День триффидов

           Shequiterapidlybecameanexpertatdisarmingthethings,asshecontinuedtocallthem.Itbecameherdepartmenttoworkdailyvengeanceonthem.FromJosellaIlearnedwhathadhappenedtoherafterthefirealarmattheUniversityBuilding.

           ShehadbeenshippedoffwithherpartymuchasIwithmine,buthermannerofdealingwiththetwowomentowhomshewasattachedhadbeensummary.Shehadissuedafiatultimatum:eithershebecamefreeofallrestraints,inwhichcaseshewouldhelpthemasfarasshewasable;or,iftheycontinuedtocoerceher,therewouldlikelycomeatimewhentheywouldfindthemselvesdrinkingprussicacidoreatingcyanideofpotassium,onherrecommendation.Theycouldtaketheirchoice.Theyhadchosensensibly.Therewaslittledifferenceinwhatwehadtotelloneanotheraboutthedaysthatfollowed.Whenhergrouphadintheenddissolved,shehadreasonedmuchasIhad.ShetookacarandwentuptoHampsteadtolookforme.Shehadnotencounteredanysurvivorsfrommygroup,orrunacrossthatledIbythequick-triggered,redheadedman.ShehadkeptonthereuntilalmostsunsetandthendecidedtomakefortheUniversityBuilding.Notknowingwhattoexpect,shehadcautiouslystoppedthecaracoupleofstreetsawayandapproachedonfoot.Whenshewasstillsomedistancefromthegatessheheardashot.Wonderingwhatthatmightindicate,shehadtakencoverinthegardenthathadshelteredusbefore.FromthereshehadobservedCokeralsomakingacircumspectadvance.