День триффидов

           Thechildwhinedsomethingin-audible.

           Theyoungmanhadstartedtoedgehiswaypastthewoman.Hestoppedabruptly.

           "Waitaminute,"hesaid."Canyourchildsee?"

           "Yes,"shesaid."ButIcan’t."

           Theyoungmanturned.Heputonefingerontheplateglasswindow,pointing.

           "Look,Sonny,what’sinthere?"heasked.

           "NotSonny,"thechildobjected.

           "Goon,Mary.Tellthegentleman,"hermotherencouragedher.

           "Prettyladies,"saidthechild.

           Themantookthewomanbythearmandfelthiswaytothenextwindow.

           "Andwhat’sinhere?"heaskedagain.

           "Applesandfings,"thechildtoldhim.

           "Fine!"saidtheyoungman.

           Hepulledoffhisshoeandhitthewindowasmartsmackwiththeheelofit.Hewasinexperienced;thefirstblowdidnotdoit,buttheseconddid.Thecrashreverberatedupanddownthestreet.Herestoredhisshoe,putanarmcautiouslythroughthebrokenwindow,andfeltaboutuntilhefoundacoupleoforanges.Onehegavetothewomanandonetothechild.Hefeltaboutagain,foundoneforhimself,andbegantopeelit.Thewomanfingeredhers.

           "But—"shebegan.

           "What’sthematter?Don’tlikeoranges?"heasked.

           "Butitisn’tright,"shesaid."Wedidn’toughttotake‘em.Notlikethis."

           "Howelseareyougoingtogetfood?"heinquired.

           "Isuppose—well,Idon’tknow,"sheadmitteddoubtfully.

           "Verywell.That’stheanswer.Eatitupnow,andwe’llgoandfindsomethingmoresubstantial."