День триффидов
Shadows Before
Whowashe"Iadded.
"OldPearson.Hedidgardeningforus,andchauffeuringformyfather.Suchadearoldman—I’veknowhimallmylife."
"I’msorry—"Ibegan,wishingIcouldthinkofsomethingmoreadequate,butshecutmeshort.
"Look!Oh,look!"Shepointedtoapathwhichranroundthesideofthehouse.Ablack-stockingedlegwithawoman’sshoeonitprotrudedbeyondthecorner.
Weprospectedcarefullyandthenmovedsafelytoaspotwhichgaveabetterview.Agirlinablackdresslayhalfonthepathandhalfinaflowerbed.Herpretty.freshfacewasscarredwithabrightredline.Josellachoked.Tearscameintohereyes.
"Oh!Oh,it’sAnnie!PoorlittleAnnie,"shesaid.
Itriedtoconsoleheralittle.
"Theycanscarcelyhaveknownit,eitherofthem,"Itoldher."Whenitisstrongenoughtokill,it’smercifullyquick."
Wedidnorseeanyothertriffidinhidingthere.Possiblythesameonehadattackedthemboth.Togetherwecrossedthepathandgotintothehousebythesidedoor.Josellacalled.Therewasnoanswer.Shecalledagain.Webothlistenedinthecompletesilencethatwrappedthehouse.Sheturnedtolookatme.Neitherofussaidanything.Quietlysheledthewayalongapassagetoabaize-covereddoor.Assheopenedittherewasaswish,andsomethingslappedacrossthedoorandframe,aninchorsoaboveherhead.Hurriedlyshepulledthedoorshutagainandturnedwide-eyedtome.
"There’soneintheball,"shesaid.
Shespokeinafrightenedhalfwhisper,asthoughitmightbelistening.
