День триффидов
Conference
"Thiscommittee,afterdiscussion,hasdecidedthatifwearetobuildanewstateofthingsandavoidarelapseintobarbarism—whichisanappreciabledanger—wemusthavecertainundertakingsfromthosewhowishtojoinus.
"Notoneofusisgoingtorecapturetheconditionswehavelost.Whatweofferisabusylifeinthebestconditionswecancontrive,andthehappinesswhichwillcomeofachievementagainstodds.Inreturnweaskwillingnessandfruitfulness.Thereisnocompulsion.Thechoiceisyours.Thosetowhomourofferdoesnotappealareatperfectlibertytogoelsewhereandstartaseparatecommunityonsuchlinesastheyprefer.
"ButIwouldaskyoutoconsiderverycarefullywhetherornotyoudoholdawarrantfromGodtodepriveanywomanofthehappinessofcarryingouthernaturalfunctions."
Thediscussionwhichfollowedwasaramblingaffair,descendingfrequentlytopointsofdetailandhypothesisonwhichtherecouldasyetbenoanswers.Buttherewasnomovetocutitshort.Thelongeritwenton,thelessstrangenesstheideawouldhave.
JosellaandImovedovertothetablewhereNurseBerrhadsetupherparaphernalia.Wetookseveralshotsinourarmsandthensatdownagaintolistentothewrangling.
"Howmanyofthemwilldecidetocome,doyouthink?"Iaskedher.
Sheglancedround.
"Nearlyallofthem—bythemorning,"shetoldme.
Ifeltdoubtful.Therewasalotofobjectingandquestioninggoingon.
