A Light in the Night

           Josellabegantorecoverherself-possession.Withthedeliberateandobviousintentionoftakinghermindoffwhatlaybehindus,sheasked:

           "Wherearewegoingnow?"

           "Clerkenwellfirst,"Itoldher."Afterthatwe’llseeaboutgettingyousamemoreclothes.BondStreetforthem,ifyoulike,butClerkenwellfirst."

           "ButwhyClerkenwell—?Goodheavens!"

           Shemightwellexclaim.Webadturnedacornertoseethestreetseventyyardsaheadofusfilledwithpeople.Theywerecomingtowardusatastumblingrun,withtheirarmsoutstretchedbeforethem.Amingledcryingandscreamingcamefromthem.Evenaswecameintosightofthemawomanatthefronttrippedandfell;otherstumbledoverher,andshedisappearedbeneathakicking,strugglingheap.Beyondthemobwehadaglimpseofthecauseofitall:threedark-leavedstemsswayingbeyondthepanic-strickenbeads.Iacceleratedandswungoffintoabyroad.

           Josellaturnedaterrifiedface.

           "Did—didyouseewhatthatwas?Theyweredrivingthem."

           "Yes,"Isaid."That’swhywearegoingtoClerkenwell.There’saplacetherethatmakesthebesttriffidgunsandmasksintheworld."

           Weworkedbackagainandpickedupourintendedroute,butwedidnotfindtheclearrunIhadhopedfor.NearKing’sCrossStationthereweremanymorepeopleonthestreets.Evenwithahandonthehornitgrewincreasinglydifficulttogetalong.Infrontofthestationitselfitbecameimpossible.Whythereshouldhavebeensuchcrowdsinthatplace,Idon’tknow.