День триффидов
Frustration
SodidLTheyoungmanmadenoattempttocatchupwiththem—infact,heseemedsuddenlytoloseinterestinthemaltogether.Heturnedroundandcamewalkingbackdownthemiddleoftheroad.Irememberedtoplaymypart,andbegantotapmywayforwardagain.Hepaidmenoattentionashepassed,butIwasabletoseehisface:itwasworried,andtherewasagrimsettohisjaw.IkeptgoingasIwasuntilhewasadecentdistancebehindme,thenIhurriedontotherest.BroughtupshortbytheSoundoftheshot,theywerearguingwhethertogoonfartherornot.
IbrokethatupbytellingthemthatnowIwasnolongerencumberedwithmytwoI.Q.-minuswatchdogswewouldbeorderingthingsdifferently.Iwasgoingtogetatruck,andIwouldbebackintenminutesorsotorunthembacktothebilletinit.
Thefindingofanotherorganizedpartyatworkproducedanewanxiety,butwefoundtheplaceintactwhenwegotback.Theonlynewstheyhadformetherewasthattwomoremenandawomanhadbeentakenwithseverebellypainsandremovedtotheotherhouse.
WemadewhatpreparationswecouldfordefenseagainstanymaraudersarrivingwhileIwasaway.ThenIpickedanewpartyandwesetoffinthetruck,thistimeinadifferentdirection.
IrecalledthatinformerdayswhenIhadcomeuptoHampsteadHeathithadoftenbeenbywayofabusterminuswhereanumberofsmallshopsandstoresclustered.WiththeaidofthestreetplanIfoundtheplaceagaineasilyenough—notonlyfoundit,butdiscoveredittobemarvelouslyintact.
