День триффидов
World Narrowing
Nowandthenoneofuswouldhaveanewideafortheirdiscouragement,suchassprayingthegroundbeyondthefencewithastrongarsenicalsolution,buttheretreatswecausedwereonlytemporary.
We’dbeentryingoutavarietyofsuchdodgesforayearormorebeforethedaywhenSusancamerunningintoourroomearlyonemorningtotellusthatthethingshadbrokeninandwereallroundthehouse.Shehadgotupearlytodothemilking,asusual.Theskyoutsideherbedroomwindowwasgray,butwhenshewentdownstairsshefoundeverythingthereincompletedarkness.Sherealizedthatshouldnotbesoandturnedonthelight.Themomentshesawleatherygreenleavespressedagainstthewindowssheguessedwhathadhappened.
Icrossedthebedroomontiptoeandpulledthewindowshutsharply.Evenasitclosed,astingwhippedupfrombelowandsmackedagainsttheglass.Welookeddownonathicketoftriffidsstandingtenortwelvedeepagainstthewallofthehouse.Theflamethrowerswereinoneoftheouthouses.ItooknoriskswhenIwenttofetchthem.Inthickclothingandgloves,withaleatherhelmetandgogglesbeneaththemeshmask,IhackedawaythroughthethrongoftriffidswiththelargestcarvingknifeIcouldfind.Thestingswhippedandslappedatthewiremeshsofrequentlythattheywetit,andthepoisonbegantocomethroughinafinespray.Itmistedthegoggles,andthefirstthingIdidintheouthousewastowashitoffmyface.
