День триффидов
Dead End
Thethinkinghastobedonelargelybypeoplewhoarenotdirectlyproductive—bypeoplewhoappeartobelivingalmostentirelyontheworkofothers,butare,infact,along-terminvestment.Learninggrewupinthecities,andingreatinstitutions—itwasthelaborofthecountrysidethatsupportedthem.Similarly,wemustbecomebigenoughtosupportatveryleasttheleader,theteacher,andthedoctor."
"Well?"saidStephenafterapause.
"I’vebeenthinkingofthatplaceBillandIsawatTynsham.We’vetoldyouaboutit,Thewomanwhoistyingtorunitwantedhelp,andshewanteditbadly.Shehasaboutfiftyorsixtypeopleonherhands,andadozenorsoofthemabletosee.Thatwayshecan’tdoit.Sheknowsshecan’t—butshewasn’tgoingtoadmitittous.Shewasn’tgoingtoputherselfinourdebtbyaskingustostay.Butshe’dbeverygladifweweretogobackthereafterallandasktobeadmitted."
"GoodLord,"Isaid."Youdon’tthinkshedeliberatelyputusonthewrongtack?"
"Idon’tknow.Imaybedoingheraninjustice,butitisanoddthingthatwe’venotseenorheardasinglesignofBeadleyandCompany,isn’tit?Anyhow,whethershemeantitornot,that’sthewayitworks,becauseI’vedecidedtogobackthere.Ifyouwantmyreasons,heretheyare—thetwomainones.First,unlessthatplaceistakeninhand,it’sgoingtocrash,whichwouldbeawasteandashameforallthosepeoplethere.Theotheristhatitismuchbettersituatedthanthis.
