День триффидов
Frustration
Saveforthreeorfourbrokenwindows,thearealookedsimplyasifithadbeenclosedupforaweekend.
Butthereweredifferences.Foronething,nosuchsilencehadeverbeforehungoverthelocality,weekdayorSunday.Andtherewereseveralbodieslyinginthestreet.Bythistimeonewasbecomingaccustomedenoughtothattopaythemlittleattention.Ihad,infact,wonderedthattherewerenotmoretobeseen,andhadcometotheconclusionthatmostpeoplesoughtsomekindofshelter,eitheroutoffearorlaterwhentheybecameweak.Itwasoneofthereasonsthatonefeltadisinclinationtoenteranydwellinghouse.
Istoppedthetruckinfrontofaprovisionstoreandlistenedforafewseconds.Thesilencecamedownonuslikeablanket.Therewasnosoundoftappingsticks,notawandererinsight.Nothingmoved.
"Okay,"Isaid."Pileout,chaps."
Thelockeddooroftheshopgavewayeasily.Insidetherewasaneat,unspoiledarrayoftubsofbutter,cheeses,sidesofbacon,casesofsugar,andalltherestofit.Igotthepartybusyonit.Theyhaddevelopedtricksofworkingbynow,andweremoresureoftheirhandling.IwasabletoleavethemtogetonwithitforabitwhileIexaminedthebackstoreroomandthenthecellar.
ItwaswhileIwasbelow,investigatingthenatureofthecasesdownthere,thatIheardasoundofshoutssomewhereoutside.Closeuponitcameathunderoftramplingbootsontheflooraboveme.Onemancamedownthroughthetrapdoorandpitchedonhishead.Hedidnotmoveormakeanothersound.
