День триффидов

           Nevertheless,andinspiteofthisMicawberfixationonAmericanfairygodmothers,welefteachpartywithamapshowingthemtheapproximatepositionsofgroupswehadalreadydiscovered,incasetheyshouldchangetheirmindsandthinkaboutgettingtogetherforself-help.

           Asatask,theflightswerefarfromenjoyable,butatleasteyweretobepreferredtolonelyscoutingontheground.However,attheendofthefruitlessfourthdayitwasdecidedtoabandonthesearch.

           Atleastthatwaswhattherestofthemdecided.Ididnotfeelthesamewayaboutit.Myquestwaspersonal;theirswasnot.Whoevertheyfound,noworeventually,wouldbestrangerstothem.IwassearchingforBeadley’spartyasameans,notanendinitself.IfIshouldfindthemanddiscoverthatJosellawasnotwiththem,thenIshouldgoonsearching.ButIcouldnotexpecttheresttodevoteanymoretimetosearchingpurelyonmybehalf.

           CuriouslyIrealizedthatinallthisIhadmetnootherpersonwhowassearchingforsomeoneelse.Everyoneofthemhadbeen,savefortheaccidentofStephenandhisgirlfriend,snappedcleanawayfromfriendsorrelativestolinkhimwiththepast,andwasbeginninganewlifewithpeoplewhowerestrangers.OnlyI,asfarasIcouldsee,hadpromptlyformedanewlink—andthatsobrieflythatIhadscarcelybeenawarehowimportantitwastomeatthetime.

           Oncethedecisiontoabandonthesearchhadbeentaken,

           Cokersaid:

           "Allright.Thenthatbringsustothinkingaboutwhatwearegoingtodoforourselves."