День триффидов
— and Farther on
Themanatthewindowdroppedhistowel.HeshoutedsomethingwhichIcouldnothearabovethenoiseoftheenginesanddisappeared.Webothswitchedoff.Itwassoquietthatwecouldheartheclumpingoftheman’sfeetonthewoodenstairsinsidethehouse.Thedooropened,andbesteppedout,holdingbothhandsbeforehim.LikelightningsomethingwhippedOutofthehedgeonhisleftandstruckhim.Hegaveasinglehigh-pitchedshoutanddroppedwherehestood.
Ipickedupmyshotgunandclimbedoutofthecab.IcircledalittleuntilIcouldmakeOutthetriffidskulkingintheshadowsofabush.ThenIblewthetopoffit.
Cokerwasoutofhistruck,too,andstandingclosebesideme.Helookedatthemanonthegroundandthenattheshorntriffid.
"Itwas—no,damnit,itcan’thavebeenwaitingforhim?"hesaid."Itmusthavejusthappened.Itcouldn’thaveknownhe’dcomeoutofthatdoor...Imean,itcouldn’t—couldit?"
"Orcouldit?Itwasaremarkablyneatpieceofwork,"Isaid.
Cokerturneduneasyeyesonme.
"Toodamnneat.Youdon’treallybelieve
"There’sakindofconspiracynottobelievethingsabouttriffids,"Isaid,andadded:"Theremightbemorearoundhere."
Welookedtheadjacentcoverovercarefullyanddrewblank.
"Icoulddowithadrink,"suggestedCoker.
Butforthedustonthecounter,thesmallbaroftheinnlookednormal.Wepouredawhiskyeach.Cokerdownedhisinone.Heturnedaworriedlookonme.
"Ididn’tlikethat.Notatall,Ididn’t.
