День триффидов
The Coming of the Triffids
Idon’tthinkanybodyreallyunderstandstriffids,oreverwill,butWaltercamenearertobeginningtounderstandthemthananymanIhaveknown.OrshouldIsaythathewasgiventointuitivefeelingsaboutthem?
Itwasayearortwoafterthejobhadbegunthathefirstsurprisedme.
Thesunwasclosetosetting.Wehadknockedoffforthedayandwerelookingwithasenseofsatisfactionatthreenewfieldsofnearlyfullygrowntriffids.Inthosedayswedidn’tsimplycorralthemaswedidlater.Theywerearrangedacrossthefieldsroughlyinrows—atleastthesteelstakestowhicheachwastetheredbyachainwereinrows,thoughtheplantsthemselveshadnosenseoftidyregimentation.Wereckonedthatinanothermonthorsowe’dbeabletostarttappingthemforjuice.Theeveningwaspeaceful;almosttheonlysoundsthatbrokeitweretheoccasionalrattlingsofthetriffids’littlesticksagainsttheirstems.Walterregardedthemwithhisheadslightlyononeside.Heremovedhispipe.
"They’retalkativetonight,"heobserved.
Itookthatasanyoneelsewould,metaphorically.
"Maybeit’stheweather,"Isuggested"Ifancytheydoitmorewhenit’sdry."
Helookedsidelongatme,withasmile.
"Doyoutalkmorewhenit’sdry?"
"Whyshould—"Ibegan,andthenbrokeoff."Youdon’treallymeanyouthinkthey’retalking?"Isaid,noticinghisexpression.
"Well,whynot?"
"Butit’sabsurd.Plantstalking!"
"Somuchmoreabsurdthanplantswalking?"heasked.
Istaredatthem,andthenbackathim.
