День триффидов
Frustration
WhenIlistenedIcouldhearavoicegroaninginanotherroom,beyondthatnothing.Igotoutofbedanhurriedintomyclotheswithafeelingofalarm.Outonthelanding,Ilistenedagain.Therewasnosoundoffeetaboutthehouse.IhadasuddennastyfeelingasifhistorywererepeatingitselfandIwerebackinthehospitalagain.
"Hey!Anybodyhere?"Icalled.
Severalvoicesanswered.Iopenedanearbydoor.Therewasamaninthere.Helookedverybad,andhewasdelirious.TherewasnothingIcoulddo.Iclosedthedooragain.
Myfootstepssoundedloudonthewoodenstain.Onthenextfloorawoman’svoicecalled:"Bill—Bill!"
Shewasinbedinasmallroomthere,thegirlwhohadcometoseemethenightbefore.SheturnedherbeadasIcamein.Isawthatshehadittoo.
"Don’tcomenear,"shesaid."Itisyou,Bill?
"Ithoughtitmustbe.Youcanstillwalk;theyhavetocreep.I’mglad,Bill.Itoldthemyou’dnotgolikethat—buttheysaidyouhad.Nowthey’veallgone,allofthemthatcould."
"Iwasasleep,"Isaid."Whathappened?’
"Moreandmoreofuslikethis.Theywerefrightened."
Isaidhelplessly,"WhatcanIdoforyou?IsthereanythingIcangetyou?"
Herfacecontorted;sheclutchedherarmsroundherandwrithed.Thespasmpassed,andleftherwithsweattricklingdownherforehead.
"Please,Bill.I’mnotverybrave.Couldyougetmesomethingto—tofinishit?"
"Yes,"Isaid."Icandothatforyou."
Iwasbackfromthedrugstoreintenminutes
