День триффидов
Shirning
Hefoundhiswaytothetoolshed,andthenceacrosstothelane,encumberednowwiththreelargeballsofgardeningtwinewhichhepayedoutashewent,toguidehimback.
Severaltimesinthelanemorestingswhippedathim.Ittookanimmenselylongtimeforhimtocoverthemileorsotothevillage,andbeforehereachedithissupplyoftwinehadgivenout.Andalltheway,hewalkedandstumbledthroughasilencesocompletethatitfrightenedhim.Fromtimetotimehewouldstopandcall,butnooneanswered.Morethanoncehewasafraidthathehadlosthisway,butwhenhisfeetdiscoveredabetter-laidroadsurfaceheknewwherehewasandwasabletoconfirmitbylocatingasignpost.Hegropedhiswayfartheron.
Afteraseeminglyvastdistancehehadbecome,awarethathisfootstepsweresoundingdifferently:theirfallhadafaintecho.Makingtooneside,hefoundafootpathandthenawall.Alittlefartheralonghediscoveredapostboxletintothebrickwork,andknewthathemustbeactuallyinthevillageatlast.Hecalledoutoncemore.Avoice,awoman’svoice,calledback,butitwassomedistanceahead,andthewordswereindistinguishable.Hecalledagain,andbegantomovetowardit.Itsreplywassuddenlycutoffbyascream.Afterthattherewassilenceagain.Onlythen,andstillhalfincredulously,didherealizethevillagewasinnobetterplightthanhisownhousehold.Hesatdownonthegrassedvergeofthepathtothinkoutwhatheshoulddo.
Bythefeelingintheairheguessedthatnighthadcome.
