День триффидов
Shadows Before
Weequippedourselveswithacoupleofuseful-lookingsheathknives,andbeltstocarrythem.
"Makesmefeellikeapirate,"saidJosellaasshebuckledherson.
"Better,Iimagine,tobeapiratethanapirate’smoll,"Itoldher.
Afewyardsupthestreetwecameuponalarge,shinysalooncar.Itlookedthekindofcraftthatshouldsimplyhavepurred.ButthenoisewhenIstarteditupsoundedlouderinourearsthanallthenormaltrafficofabusystreet.Wemadeourwaynorthward,zigzaggingtoavoidderelictsandwanderersstrickenintoimmobilityinthemiddleoftheroadbythesoundofourapproach.Allthewayheadsturnedhopefullytowardusaswecame,andfacesfellaswewentpast.Onebuildingonourroutewasblazingfiercely,andacloudofsmokerosefromanotherfiresomewherealongOxfordStreet.ThereweremorepeopleaboutinOxfordCircus,butwegotthroughthemneatly,thenpassedtheB.B.C.,andsonorthtothecarriagewayinRegent’sPark.
Itwasarelieftogetoutofthestreetsandreachanopenspace—andonewheretherewerenounfortunatepeoplewanderingandgroping.Theonlymovingthingswecouldseeonthebroadstretchesofgrassweretwoorthreelittlegroupsoftriffidslurchingsouthward.Somehoworothertheyhadcontrivedtopulluptheirstakesandweredraggingthemalongbehindthemontheirchains.Irememberedthatthereweresomeundockedspecimens,afewofthemtethered,butmostofthemdouble-fenced,inanenclosurebesidethezoo,andwonderedhowtheyhadgotout.Josellanoticedthemtoo.
