День триффидов
Tynsham
LetusallbeseechHimthatwemaysurvivethetrialsandtribulationsthatlieaheadinorderthatinHistimeandwithHisaidwemaysucceedinplayingourpartintherebuildingofabetterworldtoHisgreaterglory."
Hebowedhishead.
"AlmightyandmostmercifulGod..
Afterthe"Amen"heledahymn.Whenthatwasfinishedthegatheringsorteditselfoutintoparties,eachkeepingtouchwithhisneighbor,andfourofthesightedgirlsledthemout.
Ilitacigarette.Cokertookonefrommeabsent-mindedly,withoutmakinganycomment.Agirlcameacrosstous.
"Willyouhelptoclearup?"sheasked."MissDurrantwillbebacksoon,Iexpect."
"MissDurrant?"Irepeated.
"Shedoestheorganizing,"sheexplained."You’llbeabletofixthingsupwithher."
ItwasanhourlaterandalmostdarkwhenweheardthatMissDurranthadreturned.Wefoundherinasmall,study-likeroomlitonlybythelightoftwocandlesonthedesk.Irecognizedheratonceasthedark,thin-lippedwomanwhohadspokenfortheoppositionatthemeeting.ForthemomentallherattentionwasconcentratedonCoker.Herexpressionwasnomoreamiablethanupontheformeroccasion.
"Iamtold,"shesaidcoldly,regardingCokerasthoughheweresomekindofsilt,"IamtoldthatyouarethemanwhoorganizedtheraidontheUniversityBuilding?"
Cokeragreed,andwaited.
‘ThenImayaswelltellyou,onceandforall,thatinourcommunityherewehavenouseforbrutalmethods,andnointentionoftoleratingthem."
Cokersmiledslightly.
