День триффидов
Strategic Withdrawal
AfterIhadaddedsomeanti-triffidsgearandmiscellaneousafterthoughtstothestuffalreadyinthehalf-track,Iwentbackandjoinedthepartyuntilitfinallybrokeupinanatmospherewhichevenacloseobservermighthavemistakenforalmostmaudlingoodwill.
Wegavethemtwohourstogetwellasleep.
Themoonhadrisen,andtheyardwasbathedinwhitelight.Ihadforgottentooilthesheddoors,andgavethemacurseforeverycreak.Therestcameinprocessiontowardme.TheBrentsandJoycewerefamiliarenoughwiththeplacenottoneedaguidinghand.BehindthemfollowedJosellaandSusan,carryingthechildren.David’ssleepyvoiceroseonce,andwasstoppedquicklybyJosella’shandoverhismouth.Shegotintothefront,stillholdinghim.Isawtheothersintotheback,andclosedit.
ThenIclimbedintothedrivingseat,kissedJosella,andtookadeepbreath.
Acrosstheyard,thetriffidswereclusteringclosertothegate,astheyalwaysdidwhentheyhadbeenundisturbedforsomehours.
Bythegraceofheaventhehalf-track’senginestartedatonce.Islammedintolowgear,swervedtoavoidTorrence’svehicle,anddrovestraightatthegate.Theheavyfendertookitwithacrash.Weplungedforwardinafestoonofwirenettingandbrokentimbers,knockingdownadozentriffidswhiletherestslashedfuriouslyatusaswepassed.Thenwewereonourway.
WhereaturnintheclimbingtrackletuslookdownonShirning,wepaused,andcuttheengine.
