День триффидов
A Light in the Night
Ilayawakeforanhourormore.Nightmagnifiedthequietofthecity,makingthesoundswhichbrokeitthemoredesolate.Fromtimetotimevoicesrosefromthestreet,sharpandbrittlewithhysteria.Oncetherewasafreezingscreamwhichseemedtorevelhorriblyinitsreleasefromsanity.Somewherenortarawaytherewasasobbingthatwentonendlessly,hopelessly.TwiceIheardthesharpreportsofsinglepistolshotsIgaveheartfeltthankstowhateveritwasthathadbroughtJosellaandmetogetherforcompanionship.
CompletelonelinesswastheworststareIcouldimaginejustthen.Alone,onewouldbenothing.Companymeantpurpose,andpurposehelpedtokeepthemorbidfearsatbay.
ItriedtoshutoutthesoundsbythinkingofallthethingsImustdothenextday,andthedayafter,andthedaysafterthat;byguessingwhatthebeamoflightmightmean,andhowitmightaffectus.Butthesobbinginthebackgroundwentonandonandon,remindingmeofthethingsIhadseenthatday,andwouldseetomorrow...
Theopeningofthedoorbroughtmesittingupinsuddenalarm.ItwasJosella,carryingalightedcandle.Hereyeswerewideanddark,andshebadbeencrying.
"Ican’tsleep,"shesaid."I’mfrightened—horriblyfrightened.Canyouhearthem—allthosepoorpeople?Ican’tstandit
Shecamelikeachildtobecomforted.I’mnotsurethatherneedofitwasmuchgreaterthanmine.
ShefellasleepbeforeIdid,aridwithherheadrestingonmyshoulder.
Stillthememoriesofthedaywouldnotleaveincinpeace
