День триффидов

           Solongastheykeeptheirinfluenceawayfromhere,theymayworkouttheirowndamnationastheyplease.AndsincetheychoosetoconsiderthemselvessuperiortoboththelawsofGodandcivilizedcustom,IIhavenodoubtthattheywill."

           SheendedthisdeclarationwithasnapofthejawwhichsuggestedthatIshouldbewastingmytimeifItriedtopursuethequestionfurther,andturnedbacktoCoker.

           "Whatcanyoudo?"sheinquired.

           "Anumberofthings,"hesaidcalmly."IsuggestthatImakemyselfgenerallyusefuluntilIseewhereIamneededmost."

           Shehesitated,alittletakenaback.Ithadclearlybeenherintentiontomakethedecisionandissuetheinstruction,butshechangedhermind.

           "Allright.Lookround,andcomeandtalkitovertomorrowevening,"shesaid.

           ButCokerwasnottobedismissedquitesoeasily.Hewantedparticularsofthesizeoftheestate,thenumberofpersonsatpresentinthehouse,theproportionofsightedtoblind,alongwithanumberofothermatters,andhegotthem.

           Beforeweleft12putinaquestionaboutJosella.MissDurrantfrowned.

           "Iseemtoknowthatname.Nowwhere—Oh,didshestandintheConservativeinterestinthelastelection?"

           "Idon’tthinkso.She—er—shedidwriteabookonce,"Iadmitted.

           "She—"shebegan.ThenIsawrecollectiondawn."Oh,oh,thatWell,really,Mr.Masen,Icanscarcelythinkshewouldbethekindofpersontocarefarthekindofcommunitywearebuildinghere."

           InthecorridoroutsideCokerturnedtome.