День триффидов
The Coming of the Triffids
EventhosewhohadheardofUmbertodidnotyetconnecthimwithit.Itssuddenappearance,and,evenmore,itswidedistribution,promotedverypuzzledspeculation.Forthoughitmaturedmorerapidlyinthetropics,specimensinvariousstagesofdevelopmentwerereportedfromalmostanyregionoutsidethepolarcirclesandthedeserts.
Peopleweresurprised,andalittledisgusted,tolearnthatthespecieswascarnivorous,andthatthefliesandotherinsectscaughtinthecupswereactuallydigestedbythestickysubstancethere.Weintemperatezoneswerenotignorantofinsectivorousplants,butwewereunaccustomedtofindingthemoutsidespecialhothouses,andapttoconsiderthemasinsomewayslightlyindecent,oratleastimproper.Butactuallyalarmingwasthediscoverythatthewhorltoppingatriffid’sstemcouldlashoutasaslenderstingingweapontenfeetlong,capableofdischargingenoughpoisontokillamanifitstrucksquarelyonhisunprotectedskin.
Assoonasthisdangerwasappreciatedtherefollowedanervoussmashingandchoppingoftriffidseverywhere,untilitoccurredtosomeonethatallthatwasnecessarytomakethemharmlesswastheremovaloftheactualstingingweapon.Atthis,theslightlyhystericalassaultupontheplantsdeclined,withtheirnumbersconsiderablythinned.Alittlelateritbegantobeafashiontohaveasafelydockedtriffidortwoaboutone’sgarden.
