День триффидов

           "Herewehavenointentionofchangingouroutlook—orofgivingupourprinciples.That’swhyweseparatedfromtheotherparty.Soifthewaysofdecent,respectablepeoplearenotgoodenoughforyou,Ishouldthinkyou’dbettergosomewhereelse."Andwithasoundverylikeasniff,shewalkedaway.

           Cokerwatchedherleave.Whenthedoorclosedheexpressedhisfeelingswithafishporter’sfluency.Ilaughed.

           "Whatdidyouexpect?"Isaid."Youpranceinandaddressthegirlasifshewereareactionarydebatingsociety—andresponsibleforthewholewesternsocialsystemaswell.Andthenyou’resurprisedwhenshe’shuffed."

           "You’dthinkshe’dbereasonable,"hemuttered.

           "Mostpeoplearen’t,eventhoughthey’dprotestthattheyare.Theyprefertobecoaxedorwheedled,orevendriven.Thatwaytheynevermakeamistake:ifthereisone,it’sat’waysduetosomethingorsomebodyelse.Thisgoingheadlongforthingsisamechanisticview,andpeopleingeneralaren’tmachines.Theyhavemindsoftheirown—mostlypeasantminds,attheireasiestwhentheyareinthefamiliarfurrow."

           "Thatdoesn’tsoundasifyou’dgiveBeadleymuchchanceofmakingagoofit.He’sallplan."

           "He’llhavehistroubles.Buthispartydidchoose,.Thislotisnegative,"Ipointedout."Itissimplyhereonaccountofitsresistancetoanykindofplan."Ipaused.ThenIadded:

           "Thatgirlwasrightaboutonething,youknow.Youwouldkbetteroffwithhislot