День триффидов
Shadows Before
Amanhumpingintoanotherandfeelingthathecarriedaparcelwouldsnatchitandduckaway,onthechancethatitcontainedsomethingtoeat,whiletheloserclutchedfuriouslyattheairorhitoutindiscriminately.OnceIhadtostephurriedlyasidetoavoidbeingknockeddownbyanelderlymanwhodartedintotheroadwaywithnocareforpossibleobstacles.Hisexpressionwasvastlycunning,andheclutchedavariciouslytohischesttwocansofredpaint.Onacornermywaywasblockedbyagroupalmostweepingwithfrustrationoverabewilderedchildwhocouldseebutwasjusttooyoungtounderstandwhattheywantedofit.
Ibegantobecomeuneasy.Fightingwithmycivilizedurgetobeofsomehelptothesepeoplewasaninstinctthattoldmetokeepclear.Theywerealreadyfastlosingordinaryrestraints.Ifelt,too,anirrationalsenseofguiltatbeingabletoseewhiletheycouldnot.ItgavemeanoddfeelingthatIwashidingfromthemevenwhileImovedamongthem.LateronIfoundhowrighttheinstinctwas.
ClosetoGoldenSquareIbegantothinkofturningleftandworkingbacktoRegentStreet,wherethewiderroadwaywouldoffereasiergoing.Iwasabouttotakeacornerthatwouldleadmethatwaywhenasuddenpiercingscreamstoppedme.Itstoppedeveryoneelsetoo.Allalongthestreettheystoodstill,turningtheirheadsthiswayandthat,apprehensivelytryingtoguesswhatwashappening.Thealarm,comingontopoftheirdistressandnervoustension,startedanumberofthewomenwhimpering.
