День триффидов
The End begins
Suchaquietnessheldeverythingascannothavebeenknowninthosepartsforathousandyearsandmore.
"SeewhatImean?‘S’obvious,"saidtheman.
"Yes,"Isaidslowly."Yes—Iseewhatyoumean."
IdecidedthatImustgetalong.Ididnotknowwhereto.ButImustfindoutmoreaboutwhatwashappening.
"Areyouthelandlord?"Iaskedhim.
"Wha’‘fIam?"hedemandeddefensively.
"OnlythatI’vegottopaysomeoneforthreedoublebrandies."
"Ah—forgetit."
"Butlookhere
"Forgetit,Itellyou.D’juknowwhy?‘Causewhat’sthegood‘fmoneytoadeadman?An’thashwhatIain—’sgoodas.Jus’afewmoredrinks."
Helookedaprettyrobustspecimenforhisage,andIsaidso.
"Wha’sgoodoflivingblind’sabat?"bedemandedaggressively."Thashwhatmywifesaid.An’shewasright—onlyshe’smoregutsthanIhave.Whenshefoundasthekidswasblindtoo,whatdidshedo?Took‘emintoourbedwithherandturnedonthegas.Thashwhatshedone.An’Ihadn’tthegutstostickwith‘em.She’sgotpluck,mywife,more’nIhave.ButIwillhavesoon.I’mgoin’backuptheresoon—whenI’mdrunkenough."
Whatwastheretosay?WhatIdidsayservednopurpose,savetospoilhistemper.Intheendhegropedhiswaytothestairsanddisappearedupthem,bottleinhand.Ididn’ttrytostophimorfollowhim.Iwatchedhimgo.ThenIknockedoffthelastofmybrandyandwentoutintothesilentstreet.
