ASoundofThunder

RayBradbury

Thesignonthewallseemedtoquaverunderafilmofslidingwarmwater.Eckelsfelthiseyelids
blinkoverhisstare,andthesignburnedinthismomentarydarkness:

TIMESAFARI,INC.
SAFARISTOANYYEARINTHEPAST.
YOUNAMETHEANIMAL.
WETAKEYOUTHERE.
YOUSHOOTIT.

WarmphlegmgatheredinEckels'throatheswallowedandpusheditdown.Themusclesaround
hismouthformedasmileasheputhishandslowlyoutupontheair,andinthathandwaveda
checkforten thousanddollarstothemanbehindthedesk.

"DoesthissafariguaranteeIcomebackalive?"

"Weguaranteenothing,"saidtheofficial,"exceptthedinosaurs."Heturned."ThisisMr.Travis,
yourSafariGuideinthePast.He'lltellyouwhatandwheretoshoot.Ifhesaysnoshooting,no
shooting.Ifyoudisobeyinstructions,there'sastiffpenaltyofanothertenthousanddollars,plus
possiblegovernmentaction,onyourreturn."

Eckelsglancedacrossthevastofficeatamassandtangle,asnakingand hummingofwiresand
steelboxes,atanaurorathatflickerednoworange,nowsilver,nowblue.Therewasasoundlike
agiganticbonfireburningallofTime,alltheyearsandalltheparchmentcalendars,allthehours
piledhighandsetaflame.

Atouchofthehandandthisburningwould,ontheinstant,beautifullyreverseitself.Eckels
rememberedthewordingintheadvertisementstotheletter.Outofcharsandashes,outofdust
andcoals,likegoldensalamanders,theoldyears,thegreenyears,mightleaprosessweetenthe
air,whitehairturnIrishblack,wrinklesvanishall,everythingflybacktoseed,fleedeath,rush
downtotheirbeginnings,sunsriseinwesternskiesandsetingloriouseasts,moonseat
themselvesoppositetothecustom,all andeverythingcuppingoneinanotherlikeChineseboxes,
rabbitsintohats,allandeverythingreturningtothefreshdeath,theseeddeath,thegreendeath,to
thetimebeforethebeginning.Atouchofahandmightdoit,themeresttouchofahand.

"Unbelievable."Eckelsbreathed,thelightoftheMachineonhisthinface."ArealTime
Machine."Heshookhishead."Makesyouthink,Iftheelectionhadgonebadlyyesterday,I
mightbeherenowrunningawayfromtheresults.ThankGodKeithwon.He'llmakeafine
PresidentoftheUnitedStates."

"Yes,"saidthemanbehindthedesk."We'relucky.IfDeutscherhadgottenin,we'dhavethe
worstkindofdictatorship.There'sanantieverythingmanforyou,amilitarist,antiChrist,anti
human,antiintellectual.Peoplecalledusup,youknow,jokingbutnotjoking.SaidifDeutscher
becamePresidenttheywantedtogolivein1492.Ofcourseit'snotourbusinesstoconduct
Escapes,buttoformSafaris.Anyway,Keith'sPresidentnow.Allyougottoworryaboutis"

"Shootingmydinosaur,"Eckelsfinisheditforhim.
"ATyrannosaurusRex.TheTyrantLizard,themostincrediblemonsterinhistory.Signthis
release.Anythinghappenstoyou,we'renotresponsible.Thosedinosaursarehungry."

Eckelsflushedangrily."Tryingtoscareme!"

"Frankly,yes.Wedon'twantanyonegoingwho'llpanicatthefirstshot.SixSafarileaderswere
killedlastyear,andadozenhunters.We'reheretogiveyoutheseverestthrillarealhunterever
askedfor.TravelingyoubacksixtymillionyearstobagthebiggestgameinallofTime.Your
personalcheck'sstillthere.Tearitup."Mr.Eckelslookedatthecheck.Hisfingerstwitched.

"Goodluck,"saidthemanbehindthedesk."Mr.Travis,he'sallyours."

Theymovedsilentlyacrosstheroom,takingtheirgunswiththem,towardtheMachine,toward
thesilvermetalandtheroaringlight.

Firstadayandthenanightandthenadayandthenanight,thenitwasdaynightdaynight.A
week,amonth,ayear,adecade!A.D.2055.A.D.2019.1999!1957!Gone!TheMachineroared.

Theyputontheiroxygenhelmetsandtestedtheintercoms.

Eckelsswayedonthepaddedseat,hisfacepale,hisjawstiff.Hefeltthetremblinginhisarms
andhelookeddownandfoundhishandstightonthenewrifle.Therewerefourothermeninthe
Machine.Travis,theSafariLeader,hisassistant,Lesperance,andtwootherhunters,Billingsand
Kramer.Theysatlookingateachother,andtheyearsblazedaroundthem.

"Canthesegunsgetadinosaurcold?"Eckelsfelthismouthsaying.

"Ifyouhitthemright,"saidTravisonthehelmetradio."Somedinosaurshavetwobrains,onein
thehead,anotherfardownthespinalcolumn.Westayawayfromthose.That'sstretchingluck.
Putyourfirsttwoshotsintotheeyes,ifyoucan,blindthem,andgobackintothebrain."

TheMachinehowled.Timewasafilmrunbackward.Sunsfledandtenmillionmoonsfledafter
them."Think,"saidEckels."Everyhunterthateverlivedwouldenvyustoday.ThismakesAfrica
seemlikeIllinois."

TheMachinesloweditsscreamfelltoamurmur.TheMachinestopped.

Thesunstoppedinthesky.

ThefogthathadenvelopedtheMachineblewawayandtheywereinanoldtime,averyoldtime
indeed,threehuntersandtwoSafari Headswiththeirbluemetalgunsacrosstheirknees.

"Christisn'tbornyet,"saidTravis,"MoseshasnotgonetothemountainstotalkwithGod.The
Pyramidsarestillintheearth,waitingtobecutoutandputup.Rememberthat.Alexander,
Caesar,Napoleon,Hitlernoneofthemexists."Themannodded.

"That" Mr.Travispointed "isthejungleofsixtymilliontwothousandandfiftyfiveyears

beforePresidentKeith."
Heindicatedametalpaththatstruckoffintogreenwilderness,overstreamingswamp,among
giantfernsandpalms.

"Andthat,"hesaid,"isthePath,laidbyTimeSafariforyouruse,

Itfloatssixinchesabovetheearth.Doesn'ttouchsomuchasonegrassblade,flower,ortree.It's
anantigravitymetal.Itspurposeistokeepyoufromtouchingthisworldofthepastinanyway.
StayonthePath.Don'tgooffit.Irepeat.Don'tgooff.Foranyreason!Ifyoufalloff,there'sa
penalty.Anddon'tshootanyanimalwedon'tokay."

"Why?"askedEckels.

Theysatintheancientwilderness.Farbirds'criesblewonawind,andthesmelloftarandanold
saltsea,moistgrasses,andflowersthecolorofblood.

"Wedon'twanttochangetheFuture.Wedon'tbelonghereinthePast.Thegovernmentdoesn't
likeushere.Wehavetopaybiggrafttokeepourfranchise.ATimeMachineisfinickybusiness.
Notknowingit,wemightkillanimportantanimal,asmallbird,aroach,aflowereven,thus
destroyinganimportantlinkinagrowingspecies."

"That'snotclear,"saidEckels.

"Allright,"Traviscontinued,"sayweaccidentallykillonemousehere.Thatmeansallthefuture
familiesofthisoneparticularmousearedestroyed,right?"

"Right"

"Andallthefamiliesofthefamiliesofthefamiliesofthatonemouse!Withastampofyourfoot,
youannihilatefirstone,thenadozen,thenathousand,amillion,abillionpossiblemice!"

"Sothey'redead,"saidEckels."Sowhat?"

"Sowhat?"Travissnortedquietly."Well,whataboutthefoxesthat'llneedthosemicetosurvive?
Forwantoftenmice,afoxdies.Forwantoftenfoxesalionstarves.Forwantofalion,all
mannerofinsects,vultures,infinitebillionsoflifeformsarethrownintochaosanddestruction.
Eventuallyitallboilsdowntothis:fiftyninemillionyearslater,acaveman,oneofadozenon
theentireworld,goeshuntingwildboarorsabertoothedtigerforfood.Butyou,friend,have
steppedonallthetigersinthatregion.Bysteppingononesinglemouse.Sothecavemanstarves.
Andthecaveman,pleasenote,isnotjustanyexpendableman,no!Heisanentirefuturenation.
Fromhisloinswouldhavesprungtensons.Fromtheirloinsonehundredsons,andthusonward
toacivilization.Destroythisoneman,andyoudestroyarace,apeople,anentirehistoryoflife.
ItiscomparabletoslayingsomeofAdam'sgrandchildren.Thestompofyourfoot,ononemouse,
couldstartanearthquake,theeffectsofwhichcouldshakeourearthanddestiniesdownthrough
Time,totheirveryfoundations.Withthedeathofthatone caveman,abillionothersyetunborn
arethrottledinthewomb.PerhapsRomeneverrisesonitssevenhills.PerhapsEuropeisforever
adarkforest,andonlyAsiawaxeshealthyandteeming.Steponamouseandyoucrushthe
Pyramids.Steponamouseandyouleaveyourprint,likeaGrandCanyon,acrossEternity.Queen
Elizabethmightneverbeborn,WashingtonmightnotcrosstheDelaware,theremightneverbea
UnitedStatesatall.Sobecareful.StayonthePath.Neverstepoff!"

"Isee,"saidEckels."Thenitwouldn'tpayforuseventotouchthegrass?"
"Correct.Crushingcertainplantscouldaddupinfinitesimally.Alittleerrorherewouldmultiply
insixtymillionyears,alloutofproportion.Ofcoursemaybeourtheoryiswrong.MaybeTime
can'tbechangedbyus.Ormaybeitcanbechangedonlyinlittlesubtleways.Adeadmousehere
makesaninsectimbalancethere,apopulationdisproportionlater,abadharvestfurtheron,a
depression,massstarvation,andfinally,achangeinsocialtemperamentinfarflungcountries.
Somethingmuchmoresubtle,likethat.Perhapsonlyasoftbreath,awhisper,ahair,pollenonthe
air,suchaslight,slightchangethatunlessyoulookedcloseyouwouldn'tseeit.Whoknows?
Whoreallycansayheknows?Wedon'tknow.We'reguessing.Butuntilwedoknowforcertain
whetherourmessingaroundinTimecanmakeabigroaroralittlerustleinhistory,we'rebeing
careful.ThisMachine,thisPath,yourclothingandbodies,weresterilized,asyouknow,before
the journey.Weweartheseoxygenhelmetssowecan'tintroduceourbacteriaintoanancient
atmosphere."

"Howdoweknowwhichanimalstoshoot?"

"They'remarkedwithredpaint,"saidTravis."Today,beforeourjourney,wesentLesperance
herebackwiththeMachine.Hecametothisparticulareraandfollowedcertainanimals."

"Studyingthem?"

"Right,"saidLesperance."Itrackthemthroughtheirentireexistence,notingwhichofthemlives
longest.Veryfew.Howmanytimestheymate.Notoften.Life'sshort,WhenIfindonethat's
goingtodiewhenatreefallsonhim,oronethatdrownsinatarpit,Inotetheexacthour,minute,
andsecond.Ishootapaintbomb.Itleavesaredpatchonhisside.Wecan'tmissit.ThenI
correlateourarrivalinthePastsothatwemeettheMonsternotmorethantwominutesbeforehe
wouldhavediedanyway.Thisway,wekillonlyanimalswithnofuture,thatarenevergoingto
mateagain.Youseehowcarefulweare?"

"ButifyoucomebackthismorninginTime,"saidEckelseagerly,youmust'vebumpedintous,
ourSafari!Howdiditturnout?Wasitsuccessful?Didallofusgetthroughalive?"

TravisandLesperancegaveeachotheralook.

"That'dbeaparadox,"saidthelatter."Timedoesn'tpermitthatsortofmessamanmeeting
himself.Whensuchoccasionsthreaten,Timestepsaside.Likeanairplanehittinganairpocket.
YoufelttheMachinejumpjustbeforewestopped?Thatwasuspassingourselvesontheway
backtotheFuture.Wesawnothing.There'snowayoftellingifthisexpeditionwasasuccess,if
wegotourmonster,orwhetherallofusmeaningyou,Mr.Eckelsgotoutalive."

Eckelssmiledpalely.

"Cutthat,"saidTravissharply."Everyoneonhisfeet!"

TheywerereadytoleavetheMachine.

Thejunglewashighandthejunglewasbroadandthejunglewastheentireworldforeverand
forever.Soundslikemusicandsoundslikeflyingtentsfilledthesky,andthosewerepterodactyls
soaringwithcavernousgraywings,giganticbatsofdeliriumandnightfever.

Eckels,balancedonthenarrowPath,aimedhisrifleplayfully.
"Stopthat!"saidTravis."Don'tevenaimforfun,blastyou!Ifyourgunsshouldgooff"

Eckelsflushed."Where'sourTyrannosaurus?"

Lesperancecheckedhiswristwatch."Upahead,We'llbisecthistrailinsixtyseconds.Lookfor
theredpaint!Don'tshoottillwegivetheword.StayonthePath.StayonthePath!"

Theymovedforwardinthewindofmorning.

"Strange,"murmuredEckels."Upahead,sixtymillionyears,ElectionDayover.Keithmade
President.Everyonecelebrating.Andhereweare,amillionyearslost,andtheydon'texist.The
thingsweworriedaboutformonths,alifetime,notevenbornorthoughtofyet."

"Safetycatchesoff,everyone!"orderedTravis."You,firstshot,Eckels.Second,Billings,Third,
Kramer."

"I'vehuntedtiger,wildboar,buffalo,elephant,butnow,thisisit,"saidEckels."I'mshakinglike
akid."

"Ah,"saidTravis.

Everyonestopped.

Travisraisedhishand."Ahead,"hewhispered."Inthemist.Thereheis.There'sHisRoyal
Majestynow."

Thejunglewaswideandfulloftwitterings,rustlings,murmurs,andsighs.

Suddenlyitallceased,asifsomeonehadshutadoor.

Silence.

Asoundofthunder.

Outofthemist,onehundredyardsaway,cameTyrannosaurusRex.

"It,"whisperedEckels."It......

"Sh!"

Itcameongreatoiled,resilient,stridinglegs.Ittoweredthirtyfeetabovehalfofthetrees,agreat
evilgod,foldingitsdelicatewatchmaker'sclawsclosetoitsoilyreptilianchest.Eachlowerleg
wasapiston,athousandpoundsofwhitebone,sunkinthickropesofmuscle,sheathedoverina
gleamofpebbledskinlikethemailofaterriblewarrior.Eachthighwasatonofmeat,ivory,and
steelmesh.Andfromthegreatbreathingcageoftheupperbodythosetwodelicatearmsdangled
outfront,armswithhandswhichmightpickupandexaminemenliketoys,whilethesnakeneck
coiled.Andtheheaditself,atonofsculpturedstone,liftedeasilyuponthesky.Itsmouthgaped,
exposingafenceofteethlikedaggers.Itseyesrolled,ostricheggs,emptyofallexpressionsave
hunger.Itcloseditsmouthinadeathgrin.Itran,itspelvicbonescrushingasidetreesandbushes,
itstalonedfeetclawingdampearth,leavingprintssixinchesdeepwhereveritsettleditsweight.
Itranwithaglidingballetstep,fartoopoisedandbalancedforitstentons.Itmovedintoasunlit
areawarily,itsbeautifullyreptilianhandsfeelingtheair.

"Why,why,"Eckelstwitchedhismouth."Itcouldreachupandgrabthemoon."

"Sh!"Travisjerkedangrily."Hehasn'tseenusyet."

"Itcan'tbekilled,"Eckelspronouncedthisverdictquietly,asiftherecouldbenoargument.He
hadweighedtheevidenceandthiswashisconsideredopinion.Therifleinhishandsseemeda
capgun."Wewerefoolstocome.Thisisimpossible."

"Shutup!"hissedTravis.

"Nightmare."

"Turnaround,"commandedTravis."WalkquietlytotheMachine.We'llremithalfyourfee."

"Ididn'trealizeitwouldbethisbig,"saidEckels."Imiscalculated,that'sall.AndnowIwant
out."

"Itseesus!"

"There'stheredpaintonitschest!"

TheTyrantLizardraiseditself.Itsarmoredfleshglitteredlikeathousandgreencoins.Thecoins,
crustedwithslime,steamed.Intheslime,tinyinsectswriggled,sothattheentirebodyseemedto
twitchandundulate,evenwhilethemonsteritselfdidnotmove.Itexhaled.Thestinkofrawflesh
blewdownthewilderness.

"Getmeoutofhere,"saidEckels."Itwasneverlikethisbefore.IwasalwayssureI'dcome
throughalive.Ihadgoodguides,goodsafaris,andsafety.Thistime,Ifiguredwrong.I'vemetmy
matchandadmitit.Thisistoomuchformetogetholdof."

"Don'trun,"saidLesperance."Turnaround.HideintheMachine."

"Yes."Eckelsseemedtobenumb.Helookedathisfeetasiftryingtomakethemmove.Hegave
agruntofhelplessness.

"Eckels!"

Hetookafewsteps,blinking,shuffling.

"Notthatway!"

TheMonster,atthefirstmotion,lungedforwardwithaterriblescream.Itcoveredonehundred
yardsinsixseconds.Theriflesjerkedupandblazedfire.Awindstormfromthebeast'smouth
engulfedtheminthestenchofslimeandoldblood.TheMonsterroared,teethglitteringwithsun.

Theriflescrackedagain,theirsoundwaslostinshriekandlizardthunder.Thegreatlevelofthe
reptile'stailswungup,lashedsideways.Treesexplodedincloudsofleafandbranch.The
Monstertwitcheditsjeweler'shandsdowntofondleatthemen,totwisttheminhalf,tocrush
themlikeberries,tocramthemintoitsteethanditsscreamingthroat.Itsboulderstoneeyes
leveledwiththemen.Theysawthemselvesmirrored.Theyfiredatthemetalliceyelidsandthe
blazingblackiris,

Likeastoneidol,likeamountain avalanche,Tyrannosaurusfell.

Thundering,itclutchedtrees,pulledthemwithit.ItwrenchedandtorethemetalPath.Themen
flungthemselvesbackandaway.Thebodyhit,tentonsofcoldfleshandstone.Thegunsfired.
TheMonsterlasheditsarmored tail,twitcheditssnakejaws,andlaystill.Afountofblood
spurtedfromitsthroat.Somewhereinside,asacoffluidsburst.Sickeninggushesdrenchedthe
hunters.Theystood,redandglistening.

Thethunderfaded.

Thejunglewassilent.Aftertheavalanche,agreenpeace.Afterthenightmare,morning.

BillingsandKramersatonthepathwayandthrewup.TravisandLesperancestoodwithsmoking
rifles,cursingsteadily.IntheTimeMachine,onhisface,Eckelslayshivering.Hehadfoundhis
wayback tothePath,climbedintotheMachine.

Traviscamewalking,glancedatEckels,tookcottongauzefromametalbox,andreturnedtothe
others,whoweresittingonthePath.

"Cleanup."

Theywipedthebloodfromtheirhelmets.Theybegantocursetoo.TheMonsterlay,ahillof
solidflesh.Within,youcouldhearthesighsandmurmursasthefurthestchambersofitdied,the
organsmalfunctioning,liquidsrunningafinalinstantfrompockettosactospleen,everything
shuttingoff,closingupforever.Itwaslikestandingbyawreckedlocomotiveorasteamshovelat
quittingtime,allvalvesbeingreleasedorleveredtight.Bonescrackedthetonnageofitsown
flesh,offbalance,deadweight,snappedthedelicateforearms,caughtunderneath.Themeat
settled,quivering.

Anothercrackingsound.Overhead,agigantictreebranchbrokefromitsheavymooring,fell.It
crasheduponthedeadbeastwithfinality.

"There."Lesperancecheckedhiswatch."Rightontime.That'sthegianttreethatwasscheduled
tofallandkillthisanimaloriginally."Heglancedatthetwohunters."Youwantthetrophy
picture?"

"What?"

"Wecan'ttakeatrophybacktotheFuture.Thebodyhastostayrightherewhereitwouldhave
diedoriginally,sotheinsects,birds,andbacteriacangetatit,astheywereintendedto.
Everythinginbalance.Thebodystays.Butwecantakeapictureofyoustandingnearit."

Thetwomentriedtothink,butgaveup,shakingtheirheads.

TheyletthemselvesbeledalongthemetalPath.They sankwearilyintotheMachinecushions.
TheygazedbackattheruinedMonster,thestagnatingmound,wherealreadystrangereptilian
birdsandgoldeninsectswerebusyatthesteamingarmor.AsoundontheflooroftheTime
Machinestiffenedthem.Eckelssatthere,shivering.

"I'msorry,"hesaidatlast.

"Getup!"criedTravis.

Eckelsgotup.

"GooutonthatPathalone,"saidTravis.Hehadhisriflepointed,"You'renotcomingbackinthe
Machine.We'releavingyouhere!"

LesperanceseizedTravis'sarm."Wait"

"Stayoutofthis!"Travisshookhishandaway."Thisfoolnearlykilledus.Butitisn'tthatso
much,no.It'shisshoes!Lookatthem!HeranoffthePath.Thatruinsus!We'llforfeit!
Thousandsofdollarsofinsurance!WeguaranteenooneleavesthePath.Heleftit.Oh,thefool!
I'llhavetoreporttothegovernment.Theymightrevokeourlicensetotravel.Whoknowswhat
he'sdonetoTime,toHistory!"

"Takeiteasy,allhedidwaskickupsomedirt."

"Howdoweknow?"criedTravis."Wedon'tknowanything!It'sallamystery!Getoutofhere,
Eckels!"

Eckelsfumbledhisshirt."I'llpayanything.Ahundredthousanddollars!"

TravisglaredatEckels'checkbookandspat."Gooutthere.TheMonster'snexttothePath.Stick
yourarmsuptoyourelbowsinhismouth.Thenyoucancomebackwithus."

"That'sunreasonable!"

"TheMonster'sdead,youidiot.Thebullets!Thebulletscan'tbeleftbehind.Theydon'tbelongin
thePasttheymightchangeanything.Here'smyknife.Digthemout!"

Thejunglewasaliveagain,fulloftheoldtremoringsandbirdcries.Eckelsturnedslowlyto
regardtheprimevalgarbagedump,thathillofnightmaresandterror.Afteralongtime,likea
sleepwalkerheshuffledoutalongthePath.

Hereturned,shuddering,fiveminuteslater,hisarmssoakedandredtotheelbows.Heheldout
hishands.Eachheldanumberofsteelbullets.Thenhefell.Helaywherehefell,notmoving.

"Youdidn'thavetomakehimdothat,"saidLesperance.

"Didn'tI?It'stooearlytotell."Travisnudgedthestillbody."He'lllive.Nexttimehewon'tgo
huntinggamelikethis.Okay."HejerkedhisthumbwearilyatLesperance."Switchon.Let'sgo
home."

1492.1776.1812.
Theycleanedtheirhandsandfaces.Theychangedtheircakingshirtsandpants.Eckelswasup
andaroundagain,notspeaking.Travisglaredathimforafulltenminutes.

"Don'tlookatme,"criedEckels."Ihaven'tdoneanything."

"Whocantell?"

"JustranoffthePath,that'sall,alittlemudonmyshoeswhatdoyouwantmetodogetdown
andpray?"

"Wemightneedit.I'mwarningyou,Eckels,Imightkillyouyet.I'vegotmygunready."

"I'minnocent.I'vedonenothing!"

1999.2000.2055.

TheMachinestopped.

"Getout,"saidTravis.

Theroomwasthereastheyhadleftit.Butnotthesameastheyhadleftit.Thesamemansat
behindthesamedesk.Butthesamemandidnotquitesitbehindthesamedesk.Travislooked
aroundswiftly."Everythingokayhere?"hesnapped.

"Fine.Welcomehome!"

Travisdidnotrelax.Heseemedtobelookingthroughtheonehighwindow.

"Okay,Eckels,getout.Don'tevercomeback."Eckelscouldnotmove.

"Youheardme,"saidTravis."What'reyoustaringat?"

Eckelsstoodsmellingoftheair,andtherewasathingtotheair,achemicaltaintsosubtle,so
slight,thatonlyafaintcryofhissubliminalsenseswarnedhimitwasthere.Thecolors,white,
grey,blue,orange,inthewall,inthefurniture,intheskybeyondthewindow,were...were....
Andtherewas afeel.Hisfleshtwitched.Hishandstwitched.Hestooddrinkingtheoddnesswith
theporesofhisbody.Somewhere,someonemusthavebeenscreamingoneofthosewhistlesthat
onlyadogcanhear.Hisbodyscreamedsilenceinreturn.Beyondthisroom,beyondthiswall,
beyondthismanwhowasnotquitethesamemanseatedatthisdeskthatwasnotquitethesame
desk...layanentireworldofstreetsandpeople.Whatsortofworlditwasnow,therewasno
telling.Hecouldfeelthemmovingthere,beyond thewalls,almost,likesomanychesspieces
blowninadrywind....

Buttheimmediatethingwasthesignpaintedontheofficewall,thesamesignhehadreadearlier
todayonfirstentering.Somehow,thesignhadchanged:

TYMESEFARIINC.
SEFARISTU ANYYEERENTHEPAST.
YUNAIMTHEANIMALL.
WEETAEKYUTHAIR.
YUSHOOTITT.
Eckelsfelthimselffallintoachair.Hefumbledcrazilyatthethickslimeonhisboots.Heheldup
aclodofdirt,trembling,"No,itcan'tbe.Notalittlethinglikethat.No!"

Embeddedinthemud,glisteninggreenandgoldandblack,wasabutterfly,verybeautifuland
verydead.

"Notalittlethinglikethat!Notabutterfly!"criedEckels.

Itfelltothefloor,anexquisitething,asmallthingthatcouldupsetbalancesandknockdowna
lineofsmalldominoesandthenbigdominoesandthengiganticdominoes,alldowntheyears
acrossTime.Eckels'mindwhirled.Itcouldn'tchangethings.Killingonebutterflycouldn'tbethat
important!Couldit?

Hisfacewascold.Hismouthtrembled,asking:"Who whowonthepresidentialelection
yesterday?"

Themanbehindthedesklaughed."Youjoking?Youknowverywell.Deutscher,ofcourse!Who
else?NotthatfoolweaklingKeith.Wegotanironmannow,amanwithguts!"Theofficial
stopped."What'swrong?"

Eckelsmoaned.Hedroppedtohisknees.Hescrabbledatthegoldenbutterflywithshaking
fingers."Can'twe,"hepleadedtotheworld,tohimself,totheofficials,totheMachine,"can'twe
takeitback,can'twemakeitaliveagain?Can'twestartover?Can'twe"

Hedidnotmove.Eyesshut,hewaited,shivering.HeheardTravisbreatheloudintheroomhe
heardTravisshifthisrifle,clickthesafetycatch,andraisetheweapon.

Therewasasoundofthunder.

"ASoundofThunder"RayBradbury

1. Describethesettingofthisstory.

2. Explainwhyitissoimportantthatthehuntersstayonthepath.

3. Whatthingshavechangedsincethementravelledintothepast?

4. WhatdoesthechangeinelectionresultssuggestabouthowAmerican
societyhasbeenalteredbecauseofEckels'error?

5. IsitbelievablethatEckels'actionscouldhavesuchserious
consequences?Howdoestheauthorprepareusfortheendofthe
story(whatthings"setup"theending)?