День триффидов
World Narrowing
"Youmusthavebeenwatchingthemveryclosely,Susan."
"Ialwayswatchthem.Ihatethem,"shesaid,asifthatwereexplanationenough.
Dennishadjoinedusaswestoodthere.
"I’mwithyou,Susan,"hesaid."Idon’tlikeit.I’venotlikeditforsometime.Thosedamnthingshavethedroponus."
"Oh,come—"Ibegan.
"Itellyou,there’smoretothemthanwethink.Howdidtheyknow?Theystartedtobreakloosethemomentthenwasnoonetostopthem.Theywerearoundthishousetheverynextday.Canyouaccountforthat?"
"That’snotnewforthem,"Isaid."Injunglecountrytheyusedtohangaroundnearthetracks.Quiteoftentheywouldsurroundasmallvillageandinvadeitiftheyweren’tbeatenoff.Theywereadangerouskindofpestinquitealotofplaces."
"Butnothere—that’smypoint.Theycouldn’tdothathereuntilconditionsmadeitpossible.Theydidn’tevenfly.Butwhentheycould,theydiditatonce—almostasiftheyknewtheycould."
"Comenow,bereasonable,Dennis.Justthinkwhatyou’reimplying,"Itoldhim.
"I’mquiteawareofwhatI’mimplying—someofit,atanyrate.I’mmakingnodefinitetheory,butIdosaythis:theytookadvantageofourdisadvantageswithremarkablespeed.Ialsosaythatthereissomethingperceptiblylikemethodgoingonamongthemrightnow.You’vebeensowrappedupinyourjobsthatyou’venotnoticedhowthey’vebeenmassingupandwaitingouttherebeyondthefence,butSwanhas—ryeheardhertalkingaboutit.
