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

Simmons said, УDonТt move, Lieutenant. IТve got my gun ready for you too. Think it over; he would only have stood or sat there and drowned. ItТs quicker this way.Ф

The lieutenant blinked at the body. УBut you killed him.Ф

УYes, because heТd have killed us by being a burden. You saw his face. Insane.Ф

After a moment the lieutenant nodded. УAll right.Ф

They walked off into the rain.

It was dark and their hand lamps threw a beam that pierced the rain for only a few feet. After a half hour they had to stop and sit through the rest of the night, aching with hunger, waiting for the dawn to come; when it did come it was gray and continually raining as before, and they began to walk again.

УWeТve miscalculated,Ф said Simmons.

УNo. Another hour.Ф

УSpeak louder. I canТt hear you.Ф Simmons stopped and smiled. УBy Christ,Ф he said, and touched his ears. УMy ears. TheyТve gone out on me. All the rain pouring finally numbed me right down to the bone.Ф

УCanТt you hear anything?Ф said the lieutenant.

УWhat?Ф SimmonsТs eyes were puzzled.

УNothing. Come on.Ф

УI think IТll wait here. You go on ahead.Ф

УYou canТt do that.Ф

УI canТt hear you. You go on. IТm tired. I donТt think the Sun Dome is down this way. And, if it is, itТs probably got holes in the roof, like the last one. I think IТll just sit here.Ф

УGet up from there!Ф

УSo long, Lieutenant.Ф

УYou canТt give up now.Ф

УIТve got a gun here that says IТm staying. I just donТt give a damn any more. IТm not crazy yet, but IТm the next thing to it. I donТt want to go out that way. As soon as you get out of sight IТm going to use this gun on myself.Ф

УSimmons!Ф

УYou said my name. I can read that much off your lips.Ф

УSimmons.Ф

УLook, itТs a matter of time. Either I die now or in a few hours. WaitТll you get to that next Dome, if you ever get there, and find rain coming in through the roof. WonТt that be nice?Ф

The lieutenant waited and then splashed off in the rain. He turned and called back once, but Simmons was only sitting there with the gun in his hands, waiting for him to get out of sight. He shook his head and waved the lieutenant on.

The lieutenant didnТt even hear the sound of the gun.