День триффидов
Strategic Withdrawal
Ourway,you’llbetheheadofaclanthat’sworkingforyou,andyou’llhaveaninheritancetohandontoyoursons."
Comprehensionbegantocometome.Isaidwonderingly:
"AmItounderstandthatyouareofferingmeakindof-feudalseigneury?"
"Ah,"hesaid."Iseeyoudobegintounderstand.Itis,ofcourse,theobviousandquitenaturalsocialandeconomicformforthatstateofthingswearehavingtofacenow."
Therewasnodoubtwhateverthatthemanwasputtingthisforwardasaperfectlyseriousplan.Ievadedacommentonitbyrepeatingmyself:
"Buttheplacejustcan’tsupportthatmany."
"Forafewyears,undoubtedly,you’llhavetofeedthemmostlyonmashedtriffids—therewon’tbeanyshortageofthatrawmaterialbythelookofit."
"Cattlefood!"Isaid.
"Butsustaining—richintheimportantvitamins,I’mtold.Andbeggars—particularlyblindbeggars—can’tbechoosers."
"You’reseriouslysuggestingthatIshouldtakeonallthesepeopleandkeepthemoncattlefodder?"
"Listen,Mr.Masen.Ifitwerenotforus,noneoftheseblindpeoplewouldbealiveatallnow—norwouldtheirchildren.It’suptothemtodowhatwetellthem,takewhatwegivethem,andbethankfulforwhatevertheyget.Iftheyliketorefusewhatweoffer—well,that’stheirownfuneral."
IdecideditwouldbeunwisetosaywhatIfeltaboutsuchaphilosophyatthemoment.
