День триффидов

           Bythetimewewereoutofthehalf-trackamaninaleatherjacketandbreecheshadcomecutofthehouse.Hewastall,fair,andsunburned.AtfirstglanceIIhadafeelingIhadseenhimsomewherebefore.Hewaved,andgrinnedcheerfullyaswehurriedacross.

           "Mr.BillMasen,Ipresume.MynameisSimpson—IvanSimpson."

           "Iremember,"saidJosella."YoubroughtinahelicopterthatnightattheUniversityBuilding."

           "That’sright.Cleverofyoutoremember.Butjusttoshowyou’renottheonlyonewithamemory:youareJosellaPlayton,authorof—"

           "You’requitewrong,"sheinterruptedhimfirmly."I’mJosellaMasen,authorofDavidMasen."

           "Ah,yes.I’vebeenlookingattheoriginaledition,andaverycreditablebitofcraftsmanship,too,ifImaysayso."

           "Holdonabit,"Isaid."Thatfire—"

           "it’ssafeenough.Blowingawayfromthehouse.ThoughI’mafraidmostofyourstockofwoodhasgoneup."

           "Whathappened?"

           "ThatwasSusan.Shedidn’tmeanmetomisstheplace.Whensheheardmyengineshegrabbedaflamethrowerandboundedouttostartasignalasquicklyasshecould.Thewoodpilewashandiest—noonecouldhavemissedwhatshedidtothat."

           Wewentinsideandjoinedtheothers.

           "Bytheway,"Simpsonsaidtome,"MichaelsaidIwastobesuretostartoffwithhisapologies."

           "Tome?"Isaid,wondering.

           "Youweretheonlyonewhosawanydangerinthetriffids,andhedidn’tbelieveyou."