День триффидов
Evacuation
HewassittingclosetoLincoln’sstatueandclutchingtohimhisdearestpossession—asideofbaconfromwhichhewashackingaraggedslicewithabluntknife.
AboveitallrosetheHousesofParliament,withthehandsoftheclockstoppedatthreeminutespastsix.Itwasdifficulttobelievethatallthatmeantnothinganymore,thatitwasnowjustapretentiousconfectioninuncertainstonewhichwoulddecayinpeace.Letitshoweritscrumblingpinnaclesontotheterraceasitwould—therewouldbenomoreindignantmemberscomplainingoftherisktotheirvaluablelives.Intothosehallswhichhadintheirdaysetworldechoestogoodintentionsandsadexpedienciestheroofscould,induecourse,fall;therewouldbenonetostopthem,andnonetocare.Alongside,theThamesflowedimperturbablyon.SoitwouldflowuntilthedaytheEmbankmentscrumbleandthewaterspreadoutandWestminsterbecameoncemoreanislandinamarsh.
Someeighthoursspentsearchingthedistrictleftmeclue-less,ariddespondent.TheonlylogicalplaceIcouldthinkoftogowasbacktotheUniversityBuilding.IreckonedJosellawouldthinkthesame—andtherewasahopethatsomeothersofourdispersedpartymighthavedriftedbackthereinanefforttoreunite.Itwasnotaverystronghope,forcommonsensewouldhavecausedthemtoleavetheredaysago.
Twoflagsstillhungabovethetower,limpinthewarmairoftheearlyevening.Ofthetwodozenorsotrucksthathadbeenaccumulatedintheforecourt,fourstillstoodthere,apparentlyuntouched.
