День триффидов
The Coming of the Triffids
Iwasbendingdown,intentonclearingtheearthwithoutharmingtheplant,whensomethingfromnowherehitmeoneterrificslamandknockedmeout...
Iwokeuptofindmyselfinbed,withmymother,myfather,andthedoctorwatchingmeanxiously.Myheadfeltasifitweresplitopen.Iwasachingallover,and,asIlaterdiscovered,onesideofmyfacewasdecoratedwithablotchyredraisedweal,TheinsistentquestionsastohowIcametobelyingunconsciousinthegardenwerequiteuseless;Ihadnofaintestideawhatitwasthathadhitmc.AndsomelittletimepassedbeforeIlearnedthatImusthavebeenoneofthefirstpersonsinEnglandtobestungbyatriffidandgetawaywithit.Thetriffidwas,ofcourse,immature.ButbeforeIhadfullyrecoveredmyfatherbadfoundoutwhathadundoubtedlyhappenedtome,andbythetimeIwentintothegardenagainhehadwreakedsternvengeanceonourtriffidanddisposedoftheremainsonabonfire.
Nowthatwalkingplantswereestablishedfacts,thepresslostitsformertepidityandbathedtheminpublicity.Soanamehadtobefoundforthem.Alreadytherewerebotanistswallowing,aftertheircustom,inpolysyllabicdogLatinandGreektoproducevariantsonambulansandpseudopodia,butwhatthenewspapersandthepublicwantedwassomethingeasyonthetongueandnottooheavyontheheadlinesforgeneraluse.
