День триффидов

           "Andallthetime,youknow,I’vebeenhauntedbyCoker

           —thefirstgeneration,laborers;thenext,savagesIthinkwehadbetteradmitdefeatbeforeitcomes,andgonow."

           Shepressedmyhand.

           "Notdefeat,amdear,justa—what’sthephrase?—astrategicwithdrawal.Wewithdrawtoworkandplanforthedaywhenwecancomeback.Onedaywewill.You’llshowushowtowipeouteveryoneofthesefoultriffidsandgetourlandbackfromthemforus."

           "You’vealotoffaith,darling.""Andwhynot?"‘Well,atleastI’llbefightingthem.Butfirst,wego—when?’"DOyouthinkwecouldletthemhavethesummerouthere?Itcouldbeasortofholidayforallofus—withnopreparationstomakeforthewinter.Wedeserveaholiday,too."

           "Ishouldthinkwecoulddothat,"Iagreed.Wesat,watchingthevalleydissolveinthedusk.Josellasaid:

           "It’squeer,Bill.NowIcango,Idon’treallywantto.Sometimesit’sseemedlikeprison—butnowitseemsliketreacherytoleaveit.Yousee,I—I’vebeenhappierherethaneverinmylifebefore,inspiteofeverything."

           "Asforme,mysweet,Iwasn’tevenalivebefore.Butwe’llhavebettertimesyet—Ipromiseyou."

           "It’ssilly,butIshallcrywhenwedogo.Ishallcrybuckets.Youmustn’tmind,"shesaid.

           But,asthingsfellout,wewereallofusmuchtoobusytocry...