День триффидов

           ThoughjustoccasionallyshepinedalittleforthebrightlightswhichshehopedtheAmericanswouldhurryupandrestore.

           Thethirdmember,thedarkyoungman,nursedagrudge.Hehadworkedhardandsavedhardinordertostarthissmallradiostore,andhehadambitions."LookatFord,"hetoldus,"andlookatLardNuffield—hestartedwithabikeshopnobiggerthanmyradiostore,andseewherehegotto!That’sthekindofthingIwasgoingtodo.Andnowlookatthedamnedmessthingsarein!Itain’tfair!"Fate,ashesawit,didn’twantanymoreFordsorNuffields—buthedidn’tintendtotakethatlyingdown.ThiswasonlyanintervalsenttoLrybim—onedaywouldseehimbackinhisradiostorewithhisfootsetfirmlyonthefirstrungtomillionairedom.

           ThemostdisappointingthingaboutthemwastofindthattheyknewnothingoftheMichaelBeadleyparty.Indeed,theonlygrouptheyhadencounteredwasinavillagejustovertheDevonborder,whereacoupleofmenwithshotgunshadadvisedthemnottocomethatwayagain.Thosemen,theysaid,wereobviouslylocal.Cokersuggestedthatthatmeantasmallgroup.

           "Iftheyhadbelongedtoalargeonethey’dhaveshownlessnervousnessandmorecuriosity,"hemaintained."ButiftheBeadleylotareroundhere,weoughttobeabletofindthemsomehow,"Heputittothefairman:"Lookhere,supposewecomealongwithyou?Wecandoourwhack,andwhenwedofindthemitwillmakethingseasierforallofus."