightened back into sharpness. УWell, right now weТre looking for the mayor of that city there. Run in, tell them who we are, the first rocket expedition to Planet Forty-three in Star System Three. Captain Hart sends his salutations and desires to meet the mayor. On the double!Ф

УYes, sir.Ф Martin walked slowly across the meadow.

УHurry!Ф snapped the captain.

УYes, sir!Ф Martin trotted away. Then he walked again, smiling to himself.



The captain had smoked two cigars before Martin returned. Martin stopped and looked up into the door of the rocket, swaying, seemingly unable to focus his eyes or think.

УWell?Ф snapped Hart. УWhat happened? Are they coming to welcome us?Ф

УNo.Ф Martin had to lean dizzily against the ship.

УWhy not?Ф

УItТs not important,Ф said Martin. УGive me a cigarette, please, Captain.Ф His fingers groped blindly at the rising pack, for he was looking at the golden city and blinking. He lighted one and smoked quietly for a long time.

УSay something!Ф cried the captain. УArenТt they interested in our rocket?Ф

Martin said, УWhat? Oh. The rocket?Ф He inspected his cigarette. УNo, theyТre not interested. Seems we came at an inopportune time.Ф

УInopportune time!Ф

Martin was patient. УCaptain, listen. Something big happened yesterday in that city. ItТs so big, so important that weТre second-rateЧsecond fiddle. IТve got to sit down.Ф He lost his balance and sat heavily, gasping for air.

The captain chewed his cigar angrily. "What happened?Ф Martin lifted his head, smoke from the burning cigarette in his fingers, blowing in the wind. УSir, yesterday, in that city, a remarkable man appearedЧgood, intelligent, compassionate, and infinitely wise!Ф