День триффидов
Shirning
WiththeaidofacookbookJosellahadmanagedtoproducemealsofakind,andhadsetaboutputtingtheplacemoreorlesstorights.Working,learning,andimprovisingbadkepthertoobusytoworryaboutafuturewhichlaybeyondthenextfewweeks.Shehadseennooneelseatallduringthosedays,but,certainthattheremustbeotherssomewhere,shehadscannedthewhalevalleyforsignsofsmokebydayorlightsbynight.
Shebadseennosmoke,andinallthemileswithinherviewtherehadnotbeenagleamoflightuntiltheeveningIcame.
Inaway,theworstaffectedoftheoriginaltriowasDennis.
Joycewasstillweakandinasemi-invalidstate.MaryheldherselfwithdrawnandseemedcapableoffindingendlessmentaloccupationandcompensationintheContemplationofprospectivemotherhood.ButDenniswaslikeananimalinatrap.HedidnotcurseinthefutilewayIhadbeardsomanyothersdo;heresenteditwithaviciousbitterness,asifithadforcedhimintoacagewherehedidnotintendtostay.Already,beforeIarrived,hehadprevaileduponJosellatofindtheBraillesystemintheencyclopediaandmakeanindentedcopyofthealphabetforhimtolearn.Hespentdoggedhourseachdaymakingnotesinitandattemptingtoreadthemback.Mostoftherestofthetimehefrettedoverhisownuselessness,thoughhescarcelymentionedit.
