День триффидов
Rendezvous
Fromatriffidpointofview,acitymustbemuchlikeadesert,soIshouldthinkthey’llbemovingoutwardtowardtheopencountryonthewhole.Haveyoueverusedatriffidgun?"Iadded.
Sheshookherhead.
AfterI’vedonesomethingabouttheseclothes,Iwasthinkingofputtinginabitofpractice,ityou’dliketotry,"Isuggested.
Igotbackanhourorsolater,feelingmoresuitablycladasaresultofhavinginfringedonherideaofaskisuitandheavyshoes,tofindthatshehadchangedintoabecomingdressofspringgreen.WetookacoupleofthetriffidgunsandwentoutintothegardenofRussellSquare,closeby.Wehadspentabouthalfanhoursnippingthetopmostshootsoffconvenientbusheswhenayoungwomaninabrick-redlumberjacketandanelegantpairofgreentrousersstrolledacrossthegrassandleveledasmallcameraatus.
Whoareyou—thepress?"inquiredJosella.
"Moreorless,"saidtheyoungwoman."Atleast,I’mtheofficialrecord.ElspethCary."
"Sosoon?"Iremarked."Itracethehandofourorder-consciousColonel."
"You’requiteright,"sheagreed.SheturnedtolookatJosella."AndyouareMissPlayton.I’veoftenwondered—"
Nowlookhere,"interruptedJosella."Whyshouldtheonestaticthinginacollapsingworldbemyreputation?Can’tweforgetit?"
"Jim,"saidMissCarythoughtfully."Jib-huh."Sheturnedtoanothersubject."What’sallthisabouttriffids?"sheasked.
Wetoldher.
