День триффидов
Rendezvous
Hewassittingbehindatablewithquantitiesofpaperarrangedonitinmathematicallyexactblocksandanunsoiledsheetofpinkblottingpaperplacedsquarelybeforehim.
Aswecameinheturneduponus,oneaftertheother,anintense,steadylook,andhelditalittlelongerthanwasnecessary.Irecognizedthetechnique.Itisintendedtoconveythattheuserisapercipientjudgeaccustomedtotakingsummarilythemeasureofhisman;thereceivershouldfeelthatbenowfacesareliabletypewithnononsenseabouthim—or,alternatively,thathehasbeenseenthroughandhadallhisweaknessesnoted.Therightformofresponseistoreturnitinkindandbeconsidereda"usefulfella."Idid.TheColonelpickeduphispen.
"Yournames,please?"
Wegavethem.
"Andaddresses?"
"InthepresentcircumstancesIfeartheywon’tbeveryuseful,"Isaid."Butifyoureallyfeelyoumusthavethem—"Wegavethemtoo.
Hemurmuredsomethingaboutsystem,organization,andrelatives,andwrotethemdown.Age,occupation,andalltherestofitfollowed.Hebenthissearchinglookuponusagain,scribbledanoteuponeachpieceofpaperandputtheminafile.
"Needgoodmen.Nastybusiness,this.Plentytodohere,though.Plenty.Mr.Beadley’lltellyouwhat’swanted,"
Wecameoutintotheballagain.Josellagiggled.
"Heforgottoaskforreferencesintriplicate—butIgatherwe’vegotthejob,"shesaid.
MichaelBeadley,whenwediscoveredhim,turnedouttobeindecidedcontrast.
