День триффидов
The End begins
Afterthatmyhandwasn’tshakingsomuch.
Ilookedatmycompanion.Hewastakinghiswhiskyneat,outofthebottle.
"You’llgetdrunk,"Isaid.
Hepausedandturnedhisheadtowardme.Icouldhaveswornthathiseyesreallysawme.
"Getdrunk!Damnit,Iamdrunk,"hesaidscornfully.HewassoperfectlyrightthatIdidn’tcomment.Hebroodedamomentbeforeheannounced:
"Gottagetdrunker.Gottagetmushdrunker."Heleanedcloser.
"D’youknowwhat?I’mblind.ThashwhatIam—blind’sabat.Everybody’sblind’sabat.‘Ceptyou.Whyaren’tyoublind’sabat?"
"Idon’tknow,"Itoldhim.
"‘Sthatbloodycomet.Thashwhatdoneit.Greenshootin’shtarsh—an’noweveryone’sblind’sahat.D’jusheegreenshootin’shtarsh?"
"No,"Iadmitted.
"Thereyouare.Provesit.Youdidn’tsee‘em:youaren’tblind.Everyoneelsesaw‘em"—hewavedanexpressivearm
—"all’sblind’sbats.Bloodycomets,Isay."
Ipouredmyselfathirdbrandy,wonderingwhethertheremightnotbesomethinginwhathewassaying.
"Everyoneblind?"Irepeated.
"Thashit.Allof‘em.Prob’lyeveryoneinth’world—’ceptyou,’headdedasanafterthought.
"Howdoyouknow?"Iasked.
"‘S’easy.Listen!"hesaid.
Westoodsidebyside,leaningonthebarofthedingypub,andlistened.Therewasnothingtobeheard—nothingbuttherustleofadirtynewspaperblowndowntheemptystreet
