День триффидов
Shadows Before
Theservantshadansweredneitherherfather’sbellnorherown.Whenshewenttorousethemshehadfoundtoherhorrorthatthey,too,wereblind.
Withthetelephoneoutoforder,theonlycourseseemedtobeforhertotakethecarandfetchthedoctorherself.Thequietstreetsandabsenceoftraffichadseemedqueer,butshehadalreadydrivenalmostamilebeforeitcametoherwhathadhappened.Whensherealized,shehadallbutturnedbackinpanic—butthatwasn’tgoingtodoanyoneanygood.Therewasstillthechancethatthedoctormighthaveescapedthemalady,whateveritwas,justassheherselfhad.So,withadesperatebutwaninghope,shehaddrivenon.
HalfwaydownRegentStreettheenginestartedtomissandsputter;finallyitstopped.Inherhurriedstartshehadnotlookedatthegauge:thetankhadrundry.
Shesatthereforamoment,dismayed.Everyfaceinsightwasnowturnedtowardher,butshehadrealizedbythistimethatnotoneofthoseshesawcouldseeorhelpher.Shegotoutofthecar,hopingtofindagaragesomewherenearby,or,iftherewasnone,preparedtowalktherestoftheway.Assheslammedthedoorbehindher,avoicecalled:
"Hey!Justaminute,mate!"
Sheturnedandsawamangropingtowardher.
"Whatisit?"sheasked.Shewasbynomeanstakenwiththelookofhim.
Hismannerchangedonhearinghervoice.
"I’mlost.DunnowhereIam,"hesaid.
"ThisisRegentStreet.TheNewGallerycinema’sjustbehindyou,"shetoldhim,andturnedtogo.
