День триффидов
Frustration
Forhimthiswasevidentlytheinterestingmoment.Idecidedmaybeitwasnotthetimetotryanything,andheldmywristsout.Alffeltaroundandclickedonthecuffs.Afterthathewentandfetchedmemybreakfast.
Nearlytwohourslatertheothermanturnedupagain,hisknifewellinevidence.Hewaveditatthedoor.
Withtheconsciousnessoftheknifeproducinganuncomfortablefeelinginmyback,wewentdownanumberofflightsofstairsandacrossahail.Inthestreetacoupleofloadedtruckswerewaiting.Coker,withtwocompanions,stoodbythetailboardofone.Hebeckonedmeover.Withoutsayinganything,hepassedachainbetweenmyarms.Ateachendofitwasastrap.Onewasfastenedalreadyroundtheleftwristofaburlyblindmanbesidehim;theotherheattachedtotherightwristofasimilartoughvase,sothatIwasbetweenthem.Theyweren’ttakinganyavoidablechances.
"I’dnottryanyfunnybusiness,ifIwereyou,"Cokeradvisedme."Youdorightbythem,andthey’lldorightbyyou."
Thethreeofusclimbedawkwardlyontothetailboard,andthetwotrucksdroveoff.
WestoppedsomewherenearSwissCottageandpiledout.Therewereperhapstwentypeopleinsight,prowlingwithapparentaimlessnessalongthegutters.Atthesoundoftheengineseveryoneofthemhadturnedtowarduswithanincredulousexpressiononhisface,andasiftheywerepartsofasinglemechanismtheybegantoclosehopefullytowardus,callingoutastheycame.Thedriversshoutedtoustogetclear.
