День триффидов
Conference
Atthetime,however,hispracticalmannerhadafurtherreassuringeffect.
Ashesatdown,Michaelroseagain.Hespokeencouraginglytothegirlandthenintroducedher.Ithad,hesaid,beenoneofourgreatestworriesthatwehadnooneamonguswithmedicalknowledge;thereforeitwaswithgreatreliefthathewelcomedMissBerr.Itwastruethatshedidnotholdmedicaldegreeswithimpressiveletters,butshedidhavehighnursingqualifications.Forhimself,hethoughtthatknowledgerecentlyattainedmightbeworthmorethandegreesacquiredyearsago.
Thegirl,blushingagain,saidalittlepieceaboutherdeterminationtocarrythejobthrough,andendedatrifleabruptlywiththeinformationthatshewouldinoculateusallagainstavarietyofthingsbeforeweleftthehall.
Asmall,sparrowlikemanwhosenameIdidnotcatchrubbeditinthatthehealthofeachwastheconcernofall,andthatanysuspicionofillnessshouldbereportedatonce,sincetheeffectsofacontagiousdiseaseamonguswouldheserious.
Whenhehadfinished,Sandraroseandintroducedthelastspeakerofthegroup:Dr.E.H.Vorless,D.Sc.,ofEdinburgh,professorofsociologyattheUniversityofKingston.
Thewhite-hairedmanwalkedtothedesk.Hestoodthereafewmomentswithhisfingertipsrestinguponitandhisheadbentdownasifhewerestudyingit.Thosebehindregardedhimcarefully,withatraceofanxiety.TheColonelleanedovertowhispersomethingtoMichael,whonoddedwithouttakinghiseyesoffthedoctor.Theoldmanlookedup.Hepassedahandoverhishair.
