День триффидов
Strategic Withdrawal
Inthelivingroomwefound,inadditiontothehousehold,fourmencladingray-greenskisuits.Twoofthemworepistolsholsteredtotherighthip;theothertwohadparkedtheirsubmachinegunsonthefloorbesidetheirchairs.
Aswecamein,Josellaturnedacompletelyexpressionlessfacetowardus.
"Hereismyhusband.Bill,thisisMr.Torrence.Hetellsusheisanofficialofsomekind.Hehasproposalstomaketous."Ihadneverheardhervoicecolder.
ForasecondIfailedtorespond.Themansheindicateddidnotrecognizeme,butIrecalledhim,allright.Featuresthathavefacedyoualongsightsgetsortofsetinyourmind.Besides,therewasthatdistinctiveredhair.IrememberedverywellthewaythatefficientyoungmanhadturnedhackmypartyinHampstead.Inoddedtohim.Lookingatme,hesaid:
"Iunderstandyouareinchargehere,Mr.Masen?"
"TheplacebelongstoMr.Brent,"Ireplied.
"Imeanthatyouaretheorganizerofthisgroup?’
"Inthecircumstances,yes,"Isaid.
"Good."Hehadanow-we-are-going-to-get-someplaceair."IamCommander,SoutheastRegion,"headded.
Hespokeasifthatshouldconveysomethingimportanttome.Itdidnot.Isaidso.
"Itmeans,"heamplified,"thatIamthechiefexecutiveofficeroftheEmergencyCouncilfortheSoutheasternRegionofBritain.Assuch,ithappenstobeoneofmydutiestosupervisethedistributionandallocationofpersonnel."
"Indeed,"Isaid."Ihaveneverheardofthis—er——Council."
"Possibly.
