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

УThereТs what?Ф

УThe Sun Dome!Ф

The lieutenant blinked the water from his eyes and raised his hands to ward off the stinging blows of the rain.

At a distance there was a yellow glow on the edge of the jungle, by the sea. It was, indeed, the Sun Dome.

The men smiled at each other.

УLooks like you were right, Lieutenant.Ф

УLuck.Ф

УBrother, that puts muscle in me, just seeing it. Come on! Last one thereТs a son-of-a-bitch!Ф Simmons began to trot. The others automatically fell in with this, gasping, tired, but keeping pace.

УA big pot of coffee for me,Ф panted Simmons, smiling. УAnd a pan of cinnamon buns, by God! And just lie there and let the old sun hit you. The guy that invented the Sun Domes, he should have got a medal!Ф

They ran faster. The yellow glow grew brighter.

УGuess a lot of men went crazy before they figured out the cure. Think itТd be obvious! Right off.Ф Simmons panted the words in cadence to his running. УRain, rain! Years ago. Found a friend. Of mine. Out in the jungle. Wandering around. In the rain. Saying over and over, СDonТt know enough, to come in, outta the rain. DonТt know enough, to come in, outta the rain. DonТt know enoughЧТ On and on. Like that. Poor crazy bastard.Ф

УSave your breath!Ф

They ran.

They all laughed. They reached the door of the Sun Dome, laughing.

Simmons yanked the door wide. УHey!Ф he yelled. УBring on the coffee and buns!Ф

There was no reply.

They stepped through the door.

The Sun Dome was empty and dark. There was no synthetic yellow sun floating in a high gaseous whisper at the center of the blue ceiling. There was no food waiting. It was cold as a vault. And through a thousand holes which had been newly punctured in the ceiling water streamed, the rain fell down, soaking into the thick rugs and the heavy modern furniture and splashing on the glass tables. The jungle was growing up like a moss in the room, on top of the bookcases and the divans. The rain slashed through the holes and fell upon the three menТs faces.

Pickard began to laugh quietly.

УShut up, Pickard!Ф

УYe gods, look whatТs here for usЧno food, no sun, nothing. The VenusiansЧthey did it! Of course!Ф

Simmons nodded, with the rain funneling down on his face. The water ran in his silvered hair and on his white eyebrows. УEvery once in a while the Venusians come up out of the sea and attack a Sun Dome. They know if they ruin the Sun Domes they can ruin us.Ф

УBut arenТt the Sun Domes protected with guns?Ф

УSure.Ф Simmons stepped aside to a place that was relatively dry. УBut itТs been five years since the Venusians tried anything. Defense relaxes. They caught this Dome unaware.Ф

УWhere are the bodies?Ф