День триффидов
The Coming of the Triffids
Haveyounoticedthatwhentheyattacktheyalwaysgofortheunprotectedparts?Almostalwaysthehead—butsometimesthehands.Andanotherthing:ifyoulookatthestatisticsofcasualties,justtakenoticeoftheproportionthathasbeenstungacrosstheeyesandblinded.It’sremarkable—andsignificant."
"Ofwhat?"Iasked.
"Ofthefactthattheyknowwhatisthesurestwaytoputamanoutofaction—inotherwords,theyknowwhatthey’redoing.Lookatitthisway.Grantedthattheydohaveintelligence;thenthatwouldleaveuswithonlyoneimportantsuperiority—sight.Wecansee,andtheycan’t.Takeawayourvision,andthesuperiorityisgone.Worsethanthat—ourpositionbecomesinferiortotheirs,becausetheyareadaptedtoasightlessexistenceandwearenot."
"Butevenifthatwereso,theycan’tdothings.Theycan’thandlethings.There’sverylittlemuscularstrengthinthatstinglash,"Ipointedout,
"True,butwhat’sthegoodofourabilitytohandlethingsifwecan’tseewhattodowiththem?Anyway,theydon’tneedtohandlethings—notinthewaywedo.Theycangettheirnourishmentdirectfromthesoil,orfrominsectsandbitsofrawmeat.Theydon’thavetogothroughallthecomplicatedbusinessofgrowingthings,distributingthem,andusuallycookingthemaswell.Infact,ifitwereachoiceforsurvivalbetweenatriffidandablindman,IknowwhichI’dputmymoneyon.
"You’reassumingequalintelligence,"Isaid.
"Notatall.Idon’tneedto.
