День триффидов
The Groping City
Afterall,andwhateveronemightfeelabouthismethods,hewastheeyesofthatparty,andthey’dbelookingtohimforfoodaswellasfordrink.Andthewomenwouldgoalongtoo,ontheirownaccountassoonastheygothungryenough.AndnowIcametolookaroundme,Ifeltdoubtfulwhetheranyofthewomenhereaboutswouldseriouslymindanyway.Whatwithonethingandanother,itlookedasifImighthavehadaluckyescapefrompromotiontogangleadership.
RememberingthattheyhadbeenheadedfortheCaféRoyal,IdecidedtorevivemyselfandclearmyheadattheRegentPalaceHotel.Othersappearedtohavethoughtofthatbeforeme,buttherewerequitealotofbottlestheyhadnotfound.
IthinkitwaswhileIwassittingtherecomfortablywithabrandyinfrontofmeandacigaretteinmyhandthatIatlastbegantoadmitthatwhatIhadseenwasallreal—anddecisive.Therewouldbenogoingback—ever.ItwasfinishtoallIhadknown...
Perhapsithadneededthatblowtodriveithome.NowIcamefacetofacewiththefactthatmyexistencesimplyhadnofocusanylonger.Mywayoflife,myplans,ambitions,everyexpectationIhadhad,theywereallwipedoutatastroke,alongwiththeconditionsthathadformedthem.IsupposethathadIhadanyrelativesorcloseattachmentstomournIshouldhavefeltsuicidallyderelictatthatmomentbutwhathadseemedattimesaratheremptyexistenceturnedoutnowtobelucky
