День триффидов
A Light in the Night
"H’m—well,itcertainlylacksthesnapoftheother,"Isaid."Quotation?"
"Yes."Shenodded."Mr.Congreve:‘HeretheforsakenVirginrestsfromLove.’"
"Er—oh,"Isaid,andthoughtthatoneoverforabit.
"Andnow,"Isuggested,"Ithinkit’sabouttimewebegantoroughoutaplanofcampaign.ShallIthrowaroundafewobservationsfirst?"
Welaybackintwosuperblycomfortablearmchairs.Onthelowtablebetweenusstoodthecoffeeapparatusandtwoglasses.Josella’swasthesmallonewiththecointreau.Theplutocratic-lookingballoonwiththepuddleofunpriceablebrandywasmine.Josellablewoutafeatherofsmokeandtookasipofherdrink.Savoringtheflavor,shesaid:
"Iwonderwhetherweshallevertastefreshorangesagain?Okay,shoot."
"Well,it’snogoodblinkingfacts.Wehadbetterclearoutsoon.Ifnottomorrow,thenthedayafter.Youcanbegintoseealreadywhat’sgoingtohappenhere.Atpresentthere’sstillwaterinthetanks.Soontherewon’tbe.Thewholecitywillbegintostinklikeagreatsewer.Therearealreadysomebodieslyingabout—everydaytherewillbemore."Inoticedhershudder.Ihadforthemoment,intakingthegeneralview,forgottentheparticularapplicationitwouldhaveforher.Ihurriedon:"Thatmaymeantyphus,orcholera,orGodknowswhat.It’simportanttogetawaybeforeanythingofthatkindstarts."
Shenoddedagreementtothat.
"Thenthenextquestionseemstobe,wheredowego?Haveyouanyideas?"Iaskedher.
