День триффидов
Journey in Hope
ThenSusancaughtaglimmerbetweenthebranchestoourright.Thenextturningwasluckier.Ittookusbackataslantupthesideofthehilluntilwewereabletoseeasmall,brilliantlylitsquareofwindowhalfamileormorealongtheslope.
Eventhen,andwiththemaptohelp,itwasnoteasytofindthelanethatledtoit.Welurchedalong,stillclimbinginlowgear,buteachtimewecaughtsightofthewindowagainitwasalittlecloser.Thelanehadnotbeendesignedforponderoustrucks.Inthenarrowerpartswehadtopushourwayalongitbetweenbushesandbrambleswhichscrabbledalongthesidesasthoughtheytriedtopullusback.
Butatlasttherewasalanternwavingintheroadahead.Itmovedon,swingingtoshowustheturnthroughagate.
Thenitwassetstationaryontheground.Idrovetowithinayardortwoofitandstopped.
AsIopenedthedooraflashlightshonesuddenlyintomyeyes.Ihadaglimpseofafigurebehinditinaraincoatshiningwithwetness.
Aslightbreakmarredtheintendedcalmofthevoicethatspoke.
"Hullo,Bill.You’vebeenalongtime."
Ijumpeddown.
"Oh,Bill.Ican’t—Oh,mydear,I’vebeenhopingsomuch...Oh,Bill..."saidJosella.
IhadforgottenallaboutSusanuntilavoicecamefromabove.
"Youaregettingwet,yousilly.Whydon’tyoukissherindoors?"itasked.
