День триффидов
World Narrowing
Viewedimpressionisticallyfromadistance,thelittletownwasstillthesamejumbleofsmallred-roofedhousesandbungalowspopulatedmostlybyacomfortablyretiredmiddleclass—butitwasanimpressionthatcouldnotlastmorethanafewminutes.Thoughthetilesstillshowed,thewallswerebarelyvisible.Thetidygardenshadvanishedunderanuncheckedgrowthofgreen,patchedincolorhereandtherebythedescendantsofcarefullycultivatedflowers.Eventheroadslookedlikestripsofgreencarpetfromthisdistance.Whenwereachedthemweshouldfindthattheeffectofsoftverdurewasillusory;theywouldbemattedwithcoarse,toughweeds.
"Onlysofewyearsago,"Josellasaidreflectively,"peoplewerewailingaboutthewaythosebungalowsweredestroyingthecountryside.Nowlookatthem!"
"Thecountrysideishavingitsrevenge,allright,"Isaid."Natureseemedaboutfinishedthen—’Whowouldhavethoughttheoldmantohavehadsomuchbloodinhim?’"
"Itratherfrightensme.It’sasifeverythingwerebreakingout.Rejoicingthatwe’refinished,andthatit’sfreetogoitsownway.Iwonder?Havewebeenjustfoolingourselvessinceithappened?Doyouthinkwereallyarefinishedwith,Bill?"
I’dhadplentymoretimewhenIwasoutonmyforagingstowonderaboutthatthanshehad.
"Ifyouweren’tyou,darling,Imightmakeanansweroutoftherightheroicmold—thekindofwishfulthinkingthatsooftenpassesforfaithandresolution."
"ButIamme?"
"I’llgiveyouthehonestanswer—notquite.
