День триффидов
Dead End
Ithadnotbeenpossibleformetocovereverylaneandby-road,butIwaswillingtoswearthatthesoundofmybynomeansfeeblehornhadbeenheardineveryacreofmysector.IfinishedupanddrovebacktotheplacewherewehadparkedthetruckinthegloomiestmoodIhadyetknown.Ifoundthatnoneoftheothershadshownupyet,sotopassthetime,andbecauseIneededittokeepoutthespiritualcold,Iturnedintothenearbypubandpouredmyselfagoodbrandy.
Stephenwasthenexttoreturn.Theexpeditionseemedtohaveaffectedhimmuchasitbadme,forheshookhisheadusanswertomyquestioninglookandmadestraightforthebottleIhadopened.Tenminuteslatertheradioambitionistjoinedus.Hebroughtwithhimadisheveled,wild-eyedyoungmanwhoappearednottohavewashedorshavedforseveralweeks.Thispersonhadbeenontheroad;itwas,itseemed,hisonlyprofession.Oneevening,hecouldnotsayforcertainofwhatday,hehadfoundafinecomfortablebarninwhichtospendthenight.Havingdonesomewhatmorethanhisusualquotaofmilesthatday,hehadfallenasleepalmostassoonashelaydown.Thenextmorninghehadawakenedinanightmare,andhestillseemedalittleuncertainwhetheritwastheworldorhimselfthatwascrazy.Wereckonedhewasalittle,anyway,buthestillretainedaclearknowledgeoftheuseofbeer.
Anotherhalfhourorsopassed,andthenCokerarrived.HehadhadnobetterluckthanStephenandI.
BackinCharcottOldHousethateveningwegatheredagainaroundthemap.
