День триффидов

           Thegirllookedupatthemwiththeawedexpressionofonereceivingarevelation.Sheblewoutthecandies,andasshewentonwithhermendingshelookedupatthebulbsoccasionallyasiftomakecertaintheywerestillthere.

           AfewminuteslaterCokerstrolledin.

           "Thatwasyou,Isuppose?"Isaid,noddingatthelights.

           "Yes,"headmitted."They’vegottheirownplanthere.WemightaswelluseuptheLasasletitevaporate."

           "Doyoumeantosaywecouldhavehadlightsallthetimewe’vebeenhere?"askedthegirl.

           "Ifyouhadjusttakenthetroubletostarttheengine,"Cokersaid,lookingather."IIyouwantedlight,whydidn’tyoutrytostartit?"

           "Ididn’tknowitwasthere;besides,Idon’tknowanythingaboutenginesorelectricity."

           Cokercontinuedtolookather,thoughtfully.

           "Soyoujustwentonsittinginthedark,"heremarked."Andhowlongdoyouthinkyouarelikelytosurviveifyoujustgoonsittinginthedarkwhenthingsneeddoing?"

           Shewasstungbyhistone.

           "it’snotmyfaultifI’mnotanygoodatthingslikethat."

           "I’lldifferthere,"Cokertoldher."It’snotonlyyourfault—it’saself-createdfault.Moreover,it’sanaffectationtoconsideryourselftoospiritualtounderstandanythingmechanical.Itisapettyandaverysillyformofvanity.Everyonestartsbyknowingnothingaboutanything,butGodgiveshim—andevenher—brainstofindoutwith.Failuretousethemisnotavirtuetobepraised;eveninwomenitisagaptobedeplored."