День триффидов
Rendezvous
Dowehelpthosewhohavesurvivedthecatastrophetorebuildsomekindoflife?Ordowemakeamoralgesturewhich,onthefaceofit,canscarcelybemorethanagesture?Thepeopleacrosstheroadthereevidentlyintendtosurvive."
Shedugherfingersintotheearthandletthesoiltrickleoutofherhand.
"Isupposeyou’reright,"shesaid."Butyou’realsorightwhenyousayIdon’tlikeit."
"Ourlikesanddislikesasdecisivefactorshavenowprettywelldisappeared,"Isuggested.
"Maybe,butIcan’thelpfeelingthattheremustbesomethingwrongaboutanythingthatstartswithshooting."
Heshottomiss—andit’sverylikelyhesavedfighting,"Ipointedout.
Thecrowdhadallgonenow.IclimbedoverthewallandhelpedJoselladownontheotherside.Amanatthegateopenedittoletusin.
"Howmanyofyou?"heasked.
"Justthetwoofus.Wesawyoursignallastnight,"Itoldhim.
"Okay.Comealong,andwe’llfindtheColonel,"hesaid,leadingusacrosstheforecourt.
ThemanwhomhecalledtheColonelhadsethimselfupinasmallroomnotfarfromtheentranceandintended,seeminglyfortheporters.Hewasachubbymanjustturnedfiftyorthereabouts.Hishairwasplentifulbutwell-trimmed,andgray.Hismustachematcheditandlookedasifnosinglehairwoulddaretobreaktheranks.Hiscomplexionwassopink,healthy,andfreshthatitmighthavebelongedtoamuchyoungerman;hismind,Idiscoveredlater,hadneverceasedtodoso.
