День триффидов
The Coming of the Triffids
Ifyoucouldseethepapersofthattimeyouwouldfindthemreferringto:
TRICHOTSTRINITS
TRICUSPSTRIPEDALS
TRIGENATESTRIPEDS
TRIGONSTRIQUETS
TRILOGSTRIPODS
TRIDENTATESTRIPPETS
andanumberofothermysteriousthingsnotevenbeginningwith"tri"—thoughalmostallcenteredonthefeatureofthatactive,three-prongedroot.
Therewasargument,public,private,andbar-parlor,withheatedchampionshipofonetermoranotheronnear-scientific,quasi-etymological,andanumberofothergrounds,butgraduallyonetermbegantodominatethisphilologicalgymkhana,initsfirstformitwasnotquiteacceptable,butcommonusagemodifiedtheoriginallonefirst"i,"andcustomquicklywroteinasecond"f,"toleavenodoubtaboutit.
Andsoemergedthestandardterm.Acatchylittlenameoriginatinginsomenewspaperofficeasahandylabelforanoddity—butdestinedonedaytobeassociatedwithpain,fear,andmisery—TRIFFID...
Thefirstwaveofpublicinterestsoonebbedaway.Triffidswere,admittedly,abitweird—butthatwas,afterall,justbecausetheywereanovelty.Peoplehadfeltthesameaboutnoveltiesofotherdays:aboutkangaroos,giantlizards,blackswans.Andwhenyoucametothinkofit,weretriffidsallthatmuchqueererthanmudfish,ostriches,polliwogs,andahundredotherthings?Thebarwasananimalthathadlearnedtofly;well,herewasaplantthathadlearnedtowalk—whatofthat?
Buttherewerefeaturesofittobelesscasuallydismissed.OnitsoriginstheRussians,truetotype,laylowandsaidnothing.
