День триффидов
Journey in Hope
Whilewewatchedtheotherlightitblinkedandthenbeganaseriesofslow,deliberatelongsandshortswhichunfortunatelymeantnothingtome.IgaveacouplemoreVsforgoodmeasure,drewtheapproximatelineofthefarlightonourmap,andswitchedonthedrivinglights.
"Isthatthelady?"askedSusan.
"It’sgottobe,"Isaid."It’sgottobe."
Thatwasapoorishtrip.Tocrossthelowmarshlanditwasnecessarytotakearoadalittletothewestofusandthenworkbacktotheeastalongthefootofthehills.Beforewehadgonemorethanamilesomethingcutoffthesightofthelightfromusaltogether,andtoaddtothedifficultyoffindingourwayinthedarklanes,therainbeganagaininearnest.Withnoonetocareforthedrainagesluices,somefieldswerealreadyflooded,andthewaterwasovertheroadinplaces.
Ihadtodrivewithatediouscarewhenallmyurgewastoputmyfootflatdown.
Oncewereachedthefarthersideofthevalleywewerefreeoffloodwater,butwemadelittlebetterspeed,forthelaneswerefullofprimitivewanderingsandimprobableturns.Ihadtogivethewheelallmyattentionwhilethechildpeeredupatthehillsbesideus,watchingforthereappearanceofthelight.Wereachedthepointwherethelineonmymapintersectedwithwhatappearedtobeourpresentroadwithoutseeingasignofit.Itriedthenextuphillturning.
Ittookabouthalfanhourtogetbacktotheroadagainfromthechalkpitintowhichitledus.
Weranonfartheralongthelowerroad
