День триффидов
The Coming of the Triffids
Thepubliclearnedthatitandsimilarcompaniesinothercountrieswereabouttofarmtriffidsonalargescale,inordertoextractvaluableoilsandjuicesandtopresshighlynutritiousoilcakeforstockfeeding.Consequently,triffidsmovedintotherealmofbigbusinessovernight.
RightawayIdecidedmyfuture.IappliedtotheArctic&European,wheremyqualificationsgotmeajobontheproductionside.Myfather’sdisapprovalwassomewhatqualifiedbytherateofpay,whichwasgoodformyage.ButwhenIspokeenthusiasticallyofthefutureheblewdoubtfullythroughhismustache.Hehadrealfaithonlyinatypeofworksteadiedbylongtradition,butheletmehavemyway."Afterall,ifthethingisn’tasuccess,you’llfindoutyoungenoughtostartinonsomethingmoresolid,"heconceded.
Thereturnedouttobenoneedforthat.Beforeheandmymotherwerekilledtogetherinaholidayairbuscrashfiveyearslater,theyhadseen[henewcompaniesdriveallcompetingoilsoffthemarketandthoseofuswhohadbeeninatthebeginningapparentlywellsetforlife.
OneoftheearlycornerswasmyfriendWalterLucknor.TherehadbeensomedoubtatfirstabouttakingWalteron.Heknewlittleofagriculture,lessofbusiness,andlackedthequalificationsforlabwork.Ontheotherhand,hedidknowalotabouttriffids—hehadakindofinspiredknackwiththem.
WhathappenedtoWalterthatfatalMayyearslaterIdonotknow—thoughIcanguess.Itisasadthingthathedidnotescape.Hemighthavebeenimmenselyvaluablelateron.
