День триффидов
World Narrowing
Idarednotusemorethanabrief,low-aimedjetfromoneofthethrowerstoclearmywayback,forfearofsettingthedoorandwindowframesalight,butitmovedandagitatedthemenoughformetogetbackunmolested.
JosellaandSusanstoodbywithfireextinguisherswhileI,stilllookinglikeacrossbetweenadeep-seadiverandamanfromMars,leanedfromtheupperwindowsoneachsideofthehouseinturnandplayedthethroweroverthebesiegingmobofthebrutes.Itdidnottakeverylongtoincinerateanumberofthemandgettherestonthemove.Susan,nowdressedforthejob,tookthesecondthrowerandstartedonthe,toher,highlycongenialtaskofhuntingthemdownwhileIsetoffacrossthefieldtofindthesourceofthetrouble.Thatwasnotdifficult.FromthefirstriseIwasabletoseethespotwheretriffidswerestilllurchingintoourenclosureinastreamoftossingstemsandwavingleaves.Theyfannedoutalittleonthenearerside,butallofthemwereboundinthedirectionofthehouse.Itwassimpletoheadthemoff.Ajetinfrontstoppedthem;onetoeithersidestartedthembackonthewaytheyhadcome.Anoccasionalspurtoverthem,anddrippingdownamongthem,hurriedthemupandturnedbacklatercomers.Twentyyardsorsoofthefencewaslyingflat,withthepostssnappedoff.Iriggedituptemporarilythereandthenandplayedthethrowerbackandforth,givingthethingsenoughofascorchingtopreventmoretroubleforafewhoursatleast.
Josella,Susan,andIspentmostofthedayrepairingthebreach.
