День триффидов
Tynsham
Heansweredherinhisbestmiddle-classspeech:
"Itisamatterofviewpoint.Whoistojudgewhowerethemorebrutal?Thosewhosawanimmediateresponsibility,andstayed—orthosewhosawafurtherresponsibility,andclearedout?"
Shecontinuedtolookhardathim.Herexpressionremainedunchanged,butshewasevidentlyformingadifferentjudgmentofthetypeofmanshehadtodealwith.Neitherhisreplynorhismannerhadbeenquitewhatshehadexpected.Sheshelvedthataspectforatimeandturnedtome.
"Wereyouinthattoo?"sheasked.
Iexplainedmysomewhatnegativepartintheaffairandputmyownquestion:
"WhathappenedtoMichaelBeadley,theColonel,andtherest?"
Itwasnotwellreceived.
"Theyhavegoneelsewhere,"shesaidsharply."Thisisaclean,decentcommunitywithstandards—Christianstandards
—andweintendtoupholdthem.Wehavenoplacehereforpeopleoflooseviews.Decadence,immorality,andlackoffaithwereresponsibleformastoftheworld’sills.Itisthedutyofthoseofuswhohavebeensparedtoseethatwebuildasocietywherethatdoesnothappenagain.Thecynicalandtheclever-cleverwillfindtheyarenotwantedhere,nomatterwhatbrillianttheoriestheymayputforwardtodisguisetheirlicentiousnessandtheirmaterialism.WeareaChristiancommunity,andweintendtoremainso."Shelookedatmechallengingly.
"Soyousplit,didyou?"Isaid."Wheredidtheygo?"
Sherepliedstonily;
"Theymovedon,andwestayedhere.Thatiswhatmatters.
