День триффидов
Strategic Withdrawal
Youkeepthepartygoing,tocoverup.Playrowdyrecordsatthem,orsomething.Andeverybodyhelptowhoopitup.Anotherthing—nobodyistomentionMichaelBeadleyandhislot.TorrencemustknowabouttheIsleofWightsetup,buthedoesn’tthinkwedo.Now,whatI’llbewantingisasackofsugar."
"Sugar?"saidJosellablankly.
"No?Well,abigcanofhoney,then.Ishouldthinkthatwoulddoaswell."
Everyonebehavedverycreditablyatsupper.Thepartynotonlythawed,itactuallybegantowarmup.Josellabroughtoutsomeofherownpotentmeadtosupplementthemoreorthodoxdrinks,anditwentdownwell.ThevisitorswereinastateofhappilycomfortablerelaxationwhenImademyunobtrusiveexit.
IcaughtupabundleofblanketsandclothesandaparceloffoodthatIhadlaidready,andhurriedwiththemacrosstheyardtotheshedwherewekeptthehalf-track.WithahosefromthetankerwhichheldourmaingassupplyIfilledthehalf-track’stankstooverflowing.ThenIturnedmyattentiontoTorrence’sstrangevehicle.Bythelightofahand-dynamotorchImanagedtolocatethefillercapandpouredaquartormoreofhoneyintothetank.
TherestofthelargecanofhoneyIdisposedofintothetankeritself.
Icouldhearthepartysingingand,seemingly,stillgoingwell.
