День триффидов

           WithoutknowingthatIhadfiredatthetriffidinthesquare,andthatthesoundoftheshotwasthecauseofCoker’scaution,shesuspectedsomekindoftrap.Determinednottofallintooneasecondtime,shehadreturnedtothecar.Shehadnoideawheretheresthadgone—iftheyhadgoneatall.Theonlyplaceofrefugeshecouldthinkofthatwouldbeknowntoanyoneatallwastheoneshehadmentionedalmostcasuallytome.Shehaddecidedtomakeforit,inthehopethatI,ifIwerestillinexistence,wouldrememberandtrytofindit.

           "IcurledupandsleptinthebackofthecaronceIwasclearofLondon,"shesaid."ItwasstillquiteearlywhenIgotherethenextmorning.ThesoundofthecarbroughtDennistoanupstairswindow,warningmetolookoutfortriffids.ThenIsawthattherewerehalfadozenormoreofthemclosearoundthehouse,foralltheworldasiftheywerewaitingforsomeonetocomeoutofit.DennisandIshoutedbackandforth.Thetriffidsstirred,andoneofthembegantomovetowardme,soInippedbackintothecarforsafety.Whenitkeptoncoming,Istartedupthecarandranitdown.Buttherewerestilltheothers,andIhadnokindofweaponbutmyknife.ItwasDenniswhosolvedthatdifficulty.

           "‘Ifyouhaveacanofgastospare,throwsomeofittheirway,andfollowitupwithabitofburningrag,’hesuggested.Thatoughttoshift‘em.’

           "Itdid.SincethenI’vebeenusingagardensyringe.ThewonderisthatI’venotsettheplaceonfire."