День триффидов
The End begins
Therewasnotthecooingofapigeon,notthechirpofasparrow.Nothingbutthehummingofwiresinthewind.
Anasty,emptyfeelingbegantocrawlupinsideme.ItwasthesamesensationIusedtohavesometimesasachildwhenIgottofancyingthathorrorswerelurkingintheshadowycornersofthebedroom;whenIdaren’tputafootoutforfearthatsomethingshouldreachfromunderthebedandgrabmyankle;daren’tevenreachfortheswitchlestthemovementshouldcausesomethingtoleapatme.Ihadtofightdownthefeeling,justasIhadhadtowhenIwasakidinthedark.Anditwasnoeasier.It’ssurprisinghowmuchyoudon’tgrowoutofwhenitcomestothetest.Theelementalfearswerestillmarchingalongwithme,waitingtheirchance,andprettynearlygettingit-justbecausemyeyeswerebandagedandthetraffichadstopped.
WhenIhadpulledmyselftogetherabit,Itriedthereasonableapproach.Whydoestrafficstop?Well,usuallybecausetheroadisclosedforrepairs.Perfectlysimple.Anytimenowthey’dbealongwithpneumaticdrillsasanothertouchofauralvarietyforthelong-sufferingpatients.Butthetroublewiththereasonablelinewasthatitwentfurther.Itpointedoutthattherewasnoteventhedistanthumoftraffic,notthewhistleofatrain,notthehootofatugboat.Justnothing-untiltheclocksbeganchimingaquarterpasteight.
Thetemptationtotakeapeep-notmorethanapeep,ofcourse;justenoughtogetsomeideaofwhatonearthcouldbehappening-wasimmense.ButIrestrainedit.Foronething,apeepwasafarlesssimplematterthanitsounded.Itwasn’tjustacaseofliftingablindfold:therewerealotofpadsandbandages.But,moreimportant,Iwasscaredtotry.
