День триффидов

           Hewouldkeepontryingtodothisorthatwithagrimpersistencethatwaspainfultowatch,anditrequiredallmyself-controltostopmeofferinghimhelp—oneexperienceofthebitternesswhichunaskedhelpcouldarouseinhimwasquiteenough.Ibegantobeastonishedatthethingshewaspainfullyteachinghimselftodo,thoughstillthemostimpressivetomewashisconstructionofanefficientmeshhelmetononlytheseconddayofhisblindness.

           Ittookhimoutofhimselftoaccompanymeonsomeofmyforagingexpeditions,anditpleasedhimthathecouldbeusefulinhelpingtomovetheheaviercases.HewasanxiousforbooksinBraille,butthose,wedecided,wouldhavetowaituntiltherewaslessriskofcontaminationintownslargeenoughtobelikelysources.

           Thedaysbegantopassquickly,certainlyforthethreeofuswhocouldsee.Josellawaskeptbusymostlyinthehouse,andSusanwaslearningtohelpher.Therewereplentyofjobs,too,waitingtobedonebyme.Joycerecoveredsufficientlytomakeashakyfirstappearance,andthenbegantopickupmorerapidly.SoonafterthatMary’spainsbegan.

           Thatwasabadnightforeveryone.Worst,perhaps,forDennisinknowingthateverythingdependedonthecareoftwowillingbutinexperiencedgirls.Hisself-controlarousedmyhelplessadmiration.

           IntheearlyhoursofthemorningJosellacamedowntous,lookingverytired:

           "It’sagirl.They’rebothallright,"shesaid,andledDennisup.

           ShereturnedafewmomentslaterandtookthedrinkIhadreadyforher.