День триффидов

           Theplaceweenteredhad,Iimagine,beentheservants’hallinthedayswhenstaffswerelargeenoughforthetermtobenomisnomer.Itwasspaciousenoughtoholdahundredormoreattableswithoutcrowding.Thepresentoccupants,seatedonbenchesattwolongtrestles,Iguessedtobetweenfiftyandsixty,anditwasclearataglancethattheywereblind.Whiletheysatpatientlyafewsightedpersonswereverybusy.Overatasidetablethreegirlswereindustriouslycaningchickens.Iwentuptooneofthem.

           "we’vejustcome,"Isaid."Whatdowedo?"

           Shepaused,stillclutchingherfork,andpushedbackalockofhairwiththecrookofherwrist.

           "It’llhelpifoneofyoutakeschargeofthevegandtheotherhelpswiththeplates,"shesaid.

           Itookcommandoftwolargetubsofpotatoandcabbage.IntheintervalsofdolingthemoutIlookedovertheoccupantsofthehalls.Josellawasnotamongthem—norcouldIseeanyofthemorenotablecharactersamongthegroupthathadputforwarditsproposalsattheUniversityBuilding—thoughIfanciedIhadseenthefacesofsomeofthewomenbefore.

           Theproportionofmenwasfarhigherthanintheformergroup,andtheywerecuriouslyassorted.AfewofthemmighthavebeenLondoners,oratleasttowndwellers,butthemajorityworeacountryman’sworkingclothes.Anexceptiontoeitherkindwasamiddle-agedclergyman,butwhateveryoneofthemenhadincommonwasblindness.

           Thewomenweremorediversified.