День триффидов
Tynsham
Somewereintownclothesquiteunsuitedtotheirsurroundings;otherswereprobablylocal.Amongthelatteronlyonegirlwassighted,buttheformergroupcomprisedhalfadozenorsowhocouldseeandanumberwho,thoughblind,werenotclumsy.
Coker,too,hadbeentakingstockoftheplace.
"Rumsortofsetup,this,"heremarkedsottovocetome."Haveyouseenheryet?"
Ishookmyhead,desolatelyawarethatIhadpinnedmoreontheexpectationoffindingJosellatherethanIhadadmittedtomyself.
"Funnything,"hewenton,"there’spracticallynoneofthelotItookalongwithyou—exceptthatgirlthat’scarrying,upattheendthere."
"Hassherecognizedyou?"Iasked.
"Ithinkso.Igotasortofdirtylookfromher."
Whenthecarryingandservinghadbeencompletedwetookourownplatesandfoundplacesatthetable.Therewasnothingtocomplainofinthecookingorthefood,andlivingoutofcoldcansforaweeksharpenstheappreciation,anyway.Attheendofthemealtherewasaknockingonthetable.Theclergymanrose;hewaitedforsilencebeforehespoke:
"Myfriends,itisfittingthatattheendofanotherdayweshouldrenewourthankstoGodforHisgreatmercyinpreservingusinthemidstofsuchdisaster.IwillaskyoualltopraythatHemaylookwithcompassionuponthosewhostillwanderaloneindarkness,andthatitmaypleaseHimtoguidetheirfeethitherthatwemaysuccorthem.
