День триффидов
Shirning
MeanwhileDennishadmadetests,firstatthefrontandthenatthebackofthehouse.Withthedoorslightlyopen,hecautiouslythrustoutabroomatheadlevel.Eachtimetherewasthewhistleofasting,andhefeltthebroomhandletrembleslightlyinhisgrip.Atoneofthegardenwindowsthesamethinghappened;theothersseemedtobeclear.HewouldhavetriedtoleavebyoneofthembutforMary’sdistress.Shewassurethatifthereweretriffidscloseroundthehousetheremustbeothersabout,andwouldnotlethimtaketherisk.
Luckilytheyhadfoodenoughtolastthemsometime,thoughitwasdifficulttoprepareit.Also,Joyce,inspiteofahightemperature,appearedtobeholdingherownagainstthetriffidpoison,sothatthesituationwaslessurgentthanitmighthavebeen.MostofthenextdayDennisdevotedtocontrivingakindofhelmetforhimself.Hehadwirenetonlyoflargemesh,sothathehadtoconstructitofseverallayersoverlappedandtiedtogether.Ittookhimsometime,but,equippedwiththisandapairofheavygauntletgloves,hewasabletostartOutforthevillagelateintheday.Atriffidhadstruckathimbeforehewasthreepacesawayfromthehouse.Hegropedforituntilhefoundit,andtwisteditsstemforit,AminuteortwolateranotherstingthuddedacrosshishelmetHecouldnotfindthattriffidtograpplewithit,thoughitmadehalfadozenslashesbeforeitgaveup.
