День триффидов
— and Farther on
EncounteringMissDurrant,hehadtoldherthatunlessitcouldsomehowbecontrivedthattheblindwomenshouldtakesomeoftheworkofftheshouldersofthesightedthewholethingwouldbreakdawnwithintendays,and,also,thatifthevicar’sprayerformoreblindpeopletojointhemshouldhappentobegranted,thewholeplacewouldbecameentirelyunworkable.Hewasembarkinguponfurtherobservations,includingthenecessityforstartingimmediatelytobuildupfoodreservesandtostarttheconstructionofdeviceswhichwouldenableblindmentodousefulwork,whenshecuthimshort.Hecouldseethatshewasagreatdealmoreworriedthanshewouldadmit,butthedeterminationwhichhadledhertoseverrelationswiththeotherpartycausedhertoblazebackathimunthankfully.Sheendedbylettinghimknowthatonherinformationneitherhenorhisviewswerelikelytoharmonizewiththecommunity.
"Thetroubleaboutthatwomanisthatshemeanstobeboss,"hesaid.
"It’sconstitutional—quiteapartfromtheloftyprinciples."
"Slanderous,"Isaid."Whatyoumeanisthatherprinciplesaresoimpeccablethateverythingisherresponsibility—andsoitbecomesherdutytoguideothers."
"Muchthesamething,"hesaid.
"Butitsoundsalotbetter,"Ipointedout.
Hewasthoughtfulforamoment.
"She’sgoingtorunthisplaceintoonehellofamessunlessshegetsrightdowntothejoboforganizingitprettyquickly.Haveyoulookedtheoutfitover?"
Ishookmyhead.Itoldhimhowmymorninghadbeenspent.
