День триффидов
Frustration
"Takeiteasynow."
Thefirsttwotookiteasy.Thenatriffidsentitsstingwhistlingintotheroomthroughthebrokenwindow.Onemangaveascreamashefell.Therestcameoninpanicandsweptmebeforethem.Therewasajaminthedoorway.Behindusstingsswishedtwiceagainbeforewewereclear.
InthebackroomIlookedround,panting.Thereweresevenofusthere.
"Holdit,"Isaidagain."We’reallrightinhere."
Iwenttothedooragain.Thebackpartoftheshopwasoutofthetriffids’range—solongastheystayedoutside.Iwasabletoreachthetrapdoorinsafetyandraiseit.ThetwomenwhohadfallendowntheresinceIleftre-emerged.Onenursedabrokenarm;theotherwasmerelybruised,andcursing.
Behindthebackroomlayasmallyard,andacrossthatadoorinaneight-footbrickwall.Ihadgrowncautious.Insteadofgoingstraighttothedoor,Iclimbedontheroofofanouthousetoprospect.Thedoor,Icouldsee,gaveintoanarrowalleyrunningthefulllengthoftheblock.Itwasempty.Butbeyondthewall,onthefarsideofit,whichseemedtoterminatethegardensofarowofprivatehouses,Icouldmakeoutthetopsoftwotriffidsmotionlessamongthebushes.Theremightwellbemore.Thewallonthatsidewaslower,andtheirheightwouldenablethemtostrikerightacrossthealleywiththeirstings.Iexplainedtotheothers.
"Bloodyunnaturalbrutes,"saidone."Ialwaysdidhatethembastards."
Iinvestigatedfurther.
