День триффидов
The Coming of the Triffids
Oncethere,itwouldcontinuetocirclelikeatinymoon,quiteinactiveandinnocuousuntilthepressureonabuttonshouldgiveittheimpulsetodropback,withdevastatingeffect.
Greataswasthepublicconcernwhichfollowedthetriumphantannouncementofthefirstnationtoestablishasatelliteweaponsatisfactorily,astillgreaterconcernwasfeltoverthefailureofotherstomakeanyannouncementatall,evenwhentheywereknowntohavehadsimilarsuccesses.Itwasbynomeanspleasanttorealizethattherewasanunknownnumberofmenacesupthereoveryourhead,quietlycirclingandcirclinguntilsomeoneshouldarrangeforthemtodrop—andthattherewasnothingtobedoneaboutthem.Still,lifehastogoon—andnoveltyisawonderfullyshort-livedthing.Onebecameusedtotheideaperforce.Fromtimetotimetherewouldbeapanickyflare-upofexpostulationwhenreportscirculatedthataswellassatelliteswithatomicheadstherewereotherswithsuchthingsascropdiseases,cattlediseases,radioactivedusts,viruses,andinfectionsnotonlyoffamiliarkindsbutbrand-newsortsrecentlythoughtupinlaboratories,allfloatingaroundupthere.Whethersuchuncertainandpotentiallybackfiringweaponshadactuallybeenplacedishardtosay.Butthenthelimitsoffollyitself—particularlyoffollywithfearonitsheels—arenoteasytodefine,either.
