День триффидов
A Light in the Night
Let’sgoback."
"It’stoolate,darling."
Bythewindowbepaused.Withonehandhefelthispositionverycarefully.Thenheputbotharmsroundher,holdinghertohim.
"Toowonderfultolast,perhaps,"hesaidsoftly."Iloveyou,mysweet.Iloveyousovery,verymuch."
Shetiltedherlipsuptobekissed.
Asheliftedherheturned,andsteppedoutofthewindow.
"You’vegottogrowahide,"Itoldmyself."Gotto.Itseitherthatorstaypermanentlydrunk.Thingslikethatmustbehappeningallaround.They’llgoonhappening.Youcan’thelpit.Supposeyou’dgiventhemfoodtokeepthemaliveforanotherfewdays?Whatafterthat?You’vegottolearntotakeit,andcometotermswithit.There’snothingelsebutthealcoholicfunkhole.Ifyoudon’tfighttoliveyourownlifeinspiteofit,therewon’tbeanysurvival...Onlythosewhocanmaketheirmindstoughenoughtostickitaregoingtogetthrough..."
IttookmelongerthanIhadexpectedtocollectwhatIwanted.SomethingliketwohourshadpassedbeforeIgotback.Idroppedoneortwothingsfrommyarmfulinnegotiatingthedoor.Josella’svoicecalled,withatraceofnervousness,fromthatoverfeminineroom.
"Onlyme,"IreassuredherasIadvanceddownthepassagewiththeload.
IdumpedthethingsinthekitchenandwentbackforthoseI’ddropped.OutsideherdoorIpaused.
"Youcan’tcomein."shesaid.
"Thatwasn’tquitemyintendedangle,"Iprotested.
