День триффидов
Journey in Hope
Afterthatshehadbeenverycarefulaboutthethings,andonfurtherexpeditionshadtaughtTommytobecarefulaboutthemtoo.ButTommyhadbeensolittlehehadnotbeenabletoseetheonethatwashidinginthenextgardenwhenhewentouttoplaythatmorning.Susanhadtriedhalfadozentimestogettohim,buteachtime,howevercarefulshewas,shehadseenthetopofthetriffidtrembleandstirslightly...
AnhourorsolaterIdecideditwastimetostopforthenight.IleftherinthetruckwhileIprospectedacottageortwountilIfoundonethatwasfit,andthenwesetaboutgettingamealtogether.Ididnotknowmuchofsmallgirls,butthisoneseemedtobeabletodisposeofanastonishingquantityoftheresult,confessingwhileshedidsothatadietconsistingalmostentirelyofbiscuits,cake,andcandieshadprovedlesscompletelysatisfyingthanshehadexpected.Afterwehadcleanedherupabit,andI,underinstruction,hadwieldedherhairbrush,Ibegantofeelratherpleasedwiththeresults.She,forherpart,seemedableforatimetoforgetallthathadhappenedinherpleasureathavingsomeonetotalkto.
Icouldunderstandthat.Iwasfeelingexactlythesamewaymyself.ButnotlongafterIhadseenhertobed,andcomedownstairsagain,Iheardthesoundofsobbing.Iwentbacktoher.
"It’sallright,Susan,"Isaid."It’sallright.Itdidn’treallyhurtpoorTommy,youknow—itwassoquick."Isatdownonthebedbesideherandtookherhand.Shestoppedcrying.
"Itwasn’tjustTommy,"shesaid.
