День триффидов
Frustration
AndnowIcametothinkofit,whyshouldhehurry?Sincewehadnotfiredbackathim,hecouldreckonwewereunarmedandwewouldn’tbeabletogetawayfast.
Whenhe’dfinishedhisdirectionshewalkedoutconfidentlyintotheroadtoapointwherehehadaviewofmyretreatinggroup.Atthecornerhestoppedtolookatthetwopronewatchdogs.Probablythechainsuggestedtohimthatoneofthemhadbeentheeyesofourgang,forheputthepistolbackinhispocketandbegantofollowtherestinaleisurelyfashion.
Thatwasn’twhatIhadexpected,andittookmeaminutetoseehisscheme.ThenitcametomethathismostprofitablecoursewouldbetofollowthemtoourH.Q.andseewhatpickingshecouldhijackthere.Hewas,Ihadtoadmit,eithermuchquickerthanIatspottingchancesorbadpreviouslygivenmorethoughttothepossibilitiesthatmightarisethanIhad.IwasgladthatIhadtoldmylottokeepstraighton.Mostlikelythey’dgettiredofitafterabit,butIreckonedthey’dnoneofthembeabletofindthewaybacktothehotelandsoleadhimtoit.Aslongastheykepttogether,I’dbeabletocollectthemalllateronwithoutmuchdifficulty.Theimmediatequestionwaswhattodoaboutamanwhocarriedapistolanddidn’tmindusingit.
Insomepartsoftheworldonemightgointothefirsthouseinsightandpickupaconvenientfirearm.Hampsteadwasnotlikethat;itwasahighlyrespectablesuburb,unfortunately.Theremightpossiblybeasportingguntobefoundsomewhere,butIwouldhavetohuntforit.
