火星殖民者与美丽妻子微妙关系.pdfVIP

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PoorHenry

byE.C.Tubb

OneoftheannoyingthingsaboutMarswasthatnointelligentlifelivedthere—exceptafew

Earthcolonistsintentuponhighpay.Henrywasoneofthefortunatefewwhomanagedtohave

anambitiouswifewithhim—notthatitdidhimmuchgood.

AnA\NN/APreservationEdition.Notes

Thesandcarstopped,themotorwhiningdownintosilence,andHenrysworealittleasheoperatedthe

unresponsivecontrols.

“Damnit!What’swrongnow?”

“Please!”Lucywasn’taprudebutshedidn’twantHenrytoforgethismannerseither.“I’msurethat

swearingatitwon’tdoanygood.”

“Sorry,darling.”Henrydidblush,acrimsontidesuffusinghisfaceandaccentuatinghisfine,blondehair.

“I’mnotusedtohavingawomanaround,especiallysuchabeautifulwomanasyou.”

“Silly.”Lucysmiledathim,secretlypleasedwithhisboyishadoration.“Isthatwhyyoumarriedme?”

Theanswertothattooksometimeandmanygesturesanditwasn’tuntilmuchlaterthatHenryreturned

totheproblemofthebreakdown.Irritablyheswungtherheostatsandkickedatthepedals.Nothing.

Thesandcarremainedalifesheapofmetalandstic.

“Thatmechanic!Hetoldmethatthisvehiclehadbeenthoroughlychecked.Justwaituntilwegetback.”

Lucynodded.Henrywasright,ofcourse,itwouldservethemanrighttobedischargedandperhaps

finedbythetouristbureau.allyshehadnotimeforbadservantsandshewaspleasedtoseethat,

inthatrespectatleast,Henrywouldprovenotrouble.Butfutureactionswouldn’tgetthembacktothe

Dome.Shestaredatherhusband.

“Can’tyoumendit?”

“Idon’tknow.”Hekickedatthepedals.“I’vedriventhesethingsnearlyalloverthenetbutI’ve

neverbotheredtotakeamechanic’scourse.Afterall,whyshouldI?I’mabusin