День триффидов
Strategic Withdrawal
"Irepeat,Iamsorry.Butthosearetheregulations."
Iregardedhimforsomemoments.Helookedsteadilybackatme.Atlast:
"Weshould,ofcourse,requireguaranteesandundertakingsregardingher,ifthisbadtohappen,"Isaid.
Iwasawareofseveralquicklydrawnbreaths.Torrence’smannerrelaxedslightly.
"Naturallyweshallgiveyouallpracticableassurances,"hesaid.
Inodded."Imusthavetimetothinkitallover.It’squitenewtome,andratherstartling.Somepointscometomymindatonce.Equipmenthereiswearingout.Itisdifficulttofindmorethathasnotdeteriorated.IcanseethatbeforelongIamgoingtoneedgoodstrongworkinghorses."
"Horsesaredifficult.There’sverylittlestockatpresent.You’llprobablyhavetouseman-powerteamsforatime."
"Then,"Isaid,"there’saccommodations.Theoutbuildingsaretoosmallforourneedsnow—andIcan’tputupevenprefabricatedquarterssinglehanded."
"Thereweshallbeabletohelpyou,Ithink."
Wewentondiscussingdetailsfortwentyminutesormore.BytheendofitIhadhimshowingsomethinglikeaffability;thenIgotridofhimbysendinghimoffonatouroftheplace,withSusanashissulkyguide.
"Bill,whatonearth—"Josellabeganasthedoorclosedbehindhimandhiscompanions.
ItoldherwhatIknewofTorrenceandhismethodofdealingwithtroublebyshootingitearly.
"Thatdoesn’tsurprisemeatall,"remarkedDennis.
