День триффидов
World Narrowing
Theplacestillcontrivedtogivetheimpressionthatatouchofamagicwandwouldbringitawakeagain,thoughmanyofthevehiclesinthestreetswerebeginningtoturnrusty.Ayearlaterthechangewasmorenoticeable.Largepatchesofplasterdetachedfromhousefrontshadbeguntolitterthesidewalks.Dislodgedtilesandchimneypotscouldbefoundinthestreets.Grassandweedshadagoodholdintheguttersandwerechokingthedrains.Leaveshadblockeddownspoutingssothatmoregrass,andevensmallbushes,grewincracksandinthesiltintheroofgutterings.Almosteverybuildingwasbeginningtowearagreenwigbeneathwhichitsroofswoulddamplyrot.Throughmanyawindowonehadglimpsesoffallenceilings,curvesofpeelingpaper,andwallsglisteningwithdamp.Thegardensoftheparksandsquareswerewildernessescreepingoutacrosstheborderingstreets.Growingthingsseemed,indeed,topressouteverywhere,rootinginthecrevicesbetweenthepavingstones,springingfromcracksinconcrete,findinglodgmentsevenintheseatsoftheabandonedcars.Onallsidestheywereincroachingtorepossessthemselvesofthearidspacesthatmanhadcreated.And,curiously,asthelivingThingsincreasinglytookcharge,theeffectoftheplacebecamelessoppressive.Asitpassedbeyondthescopeofanymagicwand,mostoftheghostsweregoingwithit,withdrawingslowlyintohistory.
