День триффидов
The End begins
Butwhatstruckmemost,andatonce,wasthesharpness,thecleardefinitionofeverything-eventhedistanthousetopsviewacrosstheoppositeroofs.AndthenInoticedthatnochimney,largeorsmall,wassmoking....
Ifoundmyclotheshungtidilyinacupboard.IbegantofeelmorenormalonceIhadthemon.Thereweresomecigarettesstillinthecase.Ilitoneandbegantogetintothestateofmindwhere,thougheverythingwasstillundeniablyqueer,IcouldnolongerunderstandwhyIhadbeenquitesonearpanic.
Itisnoteasytothinkoneselfbacktotheoutlookofthosedays.Wehavetohemoreself-reliantnow.Butthentherewassomuchroutine,thingsweresointerlinked.Eachoneofussosteadilydidhislittlepartintherightplacethatitwaseasytomistakehabitandcustomforthenaturallaw-andallthemoredisturbing,therefore,whentheroutinewasinanywayupset.
Whenalmosthalfalifetimehasbeenspentinoneconceptionoforder,reorientationisnofive-minutebusiness.Lookingbackattheshapeofthingsthen,theamountwedidnotknowanddidnotcaretoknowaboutourdailylivesisnotonlyastonishingbutsomehowabitshocking.Iknewpracticallynothing,forinstance,ofsuchordinarythingsashowmyfoodreachedme,wherethefreshwatercamefrom,bowtheclothesIworewerewovenandmade,howthedrainageofcitieskeptthemhealthy.Ourlifehadbecomeacomplexityofspecialists,allattendingtotheirownjobswithmoreorlessefficiencyandexpectingotherstodothesame.Thatmadeitincredibletome,therefore,thatcompletedisorganizationcouldhaveovertakenthehospital.Somebodysomewhere,Iwassure,musthaveitinhand-unfortunatelyitwasasomebodywhohadforgottenallaboutRoom48.
Nevertheless,whenIdidgotothedooragainandpeerintothecorridorIwasforcedtorealizethat,whateverbadhappened,itwasaffectingagreatdealmorethanthesingleinhabitantofRoom48.
