# SELECTED SUBSET
# Extracted by select-evt-lines (sample = enrc/wow subsec = tot.1)
# H. G. Wells "The War of the Worlds" (1898)
# Last edited on 2002-01-15 18:17:44 by stolfi
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# From a Project Gutenberg file
# Reformatted for statistical purposes by J. Stolfi.
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<b01.P1.001> No_one_would_have_believed_in_the_last_years_of_the_
<b01.P1.002> nineteenth_century_that_this_world_was_being_watched_keenly_
<b01.P1.003> and_closely_by_intelligences_greater_than_man's_and_yet_as_
<b01.P1.004> mortal_as_his_own;_that_as_men_busied_themselves_about_their_
<b01.P1.005> various_concerns_they_were_scrutinised_and_studied,_perhaps_
<b01.P1.006> almost_as_narrowly_as_a_man_with_a_microscope_might_
<b01.P1.007> scrutinise_the_transient_creatures_that_swarm_and_multiply_
<b01.P1.008> in_a_drop_of_water._With_infinite_complacency_men_went_to_
<b01.P1.009> and_fro_over_this_globe_about_their_little_affairs,_serene_
<b01.P1.010> in_their_assurance_of_their_empire_over_matter._It_is_
<b01.P1.011> possible_that_the_infusoria_under_the_microscope_do_the_
<b01.P1.012> same._No_one_gave_a_thought_to_the_older_worlds_of_space_as_
<b01.P1.013> sources_of_human_danger,_or_thought_of_them_only_to_dismiss_
<b01.P1.014> the_idea_of_life_upon_them_as_impossible_or_improbable._It_
<b01.P1.015> is_curious_to_recall_some_of_the_mental_habits_of_those_
<b01.P1.016> departed_days._At_most_terrestrial_men_fancied_there_might_
<b01.P1.017> be_other_men_upon_Mars,_perhaps_inferior_to_themselves_and_
<b01.P1.018> ready_to_welcome_a_missionary_enterprise._Yet_across_the_
<b01.P1.019> gulf_of_space,_minds_that_are_to_our_minds_as_ours_are_to_
<b01.P1.020> those_of_the_beasts_that_perish,_intellects_vast_and_cool_
<b01.P1.021> and_unsympathetic,_regarded_this_earth_with_envious_eyes,_
<b01.P1.022> and_slowly_and_surely_drew_their_plans_against_us._And_early_
<b01.P1.023> in_the_twentieth_century_came_the_great_disillusionment.
<b01.P1.024> =
<b01.P1.025> The_planet_Mars,_I_scarcely_need_remind_the_reader,_revolves_
<b01.P1.026> about_the_sun_at_a_mean_distance_of_140,000,000_miles,_and_
<b01.P1.027> the_light_and_heat_it_receives_from_the_sun_is_barely_half_
<b01.P1.028> of_that_received_by_this_world._It_must_be,_if_the_nebular_
<b01.P1.029> hypothesis_has_any_truth,_older_than_our_world;_and_long_
<b01.P1.030> before_this_earth_ceased_to_be_molten,_life_upon_its_surface_
<b01.P1.031> must_have_begun_its_course._The_fact_that_it_is_scarcely_one_
<b01.P1.032> seventh_of_the_volume_of_the_earth_must_have_accelerated_its_
<b01.P1.033> cooling_to_the_temperature_at_which_life_could_begin._It_has_
<b01.P1.034> air_and_water_and_all_that_is_necessary_for_the_support_of_
<b01.P1.035> animated_existence.
<b01.P1.036> =
<b01.P1.037> Yet_so_vain_is_man,_and_so_blinded_by_his_vanity,_that_no_
<b01.P1.038> writer,_up_to_the_very_end_of_the_nineteenth_century,_
<b01.P1.039> expressed_any_idea_that_intelligent_life_might_have_
<b01.P1.040> developed_there_far,_or_indeed_at_all,_beyond_its_earthly_
<b01.P1.041> level._Nor_was_it_generally_understood_that_since_Mars_is_
<b01.P1.042> older_than_our_earth,_with_scarcely_a_quarter_of_the_
<b01.P1.043> superficial_area_and_remoter_from_the_sun,_it_necessarily_
<b01.P1.044> follows_that_it_is_not_only_more_distant_from_time's_
<b01.P1.045> beginning_but_nearer_its_end.
<b01.P1.046> =
<b01.P1.047> The_secular_cooling_that_must_someday_overtake_our_planet_
<b01.P1.048> has_already_gone_far_indeed_with_our_neighbour._Its_physical_
<b01.P1.049> condition_is_still_largely_a_mystery,_but_we_know_now_that_
<b01.P1.050> even_in_its_equatorial_region_the_midday_temperature_barely_
<b01.P1.051> approaches_that_of_our_coldest_winter._Its_air_is_much_more_
<b01.P1.052> attenuated_than_ours,_its_oceans_have_shrunk_until_they_
<b01.P1.053> cover_but_a_third_of_its_surface,_and_as_its_slow_seasons_
<b01.P1.054> change_huge_snowcaps_gather_and_melt_about_either_pole_and_
<b01.P1.055> periodically_inundate_its_temperate_zones._That_last_stage_
<b01.P1.056> of_exhaustion,_which_to_us_is_still_incredibly_remote,_has_
<b01.P1.057> become_a_present-day_problem_for_the_inhabitants_of_Mars._
<b01.P1.058> The_immediate_pressure_of_necessity_has_brightened_their_
<b01.P1.059> intellects,_enlarged_their_powers,_and_hardened_their_
<b01.P1.060> hearts._And_looking_across_space_with_instruments,_and_
<b01.P1.061> intelligences_such_as_we_have_scarcely_dreamed_of,_they_see,_
<b01.P1.062> at_its_nearest_distance_only_35,000,000_of_miles_sunward_of_
<b01.P1.063> them,_a_morning_star_of_hope,_our_own_warmer_planet,_green_
<b01.P1.064> with_vegetation_and_grey_with_water,_with_a_cloudy_
<b01.P1.065> atmosphere_eloquent_of_fertility,_with_glimpses_through_its_
<b01.P1.066> drifting_cloud_wisps_of_broad_stretches_of_populous_country_
<b01.P1.067> and_narrow,_navy-crowded_seas.
<b01.P1.068> =
<b01.P1.069> And_we_men,_the_creatures_who_inhabit_this_earth,_must_be_to_
<b01.P1.070> them_at_least_as_alien_and_lowly_as_are_the_monkeys_and_
<b01.P1.071> lemurs_to_us._The_intellectual_side_of_man_already_admits_
<b01.P1.072> that_life_is_an_incessant_struggle_for_existence,_and_it_
<b01.P1.073> would_seem_that_this_too_is_the_belief_of_the_minds_upon_
<b01.P1.074> Mars._Their_world_is_far_gone_in_its_cooling_and_this_world_
<b01.P1.075> is_still_crowded_with_life,_but_crowded_only_with_what_they_
<b01.P1.076> regard_as_inferior_animals._To_carry_warfare_sunward_is,_
<b01.P1.077> indeed,_their_only_escape_from_the_destruction_that,_
<b01.P1.078> generation_after_generation,_creeps_upon_them.
<b01.P1.079> =
<b01.P1.080> And_before_we_judge_of_them_too_harshly_we_must_remember_
<b01.P1.081> what_ruthless_and_utter_destruction_our_own_species_has_
<b01.P1.082> wrought,_not_only_upon_animals,_such_as_the_vanished_bison_
<b01.P1.083> and_the_dodo,_but_upon_its_inferior_races._The_Tasmanians,_
<b01.P1.084> in_spite_of_their_human_likeness,_were_entirely_swept_out_of_
<b01.P1.085> existence_in_a_war_of_extermination_waged_by_European_
<b01.P1.086> immigrants,_in_the_space_of_fifty_years._Are_we_such_
<b01.P1.087> apostles_of_mercy_as_to_complain_if_the_Martians_warred_in_
<b01.P1.088> the_same_spirit?
<b01.P1.089> =
<b01.P1.090> The_Martians_seem_to_have_calculated_their_descent_with_
<b01.P1.091> amazing_subtlety--their_mathematical_learning_is_evidently_
<b01.P1.092> far_in_excess_of_ours--and_to_have_carried_out_their_
<b01.P1.093> preparations_with_a_well-nigh_perfect_unanimity._Had_our_
<b01.P1.094> instruments_permitted_it,_we_might_have_seen_the_gathering_
<b01.P1.095> trouble_far_back_in_the_nineteenth_century._Men_like_
<b01.P1.096> Schiaparelli_watched_the_red_planet--it_is_odd,_by-the-bye,_
<b01.P1.097> that_for_countless_centuries_Mars_has_been_the_star_of_
<b01.P1.098> war--but_failed_to_interpret_the_fluctuating_appearances_of_
<b01.P1.099> the_markings_they_mapped_so_well._All_that_time_the_Martians_
<b01.P1.100> must_have_been_getting_ready.
<b01.P1.101> =
<b01.P1.102> During_the_opposition_of_1894_a_great_light_was_seen_on_the_
<b01.P1.103> illuminated_part_of_the_disk,_first_at_the_Lick_Observatory,_
<b01.P1.104> then_by_Perrotin_of_Nice,_and_then_by_other_observers._
<b01.P1.105> English_readers_heard_of_it_first_in_the_issue_of_NATURE_
<b01.P1.106> dated_August_2._I_am_inclined_to_think_that_this_blaze_may_
<b01.P1.107> have_been_the_casting_of_the_huge_gun,_in_the_vast_pit_sunk_
<b01.P1.108> into_their_planet,_from_which_their_shots_were_fired_at_us._
<b01.P1.109> Peculiar_markings,_as_yet_unexplained,_were_seen_near_the_
<b01.P1.110> site_of_that_outbreak_during_the_next_two_oppositions.
<b01.P1.111> =
<b01.P1.112> The_storm_burst_upon_us_six_years_ago_now._As_Mars_
<b01.P1.113> approached_opposition,_Lavelle_of_Java_set_the_wires_of_the_
<b01.P1.114> astronomical_exchange_palpitating_with_the_amazing_
<b01.P1.115> intelligence_of_a_huge_outbreak_of_incandescent_gas_upon_the_
<b01.P1.116> planet._It_had_occurred_towards_midnight_of_the_twelfth;_and_
<b01.P1.117> the_spectroscope,_to_which_he_had_at_once_resorted,_
<b01.P1.118> indicated_a_mass_of_flaming_gas,_chiefly_hydrogen,_moving_
<b01.P1.119> with_an_enormous_velocity_towards_this_earth._This_jet_of_
<b01.P1.120> fire_had_become_invisible_about_a_quarter_past_twelve._He_
<b01.P1.121> compared_it_to_a_colossal_puff_of_flame_suddenly_and_
<b01.P1.122> violently_squirted_out_of_the_planet,_"as_flaming_gases_
<b01.P1.123> rushed_out_of_a_gun."
<b01.P1.124> =
<b01.P1.125> A_singularly_appropriate_phrase_it_proved._Yet_the_next_day_
<b01.P1.126> there_was_nothing_of_this_in_the_papers_except_a_little_note_
<b01.P1.127> in_the_DAILY_TELEGRAPH,_and_the_world_went_in_ignorance_of_
<b01.P1.128> one_of_the_gravest_dangers_that_ever_threatened_the_human_
<b01.P1.129> race._I_might_not_have_heard_of_the_eruption_at_all_had_I_
<b01.P1.130> not_met_Ogilvy,_the_well-known_astronomer,_at_Ottershaw._He_
<b01.P1.131> was_immensely_excited_at_the_news,_and_in_the_excess_of_his_
<b01.P1.132> feelings_invited_me_up_to_take_a_turn_with_him_that_night_in_
<b01.P1.133> a_scrutiny_of_the_red_planet.
<b01.P1.134> =
<b01.P1.135> In_spite_of_all_that_has_happened_since,_I_still_remember_
<b01.P1.136> that_vigil_very_distinctly:_the_black_and_silent_
<b01.P1.137> observatory,_the_shadowed_lantern_throwing_a_feeble_glow_
<b01.P1.138> upon_the_floor_in_the_corner,_the_steady_ticking_of_the_
<b01.P1.139> clockwork_of_the_telescope,_the_little_slit_in_the_roof--an_
<b01.P1.140> oblong_profundity_with_the_stardust_streaked_across_it._
<b01.P1.141> Ogilvy_moved_about,_invisible_but_audible._Looking_through_
<b01.P1.142> the_telescope,_one_saw_a_circle_of_deep_blue_and_the_little_
<b01.P1.143> round_planet_swimming_in_the_field._It_seemed_such_a_little_
<b01.P1.144> thing,_so_bright_and_small_and_still,_faintly_marked_with_
<b01.P1.145> transverse_stripes,_and_slightly_flattened_from_the_perfect_
<b01.P1.146> round._But_so_little_it_was,_so_silvery_warm--a_pin's-head_
<b01.P1.147> of_light!_It_was_as_if_it_quivered,_but_really_this_was_the_
<b01.P1.148> telescope_vibrating_with_the_activity_of_the_clockwork_that_
<b01.P1.149> kept_the_planet_in_view.
<b01.P1.150> =
<b01.P1.151> As_I_watched,_the_planet_seemed_to_grow_larger_and_smaller_
<b01.P1.152> and_to_advance_and_recede,_but_that_was_simply_that_my_eye_
<b01.P1.153> was_tired._Forty_millions_of_miles_it_was_from_us--more_than_
<b01.P1.154> forty_millions_of_miles_of_void._Few_people_realise_the_
<b01.P1.155> immensity_of_vacancy_in_which_the_dust_of_the_material_
<b01.P1.156> universe_swims.
<b01.P1.157> =
<b01.P1.158> Near_it_in_the_field,_I_remember,_were_three_faint_points_of_
<b01.P1.159> light,_three_telescopic_stars_infinitely_remote,_and_all_
<b01.P1.160> around_it_was_the_unfathomable_darkness_of_empty_space._You_
<b01.P1.161> know_how_that_blackness_looks_on_a_frosty_starlight_night._
<b01.P1.162> In_a_telescope_it_seems_far_profounder._And_invisible_to_me_
<b01.P1.163> because_it_was_so_remote_and_small,_flying_swiftly_and_
<b01.P1.164> steadily_towards_me_across_that_incredible_distance,_drawing_
<b01.P1.165> nearer_every_minute_by_so_many_thousands_of_miles,_came_the_
<b01.P1.166> Thing_they_were_sending_us,_the_Thing_that_was_to_bring_so_
<b01.P1.167> much_struggle_and_calamity_and_death_to_the_earth._I_never_
<b01.P1.168> dreamed_of_it_then_as_I_watched;_no_one_on_earth_dreamed_of_
<b01.P1.169> that_unerring_missile.
<b01.P1.170> =
<b01.P1.171> That_night,_too,_there_was_another_jetting_out_of_gas_from_
<b01.P1.172> the_distant_planet._I_saw_it._A_reddish_flash_at_the_edge,_
<b01.P1.173> the_slightest_projection_of_the_outline_just_as_the_
<b01.P1.174> chronometer_struck_midnight;_and_at_that_I_told_Ogilvy_and_
<b01.P1.175> he_took_my_place._The_night_was_warm_and_I_was_thirsty,_and_
<b01.P1.176> I_went_stretching_my_legs_clumsily_and_feeling_my_way_in_the_
<b01.P1.177> darkness,_to_the_little_table_where_the_siphon_stood,_while_
<b01.P1.178> Ogilvy_exclaimed_at_the_streamer_of_gas_that_came_out_
<b01.P1.179> towards_us.
<b01.P1.180> =
<b01.P1.181> That_night_another_invisible_missile_started_on_its_way_to_
<b01.P1.182> the_earth_from_Mars,_just_a_second_or_so_under_twenty-four_
<b01.P1.183> hours_after_the_first_one._I_remember_how_I_sat_on_the_table_
<b01.P1.184> there_in_the_blackness,_with_patches_of_green_and_crimson_
<b01.P1.185> swimming_before_my_eyes._I_wished_I_had_a_light_to_smoke_by,_
<b01.P1.186> little_suspecting_the_meaning_of_the_minute_gleam_I_had_seen_
<b01.P1.187> and_all_that_it_would_presently_bring_me._Ogilvy_watched_
<b01.P1.188> till_one,_and_then_gave_it_up;_and_we_lit_the_lantern_and_
<b01.P1.189> walked_over_to_his_house._Down_below_in_the_darkness_were_
<b01.P1.190> Ottershaw_and_Chertsey_and_all_their_hundreds_of_people,_
<b01.P1.191> sleeping_in_peace.
<b01.P1.192> =
<b01.P1.193> He_was_full_of_speculation_that_night_about_the_condition_of_
<b01.P1.194> Mars,_and_scoffed_at_the_vulgar_idea_of_its_having_
<b01.P1.195> inhabitants_who_were_signalling_us._His_idea_was_that_
<b01.P1.196> meteorites_might_be_falling_in_a_heavy_shower_upon_the_
<b01.P1.197> planet,_or_that_a_huge_volcanic_explosion_was_in_progress._
<b01.P1.198> He_pointed_out_to_me_how_unlikely_it_was_that_organic_
<b01.P1.199> evolution_had_taken_the_same_direction_in_the_two_adjacent_
<b01.P1.200> planets.
<b01.P1.201> =
<b01.P1.202> "The_chances_against_anything_manlike_on_Mars_are_a_million_
<b01.P1.203> to_one,"_he_said.
<b01.P1.204> =
<b01.P1.205> Hundreds_of_observers_saw_the_flame_that_night_and_the_night_
<b01.P1.206> after_about_midnight,_and_again_the_night_after;_and_so_for_
<b01.P1.207> ten_nights,_a_flame_each_night._Why_the_shots_ceased_after_
<b01.P1.208> the_tenth_no_one_on_earth_has_attempted_to_explain._It_may_
<b01.P1.209> be_the_gases_of_the_firing_caused_the_Martians_
<b01.P1.210> inconvenience._Dense_clouds_of_smoke_or_dust,_visible_
<b01.P1.211> through_a_powerful_telescope_on_earth_as_little_grey,_
<b01.P1.212> fluctuating_patches,_spread_through_the_clearness_of_the_
<b01.P1.213> planet's_atmosphere_and_obscured_its_more_familiar_features.
<b01.P1.214> =
<b01.P1.215> Even_the_daily_papers_woke_up_to_the_disturbances_at_last,_
<b01.P1.216> and_popular_notes_appeared_here,_there,_and_everywhere_
<b01.P1.217> concerning_the_volcanoes_upon_Mars._The_seriocomic_
<b01.P1.218> periodical_PUNCH,_I_remember,_made_a_happy_use_of_it_in_the_
<b01.P1.219> political_cartoon._And,_all_unsuspected,_those_missiles_the_
<b01.P1.220> Martians_had_fired_at_us_drew_earthward,_rushing_now_at_a_
<b01.P1.221> pace_of_many_miles_a_second_through_the_empty_gulf_of_space,_
<b01.P1.222> hour_by_hour_and_day_by_day,_nearer_and_nearer._It_seems_to_
<b01.P1.223> me_now_almost_incredibly_wonderful_that,_with_that_swift_
<b01.P1.224> fate_hanging_over_us,_men_could_go_about_their_petty_
<b01.P1.225> concerns_as_they_did._I_remember_how_jubilant_Markham_was_at_
<b01.P1.226> securing_a_new_photograph_of_the_planet_for_the_illustrated_
<b01.P1.227> paper_he_edited_in_those_days._People_in_these_latter_times_
<b01.P1.228> scarcely_realise_the_abundance_and_enterprise_of_our_
<b01.P1.229> nineteenth-century_papers._For_my_own_part,_I_was_much_
<b01.P1.230> occupied_in_learning_to_ride_the_bicycle,_and_busy_upon_a_
<b01.P1.231> series_of_papers_discussing_the_probable_developments_of_
<b01.P1.232> moral_ideas_as_civilisation_progressed.
<b01.P1.233> =
<b01.P1.234> One_night_(the_first_missile_then_could_scarcely_have_been_
<b01.P1.235> 10,000,000_miles_away)_I_went_for_a_walk_with_my_wife._It_
<b01.P1.236> was_starlight_and_I_explained_the_Signs_of_the_Zodiac_to_
<b01.P1.237> her,_and_pointed_out_Mars,_a_bright_dot_of_light_creeping_
<b01.P1.238> zenithward,_towards_which_so_many_telescopes_were_pointed._
<b01.P1.239> It_was_a_warm_night._Coming_home,_a_party_of_excursionists_
<b01.P1.240> from_Chertsey_or_Isleworth_passed_us_singing_and_playing_
<b01.P1.241> music._There_were_lights_in_the_upper_windows_of_the_houses_
<b01.P1.242> as_the_people_went_to_bed._From_the_railway_station_in_the_
<b01.P1.243> distance_came_the_sound_of_shunting_trains,_ringing_and_
<b01.P1.244> rumbling,_softened_almost_into_melody_by_the_distance._My_
<b01.P1.245> wife_pointed_out_to_me_the_brightness_of_the_red,_green,_and_
<b01.P1.246> yellow_signal_lights_hanging_in_a_framework_against_the_sky._
<b01.P1.247> It_seemed_so_safe_and_tranquil.
<b01.P1.248> =
#
## <b02>
# chapter 2 TWO
# unit C chapter_number
# unit H chapter_title
# unit P text
<b02.P1.001> Then_came_the_night_of_the_first_falling_star._It_was_seen_
<b02.P1.002> early_in_the_morning,_rushing_over_Winchester_eastward,_a_
<b02.P1.003> line_of_flame_high_in_the_atmosphere._Hundreds_must_have_
<b02.P1.004> seen_it,_and_taken_it_for_an_ordinary_falling_star._Albin_
<b02.P1.005> described_it_as_leaving_a_greenish_streak_behind_it_that_
<b02.P1.006> glowed_for_some_seconds._Denning,_our_greatest_authority_on_
<b02.P1.007> meteorites,_stated_that_the_height_of_its_first_appearance_
<b02.P1.008> was_about_ninety_or_one_hundred_miles._It_seemed_to_him_that_
<b02.P1.009> it_fell_to_earth_about_one_hundred_miles_east_of_him.
<b02.P1.010> =
<b02.P1.011> I_was_at_home_at_that_hour_and_writing_in_my_study;_and_
<b02.P1.012> although_my_French_windows_face_towards_Ottershaw_and_the_
<b02.P1.013> blind_was_up_(for_I_loved_in_those_days_to_look_up_at_the_
<b02.P1.014> night_sky),_I_saw_nothing_of_it._Yet_this_strangest_of_all_
<b02.P1.015> things_that_ever_came_to_earth_from_outer_space_must_have_
<b02.P1.016> fallen_while_I_was_sitting_there,_visible_to_me_had_I_only_
<b02.P1.017> looked_up_as_it_passed._Some_of_those_who_saw_its_flight_say_
<b02.P1.018> it_travelled_with_a_hissing_sound._I_myself_heard_nothing_of_
<b02.P1.019> that._Many_people_in_Berkshire,_Surrey,_and_Middlesex_must_
<b02.P1.020> have_seen_the_fall_of_it,_and,_at_most,_have_thought_that_
<b02.P1.021> another_meteorite_had_descended._No_one_seems_to_have_
<b02.P1.022> troubled_to_look_for_the_fallen_mass_that_night.
<b02.P1.023> =
<b02.P1.024> But_very_early_in_the_morning_poor_Ogilvy,_who_had_seen_the_
<b02.P1.025> shooting_star_and_who_was_persuaded_that_a_meteorite_lay_
<b02.P1.026> somewhere_on_the_common_between_Horsell,_Ottershaw,_and_
<b02.P1.027> Woking,_rose_early_with_the_idea_of_finding_it._Find_it_he_
<b02.P1.028> did,_soon_after_dawn,_and_not_far_from_the_sand_pits._An_
<b02.P1.029> enormous_hole_had_been_made_by_the_impact_of_the_projectile,_
<b02.P1.030> and_the_sand_and_gravel_had_been_flung_violently_in_every_
<b02.P1.031> direction_over_the_heath,_forming_heaps_visible_a_mile_and_a_
<b02.P1.032> half_away._The_heather_was_on_fire_eastward,_and_a_thin_blue_
<b02.P1.033> smoke_rose_against_the_dawn.
<b02.P1.034> =
<b02.P1.035> The_Thing_itself_lay_almost_entirely_buried_in_sand,_amidst_
<b02.P1.036> the_scattered_splinters_of_a_fir_tree_it_had_shivered_to_
<b02.P1.037> fragments_in_its_descent._The_uncovered_part_had_the_
<b02.P1.038> appearance_of_a_huge_cylinder,_caked_over_and_its_outline_
<b02.P1.039> softened_by_a_thick_scaly_dun-coloured_incrustation._It_had_
<b02.P1.040> a_diameter_of_about_thirty_yards._He_approached_the_mass,_
<b02.P1.041> surprised_at_the_size_and_more_so_at_the_shape,_since_most_
<b02.P1.042> meteorites_are_rounded_more_or_less_completely._It_was,_
<b02.P1.043> however,_still_so_hot_from_its_flight_through_the_air_as_to_
<b02.P1.044> forbid_his_near_approach._A_stirring_noise_within_its_
<b02.P1.045> cylinder_he_ascribed_to_the_unequal_cooling_of_its_surface;_
<b02.P1.046> for_at_that_time_it_had_not_occurred_to_him_that_it_might_be_
<b02.P1.047> hollow.
<b02.P1.048> =
<b02.P1.049> He_remained_standing_at_the_edge_of_the_pit_that_the_Thing_
<b02.P1.050> had_made_for_itself,_staring_at_its_strange_appearance,_
<b02.P1.051> astonished_chiefly_at_its_unusual_shape_and_colour,_and_
<b02.P1.052> dimly_perceiving_even_then_some_evidence_of_design_in_its_
<b02.P1.053> arrival._The_early_morning_was_wonderfully_still,_and_the_
<b02.P1.054> sun,_just_clearing_the_pine_trees_towards_Weybridge,_was_
<b02.P1.055> already_warm._He_did_not_remember_hearing_any_birds_that_
<b02.P1.056> morning,_there_was_certainly_no_breeze_stirring,_and_the_
<b02.P1.057> only_sounds_were_the_faint_movements_from_within_the_cindery_
<b02.P1.058> cylinder._He_was_all_alone_on_the_common.
<b02.P1.059> =
<b02.P1.060> Then_suddenly_he_noticed_with_a_start_that_some_of_the_grey_
<b02.P1.061> clinker,_the_ashy_incrustation_that_covered_the_meteorite,_
<b02.P1.062> was_falling_off_the_circular_edge_of_the_end._It_was_
<b02.P1.063> dropping_off_in_flakes_and_raining_down_upon_the_sand._A_
<b02.P1.064> large_piece_suddenly_came_off_and_fell_with_a_sharp_noise_
<b02.P1.065> that_brought_his_heart_into_his_mouth.
<b02.P1.066> =
<b02.P1.067> For_a_minute_he_scarcely_realised_what_this_meant,_and,_
<b02.P1.068> although_the_heat_was_excessive,_he_clambered_down_into_the_
<b02.P1.069> pit_close_to_the_bulk_to_see_the_Thing_more_clearly._He_
<b02.P1.070> fancied_even_then_that_the_cooling_of_the_body_might_account_
<b02.P1.071> for_this,_but_what_disturbed_that_idea_was_the_fact_that_the_
<b02.P1.072> ash_was_falling_only_from_the_end_of_the_cylinder.
<b02.P1.073> =
<b02.P1.074> And_then_he_perceived_that,_very_slowly,_the_circular_top_of_
<b02.P1.075> the_cylinder_was_rotating_on_its_body._It_was_such_a_gradual_
<b02.P1.076> movement_that_he_discovered_it_only_through_noticing_that_a_
<b02.P1.077> black_mark_that_had_been_near_him_five_minutes_ago_was_now_
<b02.P1.078> at_the_other_side_of_the_circumference._Even_then_he_
<b02.P1.079> scarcely_understood_what_this_indicated,_until_he_heard_a_
<b02.P1.080> muffled_grating_sound_and_saw_the_black_mark_jerk_forward_an_
<b02.P1.081> inch_or_so._Then_the_thing_came_upon_him_in_a_flash._The_
<b02.P1.082> cylinder_was_artificial--hollow--with_an_end_that_screwed_
<b02.P1.083> out!_Something_within_the_cylinder_was_unscrewing_the_top!
<b02.P1.084> =
<b02.P1.085> "Good_heavens!"_said_Ogilvy._"There's_a_man_in_it--men_in_
<b02.P1.086> it!_Half_roasted_to_death!_Trying_to_escape!"
<b02.P1.087> =
<b02.P1.088> At_once,_with_a_quick_mental_leap,_he_linked_the_Thing_with_
<b02.P1.089> the_flash_upon_Mars.
<b02.P1.090> =
<b02.P1.091> The_thought_of_the_confined_creature_was_so_dreadful_to_him_
<b02.P1.092> that_he_forgot_the_heat_and_went_forward_to_the_cylinder_to_
<b02.P1.093> help_turn._But_luckily_the_dull_radiation_arrested_him_
<b02.P1.094> before_he_could_burn_his_hands_on_the_still-glowing_metal._
<b02.P1.095> At_that_he_stood_irresolute_for_a_moment,_then_turned,_
<b02.P1.096> scrambled_out_of_the_pit,_and_set_off_running_wildly_into_
<b02.P1.097> Woking._The_time_then_must_have_been_somewhere_about_six_
<b02.P1.098> o'clock._He_met_a_waggoner_and_tried_to_make_him_understand,_
<b02.P1.099> but_the_tale_he_told_and_his_appearance_were_so_wild--his_
<b02.P1.100> hat_had_fallen_off_in_the_pit--that_the_man_simply_drove_on._
<b02.P1.101> He_was_equally_unsuccessful_with_the_potman_who_was_just_
<b02.P1.102> unlocking_the_doors_of_the_public-house_by_Horsell_Bridge._
<b02.P1.103> The_fellow_thought_he_was_a_lunatic_at_large_and_made_an_
<b02.P1.104> unsuccessful_attempt_to_shut_him_into_the_taproom._That_
<b02.P1.105> sobered_him_a_little;_and_when_he_saw_Henderson,_the_London_
<b02.P1.106> journalist,_in_his_garden,_he_called_over_the_palings_and_
<b02.P1.107> made_himself_understood.
<b02.P1.108> =
<b02.P1.109> "Henderson,"_he_called,_"you_saw_that_shooting_star_last_
<b02.P1.110> night?"
<b02.P1.111> =
<b02.P1.112> "Well?"_said_Henderson.
<b02.P1.113> =
<b02.P1.114> "It's_out_on_Horsell_Common_now."
<b02.P1.115> =
<b02.P1.116> "Good_Lord!"_said_Henderson._"Fallen_meteorite!_That's_
<b02.P1.117> good."
<b02.P1.118> =
<b02.P1.119> "But_it's_something_more_than_a_meteorite._It's_a_cylinder_
<b02.P1.120> --an_artificial_cylinder,_man!_And_there's_something_
<b02.P1.121> inside."
<b02.P1.122> =
<b02.P1.123> Henderson_stood_up_with_his_spade_in_his_hand.
<b02.P1.124> =
<b02.P1.125> "What's_that?"_he_said._He_was_deaf_in_one_ear.
<b02.P1.126> =
<b02.P1.127> Ogilvy_told_him_all_that_he_had_seen._Henderson_was_a_minute_
<b02.P1.128> or_so_taking_it_in._Then_he_dropped_his_spade,_snatched_up_
<b02.P1.129> his_jacket,_and_came_out_into_the_road._The_two_men_hurried_
<b02.P1.130> back_at_once_to_the_common,_and_found_the_cylinder_still_
<b02.P1.131> lying_in_the_same_position._But_now_the_sounds_inside_had_
<b02.P1.132> ceased,_and_a_thin_circle_of_bright_metal_showed_between_the_
<b02.P1.133> top_and_the_body_of_the_cylinder._Air_was_either_entering_or_
<b02.P1.134> escaping_at_the_rim_with_a_thin,_sizzling_sound.
<b02.P1.135> =
<b02.P1.136> They_listened,_rapped_on_the_scaly_burnt_metal_with_a_stick,_
<b02.P1.137> and,_meeting_with_no_response,_they_both_concluded_the_man_
<b02.P1.138> or_men_inside_must_be_insensible_or_dead.
<b02.P1.139> =
<b02.P1.140> Of_course_the_two_were_quite_unable_to_do_anything._They_
<b02.P1.141> shouted_consolation_and_promises,_and_went_off_back_to_the_
<b02.P1.142> town_again_to_get_help._One_can_imagine_them,_covered_with_
<b02.P1.143> sand,_excited_and_disordered,_running_up_the_little_street_
<b02.P1.144> in_the_bright_sunlight_just_as_the_shop_folks_were_taking_
<b02.P1.145> down_their_shutters_and_people_were_opening_their_bedroom_
<b02.P1.146> windows._Henderson_went_into_the_railway_station_at_once,_in_
<b02.P1.147> order_to_telegraph_the_news_to_London._The_newspaper_
<b02.P1.148> articles_had_prepared_men's_minds_for_the_reception_of_the_
<b02.P1.149> idea.
<b02.P1.150> =
<b02.P1.151> By_eight_o'clock_a_number_of_boys_and_unemployed_men_had_
<b02.P1.152> already_started_for_the_common_to_see_the_"dead_men_from_
<b02.P1.153> Mars."_That_was_the_form_the_story_took._I_heard_of_it_first_
<b02.P1.154> from_my_newspaper_boy_about_a_quarter_to_nine_when_I_went_
<b02.P1.155> out_to_get_my_DAILY_CHRONICLE._I_was_naturally_startled,_and_
<b02.P1.156> lost_no_time_in_going_out_and_across_the_Ottershaw_bridge_to_
<b02.P1.157> the_sand_pits.
<b02.P1.158> =
#
## <b03>
# chapter 3 THREE
# unit C chapter_number
# unit H chapter_title
# unit P text
<b03.P1.001> I_found_a_little_crowd_of_perhaps_twenty_people_surrounding_
<b03.P1.002> the_huge_hole_in_which_the_cylinder_lay._I_have_already_
<b03.P1.003> described_the_appearance_of_that_colossal_bulk,_embedded_in_
<b03.P1.004> the_ground._The_turf_and_gravel_about_it_seemed_charred_as_
<b03.P1.005> if_by_a_sudden_explosion._No_doubt_its_impact_had_caused_a_
<b03.P1.006> flash_of_fire._Henderson_and_Ogilvy_were_not_there._I_think_
<b03.P1.007> they_perceived_that_nothing_was_to_be_done_for_the_present,_
<b03.P1.008> and_had_gone_away_to_breakfast_at_Henderson's_house.
<b03.P1.009> =
<b03.P1.010> There_were_four_or_five_boys_sitting_on_the_edge_of_the_Pit,_
<b03.P1.011> with_their_feet_dangling,_and_amusing_themselves--until_I_
<b03.P1.012> stopped_them--by_throwing_stones_at_the_giant_mass._After_I_
<b03.P1.013> had_spoken_to_them_about_it,_they_began_playing_at_"touch"_
<b03.P1.014> in_and_out_of_the_group_of_bystanders.
<b03.P1.015> =
<b03.P1.016> Among_these_were_a_couple_of_cyclists,_a_jobbing_gardener_I_
<b03.P1.017> employed_sometimes,_a_girl_carrying_a_baby,_Gregg_the_
<b03.P1.018> butcher_and_his_little_boy,_and_two_or_three_loafers_and_
<b03.P1.019> golf_caddies_who_were_accustomed_to_hang_about_the_railway_
<b03.P1.020> station._There_was_very_little_talking._Few_of_the_common_
<b03.P1.021> people_in_England_had_anything_but_the_vaguest_astronomical_
<b03.P1.022> ideas_in_those_days._Most_of_them_were_staring_quietly_at_
<b03.P1.023> the_big_tablelike_end_of_the_cylinder,_which_was_still_as_
<b03.P1.024> Ogilvy_and_Henderson_had_left_it._I_fancy_the_popular_
<b03.P1.025> expectation_of_a_heap_of_charred_corpses_was_disappointed_at_
<b03.P1.026> this_inanimate_bulk._Some_went_away_while_I_was_there,_and_
<b03.P1.027> other_people_came._I_clambered_into_the_pit_and_fancied_I_
<b03.P1.028> heard_a_faint_movement_under_my_feet._The_top_had_certainly_
<b03.P1.029> ceased_to_rotate.
<b03.P1.030> =
<b03.P1.031> It_was_only_when_I_got_thus_close_to_it_that_the_strangeness_
<b03.P1.032> of_this_object_was_at_all_evident_to_me._At_the_first_glance_
<b03.P1.033> it_was_really_no_more_exciting_than_an_overturned_carriage_
<b03.P1.034> or_a_tree_blown_across_the_road._Not_so_much_so,_indeed._It_
<b03.P1.035> looked_like_a_rusty_gas_float._It_required_a_certain_amount_
<b03.P1.036> of_scientific_education_to_perceive_that_the_grey_scale_of_
<b03.P1.037> the_Thing_was_no_common_oxide,_that_the_yellowish-white_
<b03.P1.038> metal_that_gleamed_in_the_crack_between_the_lid_and_the_
<b03.P1.039> cylinder_had_an_unfamiliar_hue._"Extra-terrestrial"_had_no_
<b03.P1.040> meaning_for_most_of_the_onlookers.
<b03.P1.041> =
<b03.P1.042> At_that_time_it_was_quite_clear_in_my_own_mind_that_the_
<b03.P1.043> Thing_had_come_from_the_planet_Mars,_but_I_judged_it_
<b03.P1.044> improbable_that_it_contained_any_living_creature._I_thought_
<b03.P1.045> the_unscrewing_might_be_automatic._In_spite_of_Ogilvy,_I_
<b03.P1.046> still_believed_that_there_were_men_in_Mars._My_mind_ran_
<b03.P1.047> fancifully_on_the_possibilities_of_its_containing_
<b03.P1.048> manuscript,_on_the_difficulties_in_translation_that_might_
<b03.P1.049> arise,_whether_we_should_find_coins_and_models_in_it,_and_so_
<b03.P1.050> forth._Yet_it_was_a_little_too_large_for_assurance_on_this_
<b03.P1.051> idea._I_felt_an_impatience_to_see_it_opened._About_eleven,_
<b03.P1.052> as_nothing_seemed_happening,_I_walked_back,_full_of_such_
<b03.P1.053> thought,_to_my_home_in_Maybury._But_I_found_it_difficult_to_
<b03.P1.054> get_to_work_upon_my_abstract_investigations.
<b03.P1.055> =
<b03.P1.056> In_the_afternoon_the_appearance_of_the_common_had_altered_
<b03.P1.057> very_much._The_early_editions_of_the_evening_papers_had_
<b03.P1.058> startled_London_with_enormous_headlines:
<b03.P1.059> =
<b03.P1.060> "A_MESSAGE_RECEIVED_FROM_MARS."
<b03.P1.061> =
<b03.P1.062> "REMARKABLE_STORY_FROM_WOKING,"
<b03.P1.063> =
<b03.P1.064> and_so_forth._In_addition,_Ogilvy's_wire_to_the_Astronomical_
<b03.P1.065> Exchange_had_roused_every_observatory_in_the_three_kingdoms.
<b03.P1.066> =
<b03.P1.067> There_were_half_a_dozen_flies_or_more_from_the_Woking_
<b03.P1.068> station_standing_in_the_road_by_the_sand_pits,_a_
<b03.P1.069> basket-chaise_from_Chobham,_and_a_rather_lordly_carriage._
<b03.P1.070> Besides_that,_there_was_quite_a_heap_of_bicycles._In_
<b03.P1.071> addition,_a_large_number_of_people_must_have_walked,_in_
<b03.P1.072> spite_of_the_heat_of_the_day,_from_Woking_and_Chertsey,_so_
<b03.P1.073> that_there_was_altogether_quite_a_considerable_crowd--one_or_
<b03.P1.074> two_gaily_dressed_ladies_among_the_others._It_was_glaringly_
<b03.P1.075> hot,_not_a_cloud_in_the_sky_nor_a_breath_of_wind,_and_the_
<b03.P1.076> only_shadow_was_that_of_the_few_scattered_pine_trees._The_
<b03.P1.077> burning_heather_had_been_extinguished,_but_the_level_ground_
<b03.P1.078> towards_Ottershaw_was_blackened_as_far_as_one_could_see,_and_
<b03.P1.079> still_giving_off_vertical_streamers_of_smoke._An_
<b03.P1.080> enterprising_sweet-stuff_dealer_in_the_Chobham_Road_had_sent_
<b03.P1.081> up_his_son_with_a_barrow-load_of_green_apples_and_ginger_
<b03.P1.082> beer.
<b03.P1.083> =
<b03.P1.084> Going_to_the_edge_of_the_pit,_I_found_it_occupied_by_a_group_
<b03.P1.085> of_about_half_a_dozen_men--Henderson,_Ogilvy,_and_a_tall,_
<b03.P1.086> fair-haired_man_that_I_afterwards_learned_was_Stent,_the_
<b03.P1.087> Astronomer_Royal,_with_several_workmen_wielding_spades_and_
<b03.P1.088> pickaxes._Stent_was_giving_directions_in_a_clear,_
<b03.P1.089> high-pitched_voice._He_was_standing_on_the_cylinder,_which_
<b03.P1.090> was_now_evidently_much_cooler;_his_face_was_crimson_and_
<b03.P1.091> streaming_with_perspiration,_and_something_seemed_to_have_
<b03.P1.092> irritated_him.
<b03.P1.093> =
<b03.P1.094> A_large_portion_of_the_cylinder_had_been_uncovered,_though_
<b03.P1.095> its_lower_end_was_still_embedded._As_soon_as_Ogilvy_saw_me_
<b03.P1.096> among_the_staring_crowd_on_the_edge_of_the_pit_he_called_to_
<b03.P1.097> me_to_come_down,_and_asked_me_if_I_would_mind_going_over_to_
<b03.P1.098> see_Lord_Hilton,_the_lord_of_the_manor.
<b03.P1.099> =
<b03.P1.100> The_growing_crowd,_he_said,_was_becoming_a_serious_
<b03.P1.101> impediment_to_their_excavations,_especially_the_boys._They_
<b03.P1.102> wanted_a_light_railing_put_up,_and_help_to_keep_the_people_
<b03.P1.103> back._He_told_me_that_a_faint_stirring_was_occasionally_
<b03.P1.104> still_audible_within_the_case,_but_that_the_workmen_had_
<b03.P1.105> failed_to_unscrew_the_top,_as_it_afforded_no_grip_to_them._
<b03.P1.106> The_case_appeared_to_be_enormously_thick,_and_it_was_
<b03.P1.107> possible_that_the_faint_sounds_we_heard_represented_a_noisy_
<b03.P1.108> tumult_in_the_interior.
<b03.P1.109> =
<b03.P1.110> I_was_very_glad_to_do_as_he_asked,_and_so_become_one_of_the_
<b03.P1.111> privileged_spectators_within_the_contemplated_enclosure._I_
<b03.P1.112> failed_to_find_Lord_Hilton_at_his_house,_but_I_was_told_he_
<b03.P1.113> was_expected_from_London_by_the_six_o'clock_train_from_
<b03.P1.114> Waterloo;_and_as_it_was_then_about_a_quarter_past_five,_I_
<b03.P1.115> went_home,_had_some_tea,_and_walked_up_to_the_station_to_
<b03.P1.116> waylay_him.
<b03.P1.117> =
#
## <b04>
# chapter 4 FOUR
# unit C chapter_number
# unit H chapter_title
# unit P text
<b04.P1.001> When_I_returned_to_the_common_the_sun_was_setting._Scattered_
<b04.P1.002> groups_were_hurrying_from_the_direction_of_Woking,_and_one_
<b04.P1.003> or_two_persons_were_returning._The_crowd_about_the_pit_had_
<b04.P1.004> increased,_and_stood_out_black_against_the_lemon_yellow_of_
<b04.P1.005> the_sky--a_couple_of_hundred_people,_perhaps._There_were_
<b04.P1.006> raised_voices,_and_some_sort_of_struggle_appeared_to_be_
<b04.P1.007> going_on_about_the_pit._Strange_imaginings_passed_through_my_
<b04.P1.008> mind._As_I_drew_nearer_I_heard_Stent's_voice:
<b04.P1.009> =
<b04.P1.010> "Keep_back!_Keep_back!"
<b04.P1.011> =
<b04.P1.012> A_boy_came_running_towards_me.
<b04.P1.013> =
<b04.P1.014> "It's_a-movin',"_he_said_to_me_as_he_passed;_"a-screwin'_and_
<b04.P1.015> a-screwin'_out._I_don't_like_it._I'm_a-goin'_'ome,_I_am."
<b04.P1.016> =
<b04.P1.017> I_went_on_to_the_crowd._There_were_really,_I_should_think,_
<b04.P1.018> two_or_three_hundred_people_elbowing_and_jostling_one_
<b04.P1.019> another,_the_one_or_two_ladies_there_being_by_no_means_the_
<b04.P1.020> least_active.
<b04.P1.021> =
<b04.P1.022> "He's_fallen_in_the_pit!"_cried_some_one.
<b04.P1.023> =
<b04.P1.024> "Keep_back!"_said_several.
<b04.P1.025> =
<b04.P1.026> The_crowd_swayed_a_little,_and_I_elbowed_my_way_through._
<b04.P1.027> Every_one_seemed_greatly_excited._I_heard_a_peculiar_humming_
<b04.P1.028> sound_from_the_pit.
<b04.P1.029> =
<b04.P1.030> "I_say!"_said_Ogilvy;_"help_keep_these_idiots_back._We_don't_
<b04.P1.031> know_what's_in_the_confounded_thing,_you_know!"
<b04.P1.032> =
<b04.P1.033> I_saw_a_young_man,_a_shop_assistant_in_Woking_I_believe_he_
<b04.P1.034> was,_standing_on_the_cylinder_and_trying_to_scramble_out_of_
<b04.P1.035> the_hole_again._The_crowd_had_pushed_him_in.
<b04.P1.036> =
<b04.P1.037> The_end_of_the_cylinder_was_being_screwed_out_from_within._
<b04.P1.038> Nearly_two_feet_of_shining_screw_projected._Somebody_
<b04.P1.039> blundered_against_me,_and_I_narrowly_missed_being_pitched_
<b04.P1.040> onto_the_top_of_the_screw._I_turned,_and_as_I_did_so_the_
<b04.P1.041> screw_must_have_come_out,_for_the_lid_of_the_cylinder_fell_
<b04.P1.042> upon_the_gravel_with_a_ringing_concussion._I_stuck_my_elbow_
<b04.P1.043> into_the_person_behind_me,_and_turned_my_head_towards_the_
<b04.P1.044> Thing_again._For_a_moment_that_circular_cavity_seemed_
<b04.P1.045> perfectly_black._I_had_the_sunset_in_my_eyes.
<b04.P1.046> =
<b04.P1.047> I_think_everyone_expected_to_see_a_man_emerge--possibly_
<b04.P1.048> something_a_little_unlike_us_terrestrial_men,_but_in_all_
<b04.P1.049> essentials_a_man._I_know_I_did._But,_looking,_I_presently_
<b04.P1.050> saw_something_stirring_within_the_shadow:_greyish_billowy_
<b04.P1.051> movements,_one_above_another,_and_then_two_luminous_
<b04.P1.052> disks--like_eyes._Then_something_resembling_a_little_grey_
<b04.P1.053> snake,_about_the_thickness_of_a_walking_stick,_coiled_up_out_
<b04.P1.054> of_the_writhing_middle,_and_wriggled_in_the_air_towards_
<b04.P1.055> me--and_then_another.
<b04.P1.056> =
<b04.P1.057> A_sudden_chill_came_over_me._There_was_a_loud_shriek_from_a_
<b04.P1.058> woman_behind._I_half_turned,_keeping_my_eyes_fixed_upon_the_
<b04.P1.059> cylinder_still,_from_which_other_tentacles_were_now_
<b04.P1.060> projecting,_and_began_pushing_my_way_back_from_the_edge_of_
<b04.P1.061> the_pit._I_saw_astonishment_giving_place_to_horror_on_the_
<b04.P1.062> faces_of_the_people_about_me._I_heard_inarticulate_
<b04.P1.063> exclamations_on_all_sides._There_was_a_general_movement_
<b04.P1.064> backwards._I_saw_the_shopman_struggling_still_on_the_edge_of_
<b04.P1.065> the_pit._I_found_myself_alone,_and_saw_the_people_on_the_
<b04.P1.066> other_side_of_the_pit_running_off,_Stent_among_them._I_
<b04.P1.067> looked_again_at_the_cylinder,_and_ungovernable_terror_
<b04.P1.068> gripped_me._I_stood_petrified_and_staring.
<b04.P1.069> =
<b04.P1.070> A_big_greyish_rounded_bulk,_the_size,_perhaps,_of_a_bear,_
<b04.P1.071> was_rising_slowly_and_painfully_out_of_the_cylinder._As_it_
<b04.P1.072> bulged_up_and_caught_the_light,_it_glistened_like_wet_
<b04.P1.073> leather.
<b04.P1.074> =
<b04.P1.075> Two_large_dark-coloured_eyes_were_regarding_me_steadfastly._
<b04.P1.076> The_mass_that_framed_them,_the_head_of_the_thing,_was_
<b04.P1.077> rounded,_and_had,_one_might_say,_a_face._There_was_a_mouth_
<b04.P1.078> under_the_eyes,_the_lipless_brim_of_which_quivered_and_
<b04.P1.079> panted,_and_dropped_saliva._The_whole_creature_heaved_and_
<b04.P1.080> pulsated_convulsively._A_lank_tentacular_appendage_gripped_
<b04.P1.081> the_edge_of_the_cylinder,_another_swayed_in_the_air.
<b04.P1.082> =
<b04.P1.083> Those_who_have_never_seen_a_living_Martian_can_scarcely_
<b04.P1.084> imagine_the_strange_horror_of_its_appearance._The_peculiar_
<b04.P1.085> V-shaped_mouth_with_its_pointed_upper_lip,_the_absence_of_
<b04.P1.086> brow_ridges,_the_absence_of_a_chin_beneath_the_wedgelike_
<b04.P1.087> lower_lip,_the_incessant_quivering_of_this_mouth,_the_Gorgon_
<b04.P1.088> groups_of_tentacles,_the_tumultuous_breathing_of_the_lungs_
<b04.P1.089> in_a_strange_atmosphere,_the_evident_heaviness_and_
<b04.P1.090> painfulness_of_movement_due_to_the_greater_gravitational_
<b04.P1.091> energy_of_the_earth--above_all,_the_extraordinary_intensity_
<b04.P1.092> of_the_immense_eyes--were_at_once_vital,_intense,_inhuman,_
<b04.P1.093> crippled_and_monstrous._There_was_something_fungoid_in_the_
<b04.P1.094> oily_brown_skin,_something_in_the_clumsy_deliberation_of_the_
<b04.P1.095> tedious_movements_unspeakably_nasty._Even_at_this_first_
<b04.P1.096> encounter,_this_first_glimpse,_I_was_overcome_with_disgust_
<b04.P1.097> and_dread.
<b04.P1.098> =
<b04.P1.099> Suddenly_the_monster_vanished._It_had_toppled_over_the_brim_
<b04.P1.100> of_the_cylinder_and_fallen_into_the_pit,_with_a_thud_like_
<b04.P1.101> the_fall_of_a_great_mass_of_leather._I_heard_it_give_a_
<b04.P1.102> peculiar_thick_cry,_and_forthwith_another_of_these_creatures_
<b04.P1.103> appeared_darkly_in_the_deep_shadow_of_the_aperture.
<b04.P1.104> =
<b04.P1.105> I_turned_and,_running_madly,_made_for_the_first_group_of_
<b04.P1.106> trees,_perhaps_a_hundred_yards_away;_but_I_ran_slantingly_
<b04.P1.107> and_stumbling,_for_I_could_not_avert_my_face_from_these_
<b04.P1.108> things.
<b04.P1.109> =
<b04.P1.110> There,_among_some_young_pine_trees_and_furze_bushes,_I_
<b04.P1.111> stopped,_panting,_and_waited_further_developments._The_
<b04.P1.112> common_round_the_sand_pits_was_dotted_with_people,_standing_
<b04.P1.113> like_myself_in_a_half-fascinated_terror,_staring_at_these_
<b04.P1.114> creatures,_or_rather_at_the_heaped_gravel_at_the_edge_of_the_
<b04.P1.115> pit_in_which_they_lay._And_then,_with_a_renewed_horror,_I_
<b04.P1.116> saw_a_round,_black_object_bobbing_up_and_down_on_the_edge_of_
<b04.P1.117> the_pit._It_was_the_head_of_the_shopman_who_had_fallen_in,_
<b04.P1.118> but_showing_as_a_little_black_object_against_the_hot_western_
<b04.P1.119> sun._Now_he_got_his_shoulder_and_knee_up,_and_again_he_
<b04.P1.120> seemed_to_slip_back_until_only_his_head_was_visible._
<b04.P1.121> Suddenly_he_vanished,_and_I_could_have_fancied_a_faint_
<b04.P1.122> shriek_had_reached_me._I_had_a_momentary_impulse_to_go_back_
<b04.P1.123> and_help_him_that_my_fears_overruled.
<b04.P1.124> =
<b04.P1.125> Everything_was_then_quite_invisible,_hidden_by_the_deep_pit_
<b04.P1.126> and_the_heap_of_sand_that_the_fall_of_the_cylinder_had_made._
<b04.P1.127> Anyone_coming_along_the_road_from_Chobham_or_Woking_would_
<b04.P1.128> have_been_amazed_at_the_sight--a_dwindling_multitude_of_
<b04.P1.129> perhaps_a_hundred_people_or_more_standing_in_a_great_
<b04.P1.130> irregular_circle,_in_ditches,_behind_bushes,_behind_gates_
<b04.P1.131> and_hedges,_saying_little_to_one_another_and_that_in_short,_
<b04.P1.132> excited_shouts,_and_staring,_staring_hard_at_a_few_heaps_of_
<b04.P1.133> sand._The_barrow_of_ginger_beer_stood,_a_queer_derelict,_
<b04.P1.134> black_against_the_burning_sky,_and_in_the_sand_pits_was_a_
<b04.P1.135> row_of_deserted_vehicles_with_their_horses_feeding_out_of_
<b04.P1.136> nosebags_or_pawing_the_ground.
<b04.P1.137> =
#
## <b05>
# chapter 5 FIVE
# unit C chapter_number
# unit H chapter_title
# unit P text
<b05.P1.001> After_the_glimpse_I_had_had_of_the_Martians_emerging_from_
<b05.P1.002> the_cylinder_in_which_they_had_come_to_the_earth_from_their_
<b05.P1.003> planet,_a_kind_of_fascination_paralysed_my_actions._I_
<b05.P1.004> remained_standing_knee-deep_in_the_heather,_staring_at_the_
<b05.P1.005> mound_that_hid_them._I_was_a_battleground_of_fear_and_
<b05.P1.006> curiosity.
<b05.P1.007> =
<b05.P1.008> I_did_not_dare_to_go_back_towards_the_pit,_but_I_felt_a_
<b05.P1.009> passionate_longing_to_peer_into_it._I_began_walking,_
<b05.P1.010> therefore,_in_a_big_curve,_seeking_some_point_of_vantage_and_
<b05.P1.011> continually_looking_at_the_sand_heaps_that_hid_these_
<b05.P1.012> new-comers_to_our_earth._Once_a_leash_of_thin_black_whips,_
<b05.P1.013> like_the_arms_of_an_octopus,_flashed_across_the_sunset_and_
<b05.P1.014> was_immediately_withdrawn,_and_afterwards_a_thin_rod_rose_
<b05.P1.015> up,_joint_by_joint,_bearing_at_its_apex_a_circular_disk_that_
<b05.P1.016> spun_with_a_wobbling_motion._What_could_be_going_on_there?
<b05.P1.017> =
<b05.P1.018> Most_of_the_spectators_had_gathered_in_one_or_two_groups_
<b05.P1.019> --one_a_little_crowd_towards_Woking,_the_other_a_knot_of_
<b05.P1.020> people_in_the_direction_of_Chobham._Evidently_they_shared_my_
<b05.P1.021> mental_conflict._There_were_few_near_me._One_man_I_
<b05.P1.022> approached--he_was,_I_perceived,_a_neighbour_of_mine,_though_
<b05.P1.023> I_did_not_know_his_name--and_accosted._But_it_was_scarcely_a_
<b05.P1.024> time_for_articulate_conversation.
<b05.P1.025> =
<b05.P1.026> "What_ugly_brutes!"_he_said._"Good_God!_What_ugly_brutes!"_
<b05.P1.027> He_repeated_this_over_and_over_again.
<b05.P1.028> =
<b05.P1.029> "Did_you_see_a_man_in_the_pit?"_I_said;_but_he_made_no_
<b05.P1.030> answer_to_that._We_became_silent,_and_stood_watching_for_a_
<b05.P1.031> time_side_by_side,_deriving,_I_fancy,_a_certain_comfort_in_
<b05.P1.032> one_another's_company._Then_I_shifted_my_position_to_a_
<b05.P1.033> little_knoll_that_gave_me_the_advantage_of_a_yard_or_more_of_
<b05.P1.034> elevation_and_when_I_looked_for_him_presently_he_was_walking_
<b05.P1.035> towards_Woking.
<b05.P1.036> =
<b05.P1.037> The_sunset_faded_to_twilight_before_anything_further_
<b05.P1.038> happened._The_crowd_far_away_on_the_left,_towards_Woking,_
<b05.P1.039> seemed_to_grow,_and_I_heard_now_a_faint_murmur_from_it._The_
<b05.P1.040> little_knot_of_people_towards_Chobham_dispersed._There_was_
<b05.P1.041> scarcely_an_intimation_of_movement_from_the_pit.
<b05.P1.042> =
<b05.P1.043> It_was_this,_as_much_as_anything,_that_gave_people_courage,_
<b05.P1.044> and_I_suppose_the_new_arrivals_from_Woking_also_helped_to_
<b05.P1.045> restore_confidence._At_any_rate,_as_the_dusk_came_on_a_slow,_
<b05.P1.046> intermittent_movement_upon_the_sand_pits_began,_a_movement_
<b05.P1.047> that_seemed_to_gather_force_as_the_stillness_of_the_evening_
<b05.P1.048> about_the_cylinder_remained_unbroken._Vertical_black_figures_
<b05.P1.049> in_twos_and_threes_would_advance,_stop,_watch,_and_advance_
<b05.P1.050> again,_spreading_out_as_they_did_so_in_a_thin_irregular_
<b05.P1.051> crescent_that_promised_to_enclose_the_pit_in_its_attenuated_
<b05.P1.052> horns._I,_too,_on_my_side_began_to_move_towards_the_pit.
<b05.P1.053> =
<b05.P1.054> Then_I_saw_some_cabmen_and_others_had_walked_boldly_into_the_
<b05.P1.055> sand_pits,_and_heard_the_clatter_of_hoofs_and_the_gride_of_
<b05.P1.056> wheels._I_saw_a_lad_trundling_off_the_barrow_of_apples._And_
<b05.P1.057> then,_within_thirty_yards_of_the_pit,_advancing_from_the_
<b05.P1.058> direction_of_Horsell,_I_noted_a_little_black_knot_of_men,_
<b05.P1.059> the_foremost_of_whom_was_waving_a_white_flag.
<b05.P1.060> =
<b05.P1.061> This_was_the_Deputation._There_had_been_a_hasty_
<b05.P1.062> consultation,_and_since_the_Martians_were_evidently,_in_
<b05.P1.063> spite_of_their_repulsive_forms,_intelligent_creatures,_it_
<b05.P1.064> had_been_resolved_to_show_them,_by_approaching_them_with_
<b05.P1.065> signals,_that_we_too_were_intelligent.
<b05.P1.066> =
<b05.P1.067> Flutter,_flutter,_went_the_flag,_first_to_the_right,_then_to_
<b05.P1.068> the_left._It_was_too_far_for_me_to_recognise_anyone_there,_
<b05.P1.069> but_afterwards_I_learned_that_Ogilvy,_Stent,_and_Henderson_
<b05.P1.070> were_with_others_in_this_attempt_at_communication._This_
<b05.P1.071> little_group_had_in_its_advance_dragged_inward,_so_to_speak,_
<b05.P1.072> the_circumference_of_the_now_almost_complete_circle_of_
<b05.P1.073> people,_and_a_number_of_dim_black_figures_followed_it_at_
<b05.P1.074> discreet_distances.
<b05.P1.075> =
<b05.P1.076> Suddenly_there_was_a_flash_of_light,_and_a_quantity_of_
<b05.P1.077> luminous_greenish_smoke_came_out_of_the_pit_in_three_
<b05.P1.078> distinct_puffs,_which_drove_up,_one_after_the_other,_
<b05.P1.079> straight_into_the_still_air.
<b05.P1.080> =
<b05.P1.081> This_smoke_(or_flame,_perhaps,_would_be_the_better_word_for_
<b05.P1.082> it)_was_so_bright_that_the_deep_blue_sky_overhead_and_the_
<b05.P1.083> hazy_stretches_of_brown_common_towards_Chertsey,_set_with_
<b05.P1.084> black_pine_trees,_seemed_to_darken_abruptly_as_these_puffs_
<b05.P1.085> arose,_and_to_remain_the_darker_after_their_dispersal._At_
<b05.P1.086> the_same_time_a_faint_hissing_sound_became_audible.
<b05.P1.087> =
<b05.P1.088> Beyond_the_pit_stood_the_little_wedge_of_people_with_the_
<b05.P1.089> white_flag_at_its_apex,_arrested_by_these_phenomena,_a_
<b05.P1.090> little_knot_of_small_vertical_black_shapes_upon_the_black_
<b05.P1.091> ground._As_the_green_smoke_arose,_their_faces_flashed_out_
<b05.P1.092> pallid_green,_and_faded_again_as_it_vanished._Then_slowly_
<b05.P1.093> the_hissing_passed_into_a_humming,_into_a_long,_loud,_
<b05.P1.094> droning_noise._Slowly_a_humped_shape_rose_out_of_the_pit,_
<b05.P1.095> and_the_ghost_of_a_beam_of_light_seemed_to_flicker_out_from_
<b05.P1.096> it.
<b05.P1.097> =
<b05.P1.098> Forthwith_flashes_of_actual_flame,_a_bright_glare_leaping_
<b05.P1.099> from_one_to_another,_sprang_from_the_scattered_group_of_men._
<b05.P1.100> It_was_as_if_some_invisible_jet_impinged_upon_them_and_
<b05.P1.101> flashed_into_white_flame._It_was_as_if_each_man_were_
<b05.P1.102> suddenly_and_momentarily_turned_to_fire.
<b05.P1.103> =
<b05.P1.104> Then,_by_the_light_of_their_own_destruction,_I_saw_them_
<b05.P1.105> staggering_and_falling,_and_their_supporters_turning_to_run.
<b05.P1.106> =
<b05.P1.107> I_stood_staring,_not_as_yet_realising_that_this_was_death_
<b05.P1.108> leaping_from_man_to_man_in_that_little_distant_crowd._All_I_
<b05.P1.109> felt_was_that_it_was_something_very_strange._An_almost_
<b05.P1.110> noiseless_and_blinding_flash_of_light,_and_a_man_fell_
<b05.P1.111> headlong_and_lay_still;_and_as_the_unseen_shaft_of_heat_
<b05.P1.112> passed_over_them,_pine_trees_burst_into_fire,_and_every_dry_
<b05.P1.113> furze_bush_became_with_one_dull_thud_a_mass_of_flames._And_
<b05.P1.114> far_away_towards_Knaphill_I_saw_the_flashes_of_trees_and_
<b05.P1.115> hedges_and_wooden_buildings_suddenly_set_alight.
<b05.P1.116> =
<b05.P1.117> It_was_sweeping_round_swiftly_and_steadily,_this_flaming_
<b05.P1.118> death,_this_invisible,_inevitable_sword_of_heat._I_perceived_
<b05.P1.119> it_coming_towards_me_by_the_flashing_bushes_it_touched,_and_
<b05.P1.120> was_too_astounded_and_stupefied_to_stir._I_heard_the_crackle_
<b05.P1.121> of_fire_in_the_sand_pits_and_the_sudden_squeal_of_a_horse_
<b05.P1.122> that_was_as_suddenly_stilled._Then_it_was_as_if_an_invisible_
<b05.P1.123> yet_intensely_heated_finger_were_drawn_through_the_heather_
<b05.P1.124> between_me_and_the_Martians,_and_all_along_a_curving_line_
<b05.P1.125> beyond_the_sand_pits_the_dark_ground_smoked_and_crackled._
<b05.P1.126> Something_fell_with_a_crash_far_away_to_the_left_where_the_
<b05.P1.127> road_from_Woking_station_opens_out_on_the_common._Forthwith_
<b05.P1.128> the_hissing_and_humming_ceased,_and_the_black,_dome-like_
<b05.P1.129> object_sank_slowly_out_of_sight_into_the_pit.
<b05.P1.130> =
<b05.P1.131> All_this_had_happened_with_such_swiftness_that_I_had_stood_
<b05.P1.132> motionless,_dumbfounded_and_dazzled_by_the_flashes_of_light._
<b05.P1.133> Had_that_death_swept_through_a_full_circle,_it_must_
<b05.P1.134> inevitably_have_slain_me_in_my_surprise._But_it_passed_and_
<b05.P1.135> spared_me,_and_left_the_night_about_me_suddenly_dark_and_
<b05.P1.136> unfamiliar.
<b05.P1.137> =
<b05.P1.138> The_undulating_common_seemed_now_dark_almost_to_blackness,_
<b05.P1.139> except_where_its_roadways_lay_grey_and_pale_under_the_deep_
<b05.P1.140> blue_sky_of_the_early_night._It_was_dark,_and_suddenly_void_
<b05.P1.141> of_men._Overhead_the_stars_were_mustering,_and_in_the_west_
<b05.P1.142> the_sky_was_still_a_pale,_bright,_almost_greenish_blue._The_
<b05.P1.143> tops_of_the_pine_trees_and_the_roofs_of_Horsell_came_out_
<b05.P1.144> sharp_and_black_against_the_western_afterglow._The_Martians_
<b05.P1.145> and_their_appliances_were_altogether_invisible,_save_for_
<b05.P1.146> that_thin_mast_upon_which_their_restless_mirror_wobbled._
<b05.P1.147> Patches_of_bush_and_isolated_trees_here_and_there_smoked_and_
<b05.P1.148> glowed_still,_and_the_houses_towards_Woking_station_were_
<b05.P1.149> sending_up_spires_of_flame_into_the_stillness_of_the_evening_
<b05.P1.150> air.
<b05.P1.151> =
<b05.P1.152> Nothing_was_changed_save_for_that_and_a_terrible_
<b05.P1.153> astonishment._The_little_group_of_black_specks_with_the_flag_
<b05.P1.154> of_white_had_been_swept_out_of_existence,_and_the_stillness_
<b05.P1.155> of_the_evening,_so_it_seemed_to_me,_had_scarcely_been_
<b05.P1.156> broken.
<b05.P1.157> =
<b05.P1.158> It_came_to_me_that_I_was_upon_this_dark_common,_helpless,_
<b05.P1.159> unprotected,_and_alone._Suddenly,_like_a_thing_falling_upon_
<b05.P1.160> me_from_without,_came--fear.
<b05.P1.161> =
<b05.P1.162> With_an_effort_I_turned_and_began_a_stumbling_run_through_
<b05.P1.163> the_heather.
<b05.P1.164> =
<b05.P1.165> The_fear_I_felt_was_no_rational_fear,_but_a_panic_terror_not_
<b05.P1.166> only_of_the_Martians,_but_of_the_dusk_and_stillness_all_
<b05.P1.167> about_me._Such_an_extraordinary_effect_in_unmanning_me_it_
<b05.P1.168> had_that_I_ran_weeping_silently_as_a_child_might_do._Once_I_
<b05.P1.169> had_turned,_I_did_not_dare_to_look_back.
<b05.P1.170> =
<b05.P1.171> I_remember_I_felt_an_extraordinary_persuasion_that_I_was_
<b05.P1.172> being_played_with,_that_presently,_when_I_was_upon_the_very_
<b05.P1.173> verge_of_safety,_this_mysterious_death--as_swift_as_the_
<b05.P1.174> passage_of_light--would_leap_after_me_from_the_pit_about_the_
<b05.P1.175> cylinder_and_strike_me_down.
<b05.P1.176> =
#
## <b06>
# chapter 6 SIX
# unit C chapter_number
# unit P text
<b06.P1.001> It_is_still_a_matter_of_wonder_how_the_Martians_are_able_to_
<b06.P1.002> slay_men_so_swiftly_and_so_silently._Many_think_that_in_some_
<b06.P1.003> way_they_are_able_to_generate_an_intense_heat_in_a_chamber_
<b06.P1.004> of_practically_absolute_non-conductivity._This_intense_heat_
<b06.P1.005> they_project_in_a_parallel_beam_against_any_object_they_
<b06.P1.006> choose,_by_means_of_a_polished_parabolic_mirror_of_unknown_
<b06.P1.007> composition,_much_as_the_parabolic_mirror_of_a_lighthouse_
<b06.P1.008> projects_a_beam_of_light._But_no_one_has_absolutely_proved_
<b06.P1.009> these_details._However_it_is_done,_it_is_certain_that_a_beam_
<b06.P1.010> of_heat_is_the_essence_of_the_matter._Heat,_and_invisible,_
<b06.P1.011> instead_of_visible,_light._Whatever_is_combustible_flashes_
<b06.P1.012> into_flame_at_its_touch,_lead_runs_like_water,_it_softens_
<b06.P1.013> iron,_cracks_and_melts_glass,_and_when_it_falls_upon_water,_
<b06.P1.014> incontinently_that_explodes_into_steam.
<b06.P1.015> =
<b06.P1.016> That_night_nearly_forty_people_lay_under_the_starlight_about_
<b06.P1.017> the_pit,_charred_and_distorted_beyond_recognition,_and_all_
<b06.P1.018> night_long_the_common_from_Horsell_to_Maybury_was_deserted_
<b06.P1.019> and_brightly_ablaze.
<b06.P1.020> =
<b06.P1.021> The_news_of_the_massacre_probably_reached_Chobham,_Woking,_
<b06.P1.022> and_Ottershaw_about_the_same_time._In_Woking_the_shops_had_
<b06.P1.023> closed_when_the_tragedy_happened,_and_a_number_of_people,_
<b06.P1.024> shop_people_and_so_forth,_attracted_by_the_stories_they_had_
<b06.P1.025> heard,_were_walking_over_the_Horsell_Bridge_and_along_the_
<b06.P1.026> road_between_the_hedges_that_runs_out_at_last_upon_the_
<b06.P1.027> common._You_may_imagine_the_young_people_brushed_up_after_
<b06.P1.028> the_labours_of_the_day,_and_making_this_novelty,_as_they_
<b06.P1.029> would_make_any_novelty,_the_excuse_for_walking_together_and_
<b06.P1.030> enjoying_a_trivial_flirtation._You_may_figure_to_yourself_
<b06.P1.031> the_hum_of_voices_along_the_road_in_the_gloaming._._._.
<b06.P1.032> =
<b06.P1.033> As_yet,_of_course,_few_people_in_Woking_even_knew_that_the_
<b06.P1.034> cylinder_had_opened,_though_poor_Henderson_had_sent_a_
<b06.P1.035> messenger_on_a_bicycle_to_the_post_office_with_a_special_
<b06.P1.036> wire_to_an_evening_paper.
<b06.P1.037> =
<b06.P1.038> As_these_folks_came_out_by_twos_and_threes_upon_the_open,_
<b06.P1.039> they_found_little_knots_of_people_talking_excitedly_and_
<b06.P1.040> peering_at_the_spinning_mirror_over_the_sand_pits,_and_the_
<b06.P1.041> new-comers_were,_no_doubt,_soon_infected_by_the_excitement_
<b06.P1.042> of_the_occasion.
<b06.P1.043> =
<b06.P1.044> By_half_past_eight,_when_the_Deputation_was_destroyed,_there_
<b06.P1.045> may_have_been_a_crowd_of_three_hundred_people_or_more_at_
<b06.P1.046> this_place,_besides_those_who_had_left_the_road_to_approach_
<b06.P1.047> the_Martians_nearer._There_were_three_policemen_too,_one_of_
<b06.P1.048> whom_was_mounted,_doing_their_best,_under_instructions_from_
<b06.P1.049> Stent,_to_keep_the_people_back_and_deter_them_from_
<b06.P1.050> approaching_the_cylinder._There_was_some_booing_from_those_
<b06.P1.051> more_thoughtless_and_excitable_souls_to_whom_a_crowd_is_
<b06.P1.052> always_an_occasion_for_noise_and_horse-play.
<b06.P1.053> =
<b06.P1.054> Stent_and_Ogilvy,_anticipating_some_possibilities_of_a_
<b06.P1.055> collision,_had_telegraphed_from_Horsell_to_the_barracks_as_
<b06.P1.056> soon_as_the_Martians_emerged,_for_the_help_of_a_company_of_
<b06.P1.057> soldiers_to_protect_these_strange_creatures_from_violence._
<b06.P1.058> After_that_they_returned_to_lead_that_ill-fated_advance._The_
<b06.P1.059> description_of_their_death,_as_it_was_seen_by_the_crowd,_
<b06.P1.060> tallies_very_closely_with_my_own_impressions:_the_three_
<b06.P1.061> puffs_of_green_smoke,_the_deep_humming_note,_and_the_flashes_
<b06.P1.062> of_flame.
<b06.P1.063> =
<b06.P1.064> But_that_crowd_of_people_had_a_far_narrower_escape_than_
<b06.P1.065> mine._Only_the_fact_that_a_hummock_of_heathery_sand_
<b06.P1.066> intercepted_the_lower_part_of_the_Heat-Ray_saved_them._Had_
<b06.P1.067> the_elevation_of_the_parabolic_mirror_been_a_few_yards_
<b06.P1.068> higher,_none_could_have_lived_to_tell_the_tale._They_saw_the_
<b06.P1.069> flashes_and_the_men_falling_and_an_invisible_hand,_as_it_
<b06.P1.070> were,_lit_the_bushes_as_it_hurried_towards_them_through_the_
<b06.P1.071> twilight._Then,_with_a_whistling_note_that_rose_above_the_
<b06.P1.072> droning_of_the_pit,_the_beam_swung_close_over_their_heads,_
<b06.P1.073> lighting_the_tops_of_the_beech_trees_that_line_the_road,_and_
<b06.P1.074> splitting_the_bricks,_smashing_the_windows,_firing_the_
<b06.P1.075> window_frames,_and_bringing_down_in_crumbling_ruin_a_portion_
<b06.P1.076> of_the_gable_of_the_house_nearest_the_corner.
<b06.P1.077> =
<b06.P1.078> In_the_sudden_thud,_hiss,_and_glare_of_the_igniting_trees,_
<b06.P1.079> the_panic-stricken_crowd_seems_to_have_swayed_hesitatingly_
<b06.P1.080> for_some_moments._Sparks_and_burning_twigs_began_to_fall_
<b06.P1.081> into_the_road,_and_single_leaves_like_puffs_of_flame._Hats_
<b06.P1.082> and_dresses_caught_fire._Then_came_a_crying_from_the_common._
<b06.P1.083> There_were_shrieks_and_shouts,_and_suddenly_a_mounted_
<b06.P1.084> policeman_came_galloping_through_the_confusion_with_his_
<b06.P1.085> hands_clasped_over_his_head,_screaming.
<b06.P1.086> =
<b06.P1.087> "They're_coming!"_a_woman_shrieked,_and_incontinently_
<b06.P1.088> everyone_was_turning_and_pushing_at_those_behind,_in_order_
<b06.P1.089> to_clear_their_way_to_Woking_again._They_must_have_bolted_as_
<b06.P1.090> blindly_as_a_flock_of_sheep._Where_the_road_grows_narrow_and_
<b06.P1.091> black_between_the_high_banks_the_crowd_jammed,_and_a_
<b06.P1.092> desperate_struggle_occurred._All_that_crowd_did_not_escape;_
<b06.P1.093> three_persons_at_least,_two_women_and_a_little_boy,_were_
<b06.P1.094> crushed_and_trampled_there,_and_left_to_die_amid_the_terror_
<b06.P1.095> and_the_darkness.
<b06.P1.096> =
#
## <b07>
# chapter 7 SEVEN
# unit C chapter_number
# unit H chapter_title
# unit P text
<b07.P1.001> For_my_own_part,_I_remember_nothing_of_my_flight_except_the_
<b07.P1.002> stress_of_blundering_against_trees_and_stumbling_through_the_
<b07.P1.003> heather._All_about_me_gathered_the_invisible_terrors_of_the_
<b07.P1.004> Martians;_that_pitiless_sword_of_heat_seemed_whirling_to_and_
<b07.P1.005> fro,_flourishing_overhead_before_it_descended_and_smote_me_
<b07.P1.006> out_of_life._I_came_into_the_road_between_the_crossroads_and_
<b07.P1.007> Horsell,_and_ran_along_this_to_the_crossroads.
<b07.P1.008> =
<b07.P1.009> At_last_I_could_go_no_further;_I_was_exhausted_with_the_
<b07.P1.010> violence_of_my_emotion_and_of_my_flight,_and_I_staggered_and_
<b07.P1.011> fell_by_the_wayside._That_was_near_the_bridge_that_crosses_
<b07.P1.012> the_canal_by_the_gasworks._I_fell_and_lay_still.
<b07.P1.013> =
<b07.P1.014> I_must_have_remained_there_some_time.
<b07.P1.015> =
<b07.P1.016> I_sat_up,_strangely_perplexed._For_a_moment,_perhaps,_I_
<b07.P1.017> could_not_clearly_understand_how_I_came_there._My_terror_had_
<b07.P1.018> fallen_from_me_like_a_garment._My_hat_had_gone,_and_my_
<b07.P1.019> collar_had_burst_away_from_its_fastener._A_few_minutes_
<b07.P1.020> before,_there_had_only_been_three_real_things_before_me--the_
<b07.P1.021> immensity_of_the_night_and_space_and_nature,_my_own_
<b07.P1.022> feebleness_and_anguish,_and_the_near_approach_of_death._Now_
<b07.P1.023> it_was_as_if_something_turned_over,_and_the_point_of_view_
<b07.P1.024> altered_abruptly._There_was_no_sensible_transition_from_one_
<b07.P1.025> state_of_mind_to_the_other._I_was_immediately_the_self_of_
<b07.P1.026> every_day_again--a_decent,_ordinary_citizen._The_silent_
<b07.P1.027> common,_the_impulse_of_my_flight,_the_starting_flames,_were_
<b07.P1.028> as_if_they_had_been_in_a_dream._I_asked_myself_had_these_
<b07.P1.029> latter_things_indeed_happened?_I_could_not_credit_it.
<b07.P1.030> =
<b07.P1.031> I_rose_and_walked_unsteadily_up_the_steep_incline_of_the_
<b07.P1.032> bridge._My_mind_was_blank_wonder._My_muscles_and_nerves_
<b07.P1.033> seemed_drained_of_their_strength._I_dare_say_I_staggered_
<b07.P1.034> drunkenly._A_head_rose_over_the_arch,_and_the_figure_of_a_
<b07.P1.035> workman_carrying_a_basket_appeared._Beside_him_ran_a_little_
<b07.P1.036> boy._He_passed_me,_wishing_me_good_night._I_was_minded_to_
<b07.P1.037> speak_to_him,_but_did_not._I_answered_his_greeting_with_a_
<b07.P1.038> meaningless_mumble_and_went_on_over_the_bridge.
<b07.P1.039> =
<b07.P1.040> Over_the_Maybury_arch_a_train,_a_billowing_tumult_of_white,_
<b07.P1.041> firelit_smoke,_and_a_long_caterpillar_of_lighted_windows,_
<b07.P1.042> went_flying_south--clatter,_clatter,_clap,_rap,_and_it_had_
<b07.P1.043> gone._A_dim_group_of_people_talked_in_the_gate_of_one_of_the_
<b07.P1.044> houses_in_the_pretty_little_row_of_gables_that_was_called_
<b07.P1.045> Oriental_Terrace._It_was_all_so_real_and_so_familiar._And_
<b07.P1.046> that_behind_me!_It_was_frantic,_fantastic!_Such_things,_I_
<b07.P1.047> told_myself,_could_not_be.
<b07.P1.048> =
<b07.P1.049> Perhaps_I_am_a_man_of_exceptional_moods._I_do_not_know_how_
<b07.P1.050> far_my_experience_is_common._At_times_I_suffer_from_the_
<b07.P1.051> strangest_sense_of_detachment_from_myself_and_the_world_
<b07.P1.052> about_me;_I_seem_to_watch_it_all_from_the_outside,_from_
<b07.P1.053> somewhere_inconceivably_remote,_out_of_time,_out_of_space,_
<b07.P1.054> out_of_the_stress_and_tragedy_of_it_all._This_feeling_was_
<b07.P1.055> very_strong_upon_me_that_night._Here_was_another_side_to_my_
<b07.P1.056> dream.
<b07.P1.057> =
<b07.P1.058> But_the_trouble_was_the_blank_incongruity_of_this_serenity_
<b07.P1.059> and_the_swift_death_flying_yonder,_not_two_miles_away._There_
<b07.P1.060> was_a_noise_of_business_from_the_gasworks,_and_the_electric_
<b07.P1.061> lamps_were_all_alight._I_stopped_at_the_group_of_people.
<b07.P1.062> =
<b07.P1.063> "What_news_from_the_common?"_said_I.
<b07.P1.064> =
<b07.P1.065> There_were_two_men_and_a_woman_at_the_gate.
<b07.P1.066> =
<b07.P1.067> "Eh?"_said_one_of_the_men,_turning.
<b07.P1.068> =
<b07.P1.069> "What_news_from_the_common?"_I_said.
<b07.P1.070> =
<b07.P1.071> "'Ain't_yer_just_BEEN_there?"_asked_the_men.
<b07.P1.072> =
<b07.P1.073> "People_seem_fair_silly_about_the_common,"_said_the_woman_
<b07.P1.074> over_the_gate._"What's_it_all_abart?"
<b07.P1.075> =
<b07.P1.076> "Haven't_you_heard_of_the_men_from_Mars?"_said_I;_"the_
<b07.P1.077> creatures_from_Mars?"
<b07.P1.078> =
<b07.P1.079> "Quite_enough,"_said_the_woman_over_the_gate._"Thenks";_and_
<b07.P1.080> all_three_of_them_laughed.
<b07.P1.081> =
<b07.P1.082> I_felt_foolish_and_angry._I_tried_and_found_I_could_not_tell_
<b07.P1.083> them_what_I_had_seen._They_laughed_again_at_my_broken_
<b07.P1.084> sentences.
<b07.P1.085> =
<b07.P1.086> "You'll_hear_more_yet,"_I_said,_and_went_on_to_my_home.
<b07.P1.087> =
<b07.P1.088> I_startled_my_wife_at_the_doorway,_so_haggard_was_I._I_went_
<b07.P1.089> into_the_dining_room,_sat_down,_drank_some_wine,_and_so_soon_
<b07.P1.090> as_I_could_collect_myself_sufficiently_I_told_her_the_things_
<b07.P1.091> I_had_seen._The_dinner,_which_was_a_cold_one,_had_already_
<b07.P1.092> been_served,_and_remained_neglected_on_the_table_while_I_
<b07.P1.093> told_my_story.
<b07.P1.094> =
<b07.P1.095> "There_is_one_thing,"_I_said,_to_allay_the_fears_I_had_
<b07.P1.096> aroused;_"they_are_the_most_sluggish_things_I_ever_saw_
<b07.P1.097> crawl._They_may_keep_the_pit_and_kill_people_who_come_near_
<b07.P1.098> them,_but_they_cannot_get_out_of_it._._._._But_the_horror_of_
<b07.P1.099> them!"
<b07.P1.100> =
<b07.P1.101> "Don't,_dear!"_said_my_wife,_knitting_her_brows_and_putting_
<b07.P1.102> her_hand_on_mine.
<b07.P1.103> =
<b07.P1.104> "Poor_Ogilvy!"_I_said._"To_think_he_may_be_lying_dead_
<b07.P1.105> there!"
<b07.P1.106> =
<b07.P1.107> My_wife_at_least_did_not_find_my_experience_incredible._When_
<b07.P1.108> I_saw_how_deadly_white_her_face_was,_I_ceased_abruptly.
<b07.P1.109> =
<b07.P1.110> "They_may_come_here,"_she_said_again_and_again.
<b07.P1.111> =
<b07.P1.112> I_pressed_her_to_take_wine,_and_tried_to_reassure_her.
<b07.P1.113> =
<b07.P1.114> "They_can_scarcely_move,"_I_said.
<b07.P1.115> =
<b07.P1.116> I_began_to_comfort_her_and_myself_by_repeating_all_that_
<b07.P1.117> Ogilvy_had_told_me_of_the_impossibility_of_the_Martians_
<b07.P1.118> establishing_themselves_on_the_earth._In_particular_I_laid_
<b07.P1.119> stress_on_the_gravitational_difficulty._On_the_surface_of_
<b07.P1.120> the_earth_the_force_of_gravity_is_three_times_what_it_is_on_
<b07.P1.121> the_surface_of_Mars._A_Martian,_therefore,_would_weigh_three_
<b07.P1.122> times_more_than_on_Mars,_albeit_his_muscular_strength_would_
<b07.P1.123> be_the_same._His_own_body_would_be_a_cope_of_lead_to_him._
<b07.P1.124> That,_indeed,_was_the_general_opinion._Both_THE_TIMES_and_
<b07.P1.125> the_DAILY_TELEGRAPH,_for_instance,_insisted_on_it_the_next_
<b07.P1.126> morning,_and_both_overlooked,_just_as_I_did,_two_obvious_
<b07.P1.127> modifying_influences.
<b07.P1.128> =
<b07.P1.129> The_atmosphere_of_the_earth,_we_now_know,_contains_far_more_
<b07.P1.130> oxygen_or_far_less_argon_(whichever_way_one_likes_to_put_it)_
<b07.P1.131> than_does_Mars._The_invigorating_influences_of_this_excess_
<b07.P1.132> of_oxygen_upon_the_Martians_indisputably_did_much_to_
<b07.P1.133> counterbalance_the_increased_weight_of_their_bodies._And,_in_
<b07.P1.134> the_second_place,_we_all_overlooked_the_fact_that_such_
<b07.P1.135> mechanical_intelligence_as_the_Martian_possessed_was_quite_
<b07.P1.136> able_to_dispense_with_muscular_exertion_at_a_pinch.
<b07.P1.137> =
<b07.P1.138> But_I_did_not_consider_these_points_at_the_time,_and_so_my_
<b07.P1.139> reasoning_was_dead_against_the_chances_of_the_invaders._With_
<b07.P1.140> wine_and_food,_the_confidence_of_my_own_table,_and_the_
<b07.P1.141> necessity_of_reassuring_my_wife,_I_grew_by_insensible_
<b07.P1.142> degrees_courageous_and_secure.
<b07.P1.143> =
<b07.P1.144> "They_have_done_a_foolish_thing,"_said_I,_fingering_my_
<b07.P1.145> wineglass._"They_are_dangerous_because,_no_doubt,_they_are_
<b07.P1.146> mad_with_terror._Perhaps_they_expected_to_find_no_living_
<b07.P1.147> things--certainly_no_intelligent_living_things.
<b07.P1.148> =
<b07.P1.149> "A_shell_in_the_pit"_said_I,_"if_the_worst_comes_to_the_
<b07.P1.150> worst_will_kill_them_all."
<b07.P1.151> =
<b07.P1.152> The_intense_excitement_of_the_events_had_no_doubt_left_my_
<b07.P1.153> perceptive_powers_in_a_state_of_erethism._I_remember_that_
<b07.P1.154> dinner_table_with_extraordinary_vividness_even_now._My_dear_
<b07.P1.155> wife's_sweet_anxious_face_peering_at_me_from_under_the_pink_
<b07.P1.156> lamp_shade,_the_white_cloth_with_its_silver_and_glass_table_
<b07.P1.157> furniture--for_in_those_days_even_philosophical_writers_had_
<b07.P1.158> many_little_luxuries--the_crimson-purple_wine_in_my_glass,_
<b07.P1.159> are_photographically_distinct._At_the_end_of_it_I_sat,_
<b07.P1.160> tempering_nuts_with_a_cigarette,_regretting_Ogilvy's_
<b07.P1.161> rashness,_and_denouncing_the_shortsighted_timidity_of_the_
<b07.P1.162> Martians.
<b07.P1.163> =
<b07.P1.164> So_some_respectable_dodo_in_the_Mauritius_might_have_lorded_
<b07.P1.165> it_in_his_nest,_and_discussed_the_arrival_of_that_shipful_of_
<b07.P1.166> pitiless_sailors_in_want_of_animal_food._"We_will_peck_them_
<b07.P1.167> to_death_tomorrow,_my_dear."
<b07.P1.168> =
<b07.P1.169> I_did_not_know_it,_but_that_was_the_last_civilised_dinner_I_
<b07.P1.170> was_to_eat_for_very_many_strange_and_terrible_days.
<b07.P1.171> =
#
## <b08>
# chapter 8 EIGHT
# unit C chapter_number
# unit H chapter_title
# unit P text
<b08.P1.001> The_most_extraordinary_thing_to_my_mind,_of_all_the_strange_
<b08.P1.002> and_wonderful_things_that_happened_upon_that_Friday,_was_the_
<b08.P1.003> dovetailing_of_the_commonplace_habits_of_our_social_order_
<b08.P1.004> with_the_first_beginnings_of_the_series_of_events_that_was_
<b08.P1.005> to_topple_that_social_order_headlong._If_on_Friday_night_you_
<b08.P1.006> had_taken_a_pair_of_compasses_and_drawn_a_circle_with_a_
<b08.P1.007> radius_of_five_miles_round_the_Woking_sand_pits,_I_doubt_if_
<b08.P1.008> you_would_have_had_one_human_being_outside_it,_unless_it_
<b08.P1.009> were_some_relation_of_Stent_or_of_the_three_or_four_cyclists_
<b08.P1.010> or_London_people_lying_dead_on_the_common,_whose_emotions_or_
<b08.P1.011> habits_were_at_all_affected_by_the_new-comers._Many_people_
<b08.P1.012> had_heard_of_the_cylinder,_of_course,_and_talked_about_it_in_
<b08.P1.013> their_leisure,_but_it_certainly_did_not_make_the_sensation_
<b08.P1.014> that_an_ultimatum_to_Germany_would_have_done.
<b08.P1.015> =
<b08.P1.016> In_London_that_night_poor_Henderson's_telegram_describing_
<b08.P1.017> the_gradual_unscrewing_of_the_shot_was_judged_to_be_a_
<b08.P1.018> canard,_and_his_evening_paper,_after_wiring_for_
<b08.P1.019> authentication_from_him_and_receiving_no_reply--the_man_was_
<b08.P1.020> killed--decided_not_to_print_a_special_edition.
<b08.P1.021> =
<b08.P1.022> Even_within_the_five-mile_circle_the_great_majority_of_
<b08.P1.023> people_were_inert._I_have_already_described_the_behaviour_of_
<b08.P1.024> the_men_and_women_to_whom_I_spoke._All_over_the_district_
<b08.P1.025> people_were_dining_and_supping;_working_men_were_gardening_
<b08.P1.026> after_the_labours_of_the_day,_children_were_being_put_to_
<b08.P1.027> bed,_young_people_were_wandering_through_the_lanes_
<b08.P1.028> love-making,_students_sat_over_their_books.
<b08.P1.029> =
<b08.P1.030> Maybe_there_was_a_murmur_in_the_village_streets,_a_novel_and_
<b08.P1.031> dominant_topic_in_the_public-houses,_and_here_and_there_a_
<b08.P1.032> messenger,_or_even_an_eye-witness_of_the_later_occurrences,_
<b08.P1.033> caused_a_whirl_of_excitement,_a_shouting,_and_a_running_to_
<b08.P1.034> and_fro;_but_for_the_most_part_the_daily_routine_of_working,_
<b08.P1.035> eating,_drinking,_sleeping,_went_on_as_it_had_done_for_
<b08.P1.036> countless_years--as_though_no_planet_Mars_existed_in_the_
<b08.P1.037> sky._Even_at_Woking_station_and_Horsell_and_Chobham_that_was_
<b08.P1.038> the_case.
<b08.P1.039> =
<b08.P1.040> In_Woking_junction,_until_a_late_hour,_trains_were_stopping_
<b08.P1.041> and_going_on,_others_were_shunting_on_the_sidings,_
<b08.P1.042> passengers_were_alighting_and_waiting,_and_everything_was_
<b08.P1.043> proceeding_in_the_most_ordinary_way._A_boy_from_the_town,_
<b08.P1.044> trenching_on_Smith's_monopoly,_was_selling_papers_with_the_
<b08.P1.045> afternoon's_news._The_ringing_impact_of_trucks,_the_sharp_
<b08.P1.046> whistle_of_the_engines_from_the_junction,_mingled_with_their_
<b08.P1.047> shouts_of_"Men_from_Mars!"_Excited_men_came_into_the_station_
<b08.P1.048> about_nine_o'clock_with_incredible_tidings,_and_caused_no_
<b08.P1.049> more_disturbance_than_drunkards_might_have_done._People_
<b08.P1.050> rattling_Londonwards_peered_into_the_darkness_outside_the_
<b08.P1.051> carriage_windows,_and_saw_only_a_rare,_flickering,_vanishing_
<b08.P1.052> spark_dance_up_from_the_direction_of_Horsell,_a_red_glow_and_
<b08.P1.053> a_thin_veil_of_smoke_driving_across_the_stars,_and_thought_
<b08.P1.054> that_nothing_more_serious_than_a_heath_fire_was_happening._
<b08.P1.055> It_was_only_round_the_edge_of_the_common_that_any_
<b08.P1.056> disturbance_was_perceptible._There_were_half_a_dozen_villas_
<b08.P1.057> burning_on_the_Woking_border._There_were_lights_in_all_the_
<b08.P1.058> houses_on_the_common_side_of_the_three_villages,_and_the_
<b08.P1.059> people_there_kept_awake_till_dawn.
<b08.P1.060> =
<b08.P1.061> A_curious_crowd_lingered_restlessly,_people_coming_and_going_
<b08.P1.062> but_the_crowd_remaining,_both_on_the_Chobham_and_Horsell_
<b08.P1.063> bridges._One_or_two_adventurous_souls,_it_was_afterwards_
<b08.P1.064> found,_went_into_the_darkness_and_crawled_quite_near_the_
<b08.P1.065> Martians;_but_they_never_returned,_for_now_and_again_a_
<b08.P1.066> light-ray,_like_the_beam_of_a_warship's_searchlight_swept_
<b08.P1.067> the_common,_and_the_Heat-Ray_was_ready_to_follow._Save_for_
<b08.P1.068> such,_that_big_area_of_common_was_silent_and_desolate,_and_
<b08.P1.069> the_charred_bodies_lay_about_on_it_all_night_under_the_
<b08.P1.070> stars,_and_all_the_next_day._A_noise_of_hammering_from_the_
<b08.P1.071> pit_was_heard_by_many_people.
<b08.P1.072> =
<b08.P1.073> So_you_have_the_state_of_things_on_Friday_night._In_the_
<b08.P1.074> centre,_sticking_into_the_skin_of_our_old_planet_Earth_like_
<b08.P1.075> a_poisoned_dart,_was_this_cylinder._But_the_poison_was_
<b08.P1.076> scarcely_working_yet._Around_it_was_a_patch_of_silent_
<b08.P1.077> common,_smouldering_in_places,_and_with_a_few_dark,_dimly_
<b08.P1.078> seen_objects_lying_in_contorted_attitudes_here_and_there._
<b08.P1.079> Here_and_there_was_a_burning_bush_or_tree._Beyond_was_a_
<b08.P1.080> fringe_of_excitement,_and_farther_than_that_fringe_the_
<b08.P1.081> inflammation_had_not_crept_as_yet._In_the_rest_of_the_world_
<b08.P1.082> the_stream_of_life_still_flowed_as_it_had_flowed_for_
<b08.P1.083> immemorial_years._The_fever_of_war_that_would_presently_clog_
<b08.P1.084> vein_and_artery,_deaden_nerve_and_destroy_brain,_had_still_
<b08.P1.085> to_develop.
<b08.P1.086> =
<b08.P1.087> All_night_long_the_Martians_were_hammering_and_stirring,_
<b08.P1.088> sleepless,_indefatigable,_at_work_upon_the_machines_they_
<b08.P1.089> were_making_ready,_and_ever_and_again_a_puff_of_
<b08.P1.090> greenish-white_smoke_whirled_up_to_the_starlit_sky.
<b08.P1.091> =
<b08.P1.092> About_eleven_a_company_of_soldiers_came_through_Horsell,_and_
<b08.P1.093> deployed_along_the_edge_of_the_common_to_form_a_cordon._
<b08.P1.094> Later_a_second_company_marched_through_Chobham_to_deploy_on_
<b08.P1.095> the_north_side_of_the_common._Several_officers_from_the_
<b08.P1.096> Inkerman_barracks_had_been_on_the_common_earlier_in_the_day,_
<b08.P1.097> and_one,_Major_Eden,_was_reported_to_be_missing._The_colonel_
<b08.P1.098> of_the_regiment_came_to_the_Chobham_bridge_and_was_busy_
<b08.P1.099> questioning_the_crowd_at_midnight._The_military_authorities_
<b08.P1.100> were_certainly_alive_to_the_seriousness_of_the_business._
<b08.P1.101> About_eleven,_the_next_morning's_papers_were_able_to_say,_a_
<b08.P1.102> squadron_of_hussars,_two_Maxims,_and_about_four_hundred_men_
<b08.P1.103> of_the_Cardigan_regiment_started_from_Aldershot.
<b08.P1.104> =
<b08.P1.105> A_few_seconds_after_midnight_the_crowd_in_the_Chertsey_road,_
<b08.P1.106> Woking,_saw_a_star_fall_from_heaven_into_the_pine_woods_to_
<b08.P1.107> the_northwest._It_had_a_greenish_colour,_and_caused_a_silent_
<b08.P1.108> brightness_like_summer_lightning._This_was_the_second_
<b08.P1.109> cylinder.
<b08.P1.110> =
#
## <b09>
# chapter 9 NINE
# unit C chapter_number
# unit H chapter_title
# unit P text
<b09.P1.001> Saturday_lives_in_my_memory_as_a_day_of_suspense._It_was_a_
<b09.P1.002> day_of_lassitude_too,_hot_and_close,_with,_I_am_told,_a_
<b09.P1.003> rapidly_fluctuating_barometer._I_had_slept_but_little,_
<b09.P1.004> though_my_wife_had_succeeded_in_sleeping,_and_I_rose_early._
<b09.P1.005> I_went_into_my_garden_before_breakfast_and_stood_listening,_
<b09.P1.006> but_towards_the_common_there_was_nothing_stirring_but_a_
<b09.P1.007> lark.
<b09.P1.008> =
<b09.P1.009> The_milkman_came_as_usual._I_heard_the_rattle_of_his_chariot_
<b09.P1.010> and_I_went_round_to_the_side_gate_to_ask_the_latest_news._He_
<b09.P1.011> told_me_that_during_the_night_the_Martians_had_been_
<b09.P1.012> surrounded_by_troops,_and_that_guns_were_expected._Then--a_
<b09.P1.013> familiar,_reassuring_note--I_heard_a_train_running_towards_
<b09.P1.014> Woking.
<b09.P1.015> =
<b09.P1.016> "They_aren't_to_be_killed,"_said_the_milkman,_"if_that_can_
<b09.P1.017> possibly_be_avoided."
<b09.P1.018> =
<b09.P1.019> I_saw_my_neighbour_gardening,_chatted_with_him_for_a_time,_
<b09.P1.020> and_then_strolled_in_to_breakfast._It_was_a_most_
<b09.P1.021> unexceptional_morning._My_neighbour_was_of_opinion_that_the_
<b09.P1.022> troops_would_be_able_to_capture_or_to_destroy_the_Martians_
<b09.P1.023> during_the_day.
<b09.P1.024> =
<b09.P1.025> "It's_a_pity_they_make_themselves_so_unapproachable,"_he_
<b09.P1.026> said._"It_would_be_curious_to_know_how_they_live_on_another_
<b09.P1.027> planet;_we_might_learn_a_thing_or_two."
<b09.P1.028> =
<b09.P1.029> He_came_up_to_the_fence_and_extended_a_handful_of_
<b09.P1.030> strawberries,_for_his_gardening_was_as_generous_as_it_was_
<b09.P1.031> enthusiastic._At_the_same_time_he_told_me_of_the_burning_of_
<b09.P1.032> the_pine_woods_about_the_Byfleet_Golf_Links.
<b09.P1.033> =
<b09.P1.034> "They_say,"_said_he,_"that_there's_another_of_those_blessed_
<b09.P1.035> things_fallen_there--number_two._But_one's_enough,_surely._
<b09.P1.036> This_lot'll_cost_the_insurance_people_a_pretty_penny_before_
<b09.P1.037> everything's_settled."_He_laughed_with_an_air_of_the_
<b09.P1.038> greatest_good_humour_as_he_said_this._The_woods,_he_said,_
<b09.P1.039> were_still_burning,_and_pointed_out_a_haze_of_smoke_to_me._
<b09.P1.040> "They_will_be_hot_under_foot_for_days,_on_account_of_the_
<b09.P1.041> thick_soil_of_pine_needles_and_turf,"_he_said,_and_then_grew_
<b09.P1.042> serious_over_"poor_Ogilvy."
<b09.P1.043> =
<b09.P1.044> After_breakfast,_instead_of_working,_I_decided_to_walk_down_
<b09.P1.045> towards_the_common._Under_the_railway_bridge_I_found_a_group_
<b09.P1.046> of_soldiers--sappers,_I_think,_men_in_small_round_caps,_
<b09.P1.047> dirty_red_jackets_unbuttoned,_and_showing_their_blue_shirts,_
<b09.P1.048> dark_trousers,_and_boots_coming_to_the_calf._They_told_me_no_
<b09.P1.049> one_was_allowed_over_the_canal,_and,_looking_along_the_road_
<b09.P1.050> towards_the_bridge,_I_saw_one_of_the_Cardigan_men_standing_
<b09.P1.051> sentinel_there._I_talked_with_these_soldiers_for_a_time;_I_
<b09.P1.052> told_them_of_my_sight_of_the_Martians_on_the_previous_
<b09.P1.053> evening._None_of_them_had_seen_the_Martians,_and_they_had_
<b09.P1.054> but_the_vaguest_ideas_of_them,_so_that_they_plied_me_with_
<b09.P1.055> questions._They_said_that_they_did_not_know_who_had_
<b09.P1.056> authorised_the_movements_of_the_troops;_their_idea_was_that_
<b09.P1.057> a_dispute_had_arisen_at_the_Horse_Guards._The_ordinary_
<b09.P1.058> sapper_is_a_great_deal_better_educated_than_the_common_
<b09.P1.059> soldier,_and_they_discussed_the_peculiar_conditions_of_the_
<b09.P1.060> possible_fight_with_some_acuteness._I_described_the_Heat-Ray_
<b09.P1.061> to_them,_and_they_began_to_argue_among_themselves.
<b09.P1.062> =
<b09.P1.063> "Crawl_up_under_cover_and_rush_'em,_say_I,"_said_one.
<b09.P1.064> =
<b09.P1.065> "Get_aht!,"_said_another._"What's_cover_against_this_'ere_
<b09.P1.066> 'eat?_Sticks_to_cook_yer!_What_we_got_to_do_is_to_go_as_near_
<b09.P1.067> as_the_ground'll_let_us,_and_then_drive_a_trench."
<b09.P1.068> =
<b09.P1.069> "Blow_yer_trenches!_You_always_want_trenches;_you_ought_to_
<b09.P1.070> ha"_been_born_a_rabbit_Snippy."
<b09.P1.071> =
<b09.P1.072> "'Ain't_they_got_any_necks,_then?"_said_a_third,_abruptly--a_
<b09.P1.073> little,_contemplative,_dark_man,_smoking_a_pipe.
<b09.P1.074> =
<b09.P1.075> I_repeated_my_description.
<b09.P1.076> =
<b09.P1.077> "Octopuses,"_said_he,_"that's_what_I_calls_'em._Talk_about_
<b09.P1.078> fishers_of_men--fighters_of_fish_it_is_this_time!"
<b09.P1.079> =
<b09.P1.080> "It_ain't_no_murder_killing_beasts_like_that,"_said_the_
<b09.P1.081> first_speaker.
<b09.P1.082> =
<b09.P1.083> "Why_not_shell_the_darned_things_strite_off_and_finish_'em?"_
<b09.P1.084> said_the_little_dark_man._"You_carn_tell_what_they_might_
<b09.P1.085> do."
<b09.P1.086> =
<b09.P1.087> "Where's_your_shells?"_said_the_first_speaker._"There_ain't_
<b09.P1.088> no_time._Do_it_in_a_rush,_that's_my_tip,_and_do_it_at_once."
<b09.P1.089> =
<b09.P1.090> So_they_discussed_it._After_a_while_I_left_them,_and_went_on_
<b09.P1.091> to_the_railway_station_to_get_as_many_morning_papers_as_I_
<b09.P1.092> could.
<b09.P1.093> =
<b09.P1.094> But_I_will_not_weary_the_reader_with_a_description_of_that_
<b09.P1.095> long_morning_and_of_the_longer_afternoon._I_did_not_succeed_
<b09.P1.096> in_getting_a_glimpse_of_the_common,_for_even_Horsell_and_
<b09.P1.097> Chobham_church_towers_were_in_the_hands_of_the_military_
<b09.P1.098> authorities._The_soldiers_I_addressed_didn't_know_anything;_
<b09.P1.099> the_officers_were_mysterious_as_well_as_busy._I_found_people_
<b09.P1.100> in_the_town_quite_secure_again_in_the_presence_of_the_
<b09.P1.101> military,_and_I_heard_for_the_first_time_from_Marshall,_the_
<b09.P1.102> tobacconist,_that_his_son_was_among_the_dead_on_the_common._
<b09.P1.103> The_soldiers_had_made_the_people_on_the_outskirts_of_Horsell_
<b09.P1.104> lock_up_and_leave_their_houses.
<b09.P1.105> =
<b09.P1.106> I_got_back_to_lunch_about_two,_very_tired_for,_as_I_have_
<b09.P1.107> said,_the_day_was_extremely_hot_and_dull;_and_in_order_to_
<b09.P1.108> refresh_myself_I_took_a_cold_bath_in_the_afternoon._About_
<b09.P1.109> half_past_four_I_went_up_to_the_railway_station_to_get_an_
<b09.P1.110> evening_paper,_for_the_morning_papers_had_contained_only_a_
<b09.P1.111> very_inaccurate_description_of_the_killing_of_Stent,_
<b09.P1.112> Henderson,_Ogilvy,_and_the_others._But_there_was_little_I_
<b09.P1.113> didn't_know._The_Martians_did_not_show_an_inch_of_
<b09.P1.114> themselves._They_seemed_busy_in_their_pit,_and_there_was_a_
<b09.P1.115> sound_of_hammering_and_an_almost_continuous_streamer_of_
<b09.P1.116> smoke._Apparently_they_were_busy_getting_ready_for_a_
<b09.P1.117> struggle._"Fresh_attempts_have_been_made_to_signal,_but_
<b09.P1.118> without_success,"_was_the_stereotyped_formula_of_the_papers._
<b09.P1.119> A_sapper_told_me_it_was_done_by_a_man_in_a_ditch_with_a_flag_
<b09.P1.120> on_a_long_pole._The_Martians_took_as_much_notice_of_such_
<b09.P1.121> advances_as_we_should_of_the_lowing_of_a_cow.
<b09.P1.122> =
<b09.P1.123> I_must_confess_the_sight_of_all_this_armament,_all_this_
<b09.P1.124> preparation,_greatly_excited_me._My_imagination_became_
<b09.P1.125> belligerent,_and_defeated_the_invaders_in_a_dozen_striking_
<b09.P1.126> ways;_something_of_my_schoolboy_dreams_of_battle_and_heroism_
<b09.P1.127> came_back._It_hardly_seemed_a_fair_fight_to_me_at_that_time._
<b09.P1.128> They_seemed_very_helpless_in_that_pit_of_theirs.
<b09.P1.129> =
<b09.P1.130> About_three_o'clock_there_began_the_thud_of_a_gun_at_
<b09.P1.131> measured_intervals_from_Chertsey_or_Addlestone._I_learned_
<b09.P1.132> that_the_smouldering_pine_wood_into_which_the_second_
<b09.P1.133> cylinder_had_fallen_was_being_shelled,_in_the_hope_of_
<b09.P1.134> destroying_that_object_before_it_opened._It_was_only_about_
<b09.P1.135> five,_however,_that_a_field_gun_reached_Chobham_for_use_
<b09.P1.136> against_the_first_body_of_Martians.
<b09.P1.137> =
<b09.P1.138> About_six_in_the_evening,_as_I_sat_at_tea_with_my_wife_in_
<b09.P1.139> the_summerhouse_talking_vigorously_about_the_battle_that_was_
<b09.P1.140> lowering_upon_us,_I_heard_a_muffled_detonation_from_the_
<b09.P1.141> common,_and_immediately_after_a_gust_of_firing._Close_on_the_
<b09.P1.142> heels_of_that_came_a_violent_rattling_crash,_quite_close_to_
<b09.P1.143> us,_that_shook_the_ground;_and,_starting_out_upon_the_lawn,_
<b09.P1.144> I_saw_the_tops_of_the_trees_about_the_Oriental_College_burst_
<b09.P1.145> into_smoky_red_flame,_and_the_tower_of_the_little_church_
<b09.P1.146> beside_it_slide_down_into_ruin._The_pinnacle_of_the_mosque_
<b09.P1.147> had_vanished,_and_the_roof_line_of_the_college_itself_looked_
<b09.P1.148> as_if_a_hundred-ton_gun_had_been_at_work_upon_it._One_of_our_
<b09.P1.149> chimneys_cracked_as_if_a_shot_had_hit_it,_flew,_and_a_piece_
<b09.P1.150> of_it_came_clattering_down_the_tiles_and_made_a_heap_of_
<b09.P1.151> broken_red_fragments_upon_the_flower_bed_by_my_study_window.
<b09.P1.152> =
<b09.P1.153> I_and_my_wife_stood_amazed._Then_I_realised_that_the_crest_
<b09.P1.154> of_Maybury_Hill_must_be_within_range_of_the_Martians"_
<b09.P1.155> Heat-Ray_now_that_the_college_was_cleared_out_of_the_way.
<b09.P1.156> =
<b09.P1.157> At_that_I_gripped_my_wife's_arm,_and_without_ceremony_ran_
<b09.P1.158> her_out_into_the_road._Then_I_fetched_out_the_servant,_
<b09.P1.159> telling_her_I_would_go_upstairs_myself_for_the_box_she_was_
<b09.P1.160> clamouring_for.
<b09.P1.161> =
<b09.P1.162> "We_can't_possibly_stay_here,"_I_said;_and_as_I_spoke_the_
<b09.P1.163> firing_reopened_for_a_moment_upon_the_common.
<b09.P1.164> =
<b09.P1.165> "But_where_are_we_to_go?"_said_my_wife_in_terror.
<b09.P1.166> =
<b09.P1.167> I_thought_perplexed._Then_I_remembered_her_cousins_at_
<b09.P1.168> Leatherhead.
<b09.P1.169> =
<b09.P1.170> "Leatherhead!"_I_shouted_above_the_sudden_noise.
<b09.P1.171> =
<b09.P1.172> She_looked_away_from_me_downhill._The_people_were_coming_out_
<b09.P1.173> of_their_houses,_astonished.
<b09.P1.174> =
<b09.P1.175> "How_are_we_to_get_to_Leatherhead?"_she_said.
<b09.P1.176> =
<b09.P1.177> Down_the_hill_I_saw_a_bevy_of_hussars_ride_under_the_railway_
<b09.P1.178> bridge;_three_galloped_through_the_open_gates_of_the_
<b09.P1.179> Oriental_College;_two_others_dismounted,_and_began_running_
<b09.P1.180> from_house_to_house._The_sun,_shining_through_the_smoke_that_
<b09.P1.181> drove_up_from_the_tops_of_the_trees,_seemed_blood_red,_and_
<b09.P1.182> threw_an_unfamiliar_lurid_light_upon_everything.
<b09.P1.183> =
<b09.P1.184> "Stop_here,"_said_I;_"you_are_safe_here";_and_I_started_off_
<b09.P1.185> at_once_for_the_Spotted_Dog,_for_I_knew_the_landlord_had_a_
<b09.P1.186> horse_and_dog_cart._I_ran,_for_I_perceived_that_in_a_moment_
<b09.P1.187> everyone_upon_this_side_of_the_hill_would_be_moving._I_found_
<b09.P1.188> him_in_his_bar,_quite_unaware_of_what_was_going_on_behind_
<b09.P1.189> his_house._A_man_stood_with_his_back_to_me,_talking_to_him.
<b09.P1.190> =
<b09.P1.191> "I_must_have_a_pound,"_said_the_landlord,_"and_I've_no_one_
<b09.P1.192> to_drive_it."
<b09.P1.193> =
<b09.P1.194> "I'll_give_you_two,"_said_I,_over_the_stranger's_shoulder.
<b09.P1.195> =
<b09.P1.196> "What_for?"
<b09.P1.197> =
<b09.P1.198> "And_I'll_bring_it_back_by_midnight,"_I_said.
<b09.P1.199> =
<b09.P1.200> "Lord!"_said_the_landlord;_"what's_the_hurry?_I'm_selling_my_
<b09.P1.201> bit_of_a_pig._Two_pounds,_and_you_bring_it_back?_What's_
<b09.P1.202> going_on_now?"
<b09.P1.203> =
<b09.P1.204> I_explained_hastily_that_I_had_to_leave_my_home,_and_so_
<b09.P1.205> secured_the_dog_cart._At_the_time_it_did_not_seem_to_me_
<b09.P1.206> nearly_so_urgent_that_the_landlord_should_leave_his._I_took_
<b09.P1.207> care_to_have_the_cart_there_and_then,_drove_it_off_down_the_
<b09.P1.208> road,_and,_leaving_it_in_charge_of_my_wife_and_servant,_
<b09.P1.209> rushed_into_my_house_and_packed_a_few_valuables,_such_plate_
<b09.P1.210> as_we_had,_and_so_forth._The_beech_trees_below_the_house_
<b09.P1.211> were_burning_while_I_did_this,_and_the_palings_up_the_road_
<b09.P1.212> glowed_red._While_I_was_occupied_in_this_way,_one_of_the_
<b09.P1.213> dismounted_hussars_came_running_up._He_was_going_from_house_
<b09.P1.214> to_house,_warning_people_to_leave._He_was_going_on_as_I_came_
<b09.P1.215> out_of_my_front_door,_lugging_my_treasures,_done_up_in_a_
<b09.P1.216> tablecloth._I_shouted_after_him:
<b09.P1.217> =
<b09.P1.218> "What_news?"
<b09.P1.219> =
<b09.P1.220> He_turned,_stared,_bawled_something_about_"crawling_out_in_a_
<b09.P1.221> thing_like_a_dish_cover,"_and_ran_on_to_the_gate_of_the_
<b09.P1.222> house_at_the_crest._A_sudden_whirl_of_black_smoke_driving_
<b09.P1.223> across_the_road_hid_him_for_a_moment._I_ran_to_my_
<b09.P1.224> neighbour's_door_and_rapped_to_satisfy_myself_of_what_I_
<b09.P1.225> already_knew,_that_his_wife_had_gone_to_London_with_him_and_
<b09.P1.226> had_locked_up_their_house._I_went_in_again,_according_to_my_
<b09.P1.227> promise,_to_get_my_servant's_box,_lugged_it_out,_clapped_it_
<b09.P1.228> beside_her_on_the_tail_of_the_dog_cart,_and_then_caught_the_
<b09.P1.229> reins_and_jumped_up_into_the_driver's_seat_beside_my_wife._
<b09.P1.230> In_another_moment_we_were_clear_of_the_smoke_and_noise,_and_
<b09.P1.231> spanking_down_the_opposite_slope_of_Maybury_Hill_towards_Old_
<b09.P1.232> Woking.
<b09.P1.233> =
<b09.P1.234> In_front_was_a_quiet_sunny_landscape,_a_wheat_field_ahead_on_
<b09.P1.235> either_side_of_the_road,_and_the_Maybury_Inn_with_its_
<b09.P1.236> swinging_sign._I_saw_the_doctor's_cart_ahead_of_me._At_the_
<b09.P1.237> bottom_of_the_hill_I_turned_my_head_to_look_at_the_hillside_
<b09.P1.238> I_was_leaving._Thick_streamers_of_black_smoke_shot_with_
<b09.P1.239> threads_of_red_fire_were_driving_up_into_the_still_air,_and_
<b09.P1.240> throwing_dark_shadows_upon_the_green_treetops_eastward._The_
<b09.P1.241> smoke_already_extended_far_away_to_the_east_and_west--to_the_
<b09.P1.242> Byfleet_pine_woods_eastward,_and_to_Woking_on_the_west._The_
<b09.P1.243> road_was_dotted_with_people_running_towards_us._And_very_
<b09.P1.244> faint_now,_but_very_distinct_through_the_hot,_quiet_air,_one_
<b09.P1.245> heard_the_whirr_of_a_machine-gun_that_was_presently_stilled,_
<b09.P1.246> and_an_intermittent_cracking_of_rifles._Apparently_the_
<b09.P1.247> Martians_were_setting_fire_to_everything_within_range_of_
<b09.P1.248> their_Heat-Ray.
<b09.P1.249> =
<b09.P1.250> I_am_not_an_expert_driver,_and_I_had_immediately_to_turn_my_
<b09.P1.251> attention_to_the_horse._When_I_looked_back_again_the_second_
<b09.P1.252> hill_had_hidden_the_black_smoke._I_slashed_the_horse_with_
<b09.P1.253> the_whip,_and_gave_him_a_loose_rein_until_Woking_and_Send_
<b09.P1.254> lay_between_us_and_that_quivering_tumult._I_overtook_and_
<b09.P1.255> passed_the_doctor_between_Woking_and_Send.
<b09.P1.256> =
#
## <b10>
# chapter 10 TEN
# unit C chapter_number
# unit H chapter_title
# unit P text
<b10.P1.001> Leatherhead_is_about_twelve_miles_from_Maybury_Hill._The_
<b10.P1.002> scent_of_hay_was_in_the_air_through_the_lush_meadows_beyond_
<b10.P1.003> Pyrford,_and_the_hedges_on_either_side_were_sweet_and_gay_
<b10.P1.004> with_multitudes_of_dog-roses._The_heavy_firing_that_had_
<b10.P1.005> broken_out_while_we_were_driving_down_Maybury_Hill_ceased_as_
<b10.P1.006> abruptly_as_it_began,_leaving_the_evening_very_peaceful_and_
<b10.P1.007> still._We_got_to_Leatherhead_without_misadventure_about_nine_
<b10.P1.008> o'clock,_and_the_horse_had_an_hour's_rest_while_I_took_
<b10.P1.009> supper_with_my_cousins_and_commended_my_wife_to_their_care.
<b10.P1.010> =
<b10.P1.011> My_wife_was_curiously_silent_throughout_the_drive,_and_
<b10.P1.012> seemed_oppressed_with_forebodings_of_evil._I_talked_to_her_
<b10.P1.013> reassuringly,_pointing_out_that_the_Martians_were_tied_to_
<b10.P1.014> the_Pit_by_sheer_heaviness,_and_at_the_utmost_could_but_
<b10.P1.015> crawl_a_little_out_of_it;_but_she_answered_only_in_
<b10.P1.016> monosyllables._Had_it_not_been_for_my_promise_to_the_
<b10.P1.017> innkeeper,_she_would,_I_think,_have_urged_me_to_stay_in_
<b10.P1.018> Leatherhead_that_night._Would_that_I_had!_Her_face,_I_
<b10.P1.019> remember,_was_very_white_as_we_parted.
<b10.P1.020> =
<b10.P1.021> For_my_own_part,_I_had_been_feverishly_excited_all_day._
<b10.P1.022> Something_very_like_the_war_fever_that_occasionally_runs_
<b10.P1.023> through_a_civilised_community_had_got_into_my_blood,_and_in_
<b10.P1.024> my_heart_I_was_not_so_very_sorry_that_I_had_to_return_to_
<b10.P1.025> Maybury_that_night._I_was_even_afraid_that_that_last_
<b10.P1.026> fusillade_I_had_heard_might_mean_the_extermination_of_our_
<b10.P1.027> invaders_from_Mars._I_can_best_express_my_state_of_mind_by_
<b10.P1.028> saying_that_I_wanted_to_be_in_at_the_death.
<b10.P1.029> =
<b10.P1.030> It_was_nearly_eleven_when_I_started_to_return._The_night_was_
<b10.P1.031> unexpectedly_dark;_to_me,_walking_out_of_the_lighted_passage_
<b10.P1.032> of_my_cousins'_house,_it_seemed_indeed_black,_and_it_was_as_
<b10.P1.033> hot_and_close_as_the_day._Overhead_the_clouds_were_driving_
<b10.P1.034> fast,_albeit_not_a_breath_stirred_the_shrubs_about_us._My_
<b10.P1.035> cousins'_man_lit_both_lamps._Happily,_I_knew_the_road_
<b10.P1.036> intimately._My_wife_stood_in_the_light_of_the_doorway,_and_
<b10.P1.037> watched_me_until_I_jumped_up_into_the_dog_cart._Then_
<b10.P1.038> abruptly_she_turned_and_went_in,_leaving_my_cousins_side_by_
<b10.P1.039> side_wishing_me_good_hap.
<b10.P1.040> =
<b10.P1.041> I_was_a_little_depressed_at_first_with_the_contagion_of_my_
<b10.P1.042> wife's_fears,_but_very_soon_my_thoughts_reverted_to_the_
<b10.P1.043> Martians._At_that_time_I_was_absolutely_in_the_dark_as_to_
<b10.P1.044> the_course_of_the_evening's_fighting._I_did_not_know_even_
<b10.P1.045> the_circumstances_that_had_precipitated_the_conflict._As_I_
<b10.P1.046> came_through_Ockham_(for_that_was_the_way_I_returned,_and_
<b10.P1.047> not_through_Send_and_Old_Woking)_I_saw_along_the_western_
<b10.P1.048> horizon_a_blood-red_glow,_which_as_I_drew_nearer,_crept_
<b10.P1.049> slowly_up_the_sky._The_driving_clouds_of_the_gathering_
<b10.P1.050> thunderstorm_mingled_there_with_masses_of_black_and_red_
<b10.P1.051> smoke.
<b10.P1.052> =
<b10.P1.053> Ripley_Street_was_deserted,_and_except_for_a_lighted_window_
<b10.P1.054> or_so_the_village_showed_not_a_sign_of_life;_but_I_narrowly_
<b10.P1.055> escaped_an_accident_at_the_corner_of_the_road_to_Pyrford,_
<b10.P1.056> where_a_knot_of_people_stood_with_their_backs_to_me._They_
<b10.P1.057> said_nothing_to_me_as_I_passed._I_do_not_know_what_they_knew_
<b10.P1.058> of_the_things_happening_beyond_the_hill,_nor_do_I_know_if_
<b10.P1.059> the_silent_houses_I_passed_on_my_way_were_sleeping_securely,_
<b10.P1.060> or_deserted_and_empty,_or_harassed_and_watching_against_the_
<b10.P1.061> terror_of_the_night.
<b10.P1.062> =
<b10.P1.063> From_Ripley_until_I_came_through_Pyrford_I_was_in_the_valley_
<b10.P1.064> of_the_Wey,_and_the_red_glare_was_hidden_from_me._As_I_
<b10.P1.065> ascended_the_little_hill_beyond_Pyrford_Church_the_glare_
<b10.P1.066> came_into_view_again,_and_the_trees_about_me_shivered_with_
<b10.P1.067> the_first_intimation_of_the_storm_that_was_upon_me._Then_I_
<b10.P1.068> heard_midnight_pealing_out_from_Pyrford_Church_behind_me,_
<b10.P1.069> and_then_came_the_silhouette_of_Maybury_Hill,_with_its_
<b10.P1.070> treetops_and_roofs_black_and_sharp_against_the_red.
<b10.P1.071> =
<b10.P1.072> Even_as_I_beheld_this_a_lurid_green_glare_lit_the_road_about_
<b10.P1.073> me_and_showed_the_distant_woods_towards_Addlestone._I_felt_a_
<b10.P1.074> tug_at_the_reins._I_saw_that_the_driving_clouds_had_been_
<b10.P1.075> pierced_as_it_were_by_a_thread_of_green_fire,_suddenly_
<b10.P1.076> lighting_their_confusion_and_falling_into_the_field_to_my_
<b10.P1.077> left._It_was_the_third_falling_star!
<b10.P1.078> =
<b10.P1.079> Close_on_its_apparition,_and_blindingly_violet_by_contrast,_
<b10.P1.080> danced_out_the_first_lightning_of_the_gathering_storm,_and_
<b10.P1.081> the_thunder_burst_like_a_rocket_overhead._The_horse_took_the_
<b10.P1.082> bit_between_his_teeth_and_bolted.
<b10.P1.083> =
<b10.P1.084> A_moderate_incline_runs_towards_the_foot_of_Maybury_Hill,_
<b10.P1.085> and_down_this_we_clattered._Once_the_lightning_had_begun,_it_
<b10.P1.086> went_on_in_as_rapid_a_succession_of_flashes_as_I_have_ever_
<b10.P1.087> seen._The_thunderclaps,_treading_one_on_the_heels_of_another_
<b10.P1.088> and_with_a_strange_crackling_accompaniment,_sounded_more_
<b10.P1.089> like_the_working_of_a_gigantic_electric_machine_than_the_
<b10.P1.090> usual_detonating_reverberations._The_flickering_light_was_
<b10.P1.091> blinding_and_confusing,_and_a_thin_hail_smote_gustily_at_my_
<b10.P1.092> face_as_I_drove_down_the_slope.
<b10.P1.093> =
<b10.P1.094> At_first_I_regarded_little_but_the_road_before_me,_and_then_
<b10.P1.095> abruptly_my_attention_was_arrested_by_something_that_was_
<b10.P1.096> moving_rapidly_down_the_opposite_slope_of_Maybury_Hill._At_
<b10.P1.097> first_I_took_it_for_the_wet_roof_of_a_house,_but_one_flash_
<b10.P1.098> following_another_showed_it_to_be_in_swift_rolling_movement._
<b10.P1.099> It_was_an_elusive_vision--a_moment_of_bewildering_darkness,_
<b10.P1.100> and_then,_in_a_flash_like_daylight,_the_red_masses_of_the_
<b10.P1.101> Orphanage_near_the_crest_of_the_hill,_the_green_tops_of_the_
<b10.P1.102> pine_trees,_and_this_problematical_object_came_out_clear_and_
<b10.P1.103> sharp_and_bright.
<b10.P1.104> =
<b10.P1.105> And_this_Thing_I_saw!_How_can_I_describe_it?_A_monstrous_
<b10.P1.106> tripod,_higher_than_many_houses,_striding_over_the_young_
<b10.P1.107> pine_trees,_and_smashing_them_aside_in_its_career;_a_walking_
<b10.P1.108> engine_of_glittering_metal,_striding_now_across_the_heather;_
<b10.P1.109> articulate_ropes_of_steel_dangling_from_it,_and_the_
<b10.P1.110> clattering_tumult_of_its_passage_mingling_with_the_riot_of_
<b10.P1.111> the_thunder._A_flash,_and_it_came_out_vividly,_heeling_over_
<b10.P1.112> one_way_with_two_feet_in_the_air,_to_vanish_and_reappear_
<b10.P1.113> almost_instantly_as_it_seemed,_with_the_next_flash,_a_
<b10.P1.114> hundred_yards_nearer._Can_you_imagine_a_milking_stool_tilted_
<b10.P1.115> and_bowled_violently_along_the_ground?_That_was_the_
<b10.P1.116> impression_those_instant_flashes_gave._But_instead_of_a_
<b10.P1.117> milking_stool_imagine_it_a_great_body_of_machinery_on_a_
<b10.P1.118> tripod_stand.
<b10.P1.119> =
<b10.P1.120> Then_suddenly_the_trees_in_the_pine_wood_ahead_of_me_were_
<b10.P1.121> parted,_as_brittle_reeds_are_parted_by_a_man_thrusting_
<b10.P1.122> through_them;_they_were_snapped_off_and_driven_headlong,_and_
<b10.P1.123> a_second_huge_tripod_appeared,_rushing,_as_it_seemed,_
<b10.P1.124> headlong_towards_me._And_I_was_galloping_hard_to_meet_it!_At_
<b10.P1.125> the_sight_of_the_second_monster_my_nerve_went_altogether._
<b10.P1.126> Not_stopping_to_look_again,_I_wrenched_the_horse's_head_hard_
<b10.P1.127> round_to_the_right_and_in_another_moment_the_dog_cart_had_
<b10.P1.128> heeled_over_upon_the_horse;_the_shafts_smashed_noisily,_and_
<b10.P1.129> I_was_flung_sideways_and_fell_heavily_into_a_shallow_pool_of_
<b10.P1.130> water.
<b10.P1.131> =
<b10.P1.132> I_crawled_out_almost_immediately,_and_crouched,_my_feet_
<b10.P1.133> still_in_the_water,_under_a_clump_of_furze._The_horse_lay_
<b10.P1.134> motionless_(his_neck_was_broken,_poor_brute!)_and_by_the_
<b10.P1.135> lightning_flashes_I_saw_the_black_bulk_of_the_overturned_dog_
<b10.P1.136> cart_and_the_silhouette_of_the_wheel_still_spinning_slowly._
<b10.P1.137> In_another_moment_the_colossal_mechanism_went_striding_by_
<b10.P1.138> me,_and_passed_uphill_towards_Pyrford.
<b10.P1.139> =
<b10.P1.140> Seen_nearer,_the_Thing_was_incredibly_strange,_for_it_was_no_
<b10.P1.141> mere_insensate_machine_driving_on_its_way._Machine_it_was,_
<b10.P1.142> with_a_ringing_metallic_pace,_and_long,_flexible,_glittering_
<b10.P1.143> tentacles_(one_of_which_gripped_a_young_pine_tree)_swinging_
<b10.P1.144> and_rattling_about_its_strange_body._It_picked_its_road_as_
<b10.P1.145> it_went_striding_along,_and_the_brazen_hood_that_surmounted_
<b10.P1.146> it_moved_to_and_fro_with_the_inevitable_suggestion_of_a_head_
<b10.P1.147> looking_about._Behind_the_main_body_was_a_huge_mass_of_white_
<b10.P1.148> metal_like_a_gigantic_fisherman's_basket,_and_puffs_of_green_
<b10.P1.149> smoke_squirted_out_from_the_joints_of_the_limbs_as_the_
<b10.P1.150> monster_swept_by_me._And_in_an_instant_it_was_gone.
<b10.P1.151> =
<b10.P1.152> So_much_I_saw_then,_all_vaguely_for_the_flickering_of_the_
<b10.P1.153> lightning,_in_blinding_highlights_and_dense_black_shadows.
<b10.P1.154> =
<b10.P1.155> As_it_passed_it_set_up_an_exultant_deafening_howl_that_
<b10.P1.156> drowned_the_thunder--"Aloo!_Aloo!"--and_in_another_minute_it_
<b10.P1.157> was_with_its_companion,_half_a_mile_away,_stooping_over_
<b10.P1.158> something_in_the_field._I_have_no_doubt_this_Thing_in_the_
<b10.P1.159> field_was_the_third_of_the_ten_cylinders_they_had_fired_at_
<b10.P1.160> us_from_Mars.
<b10.P1.161> =
<b10.P1.162> For_some_minutes_I_lay_there_in_the_rain_and_darkness_
<b10.P1.163> watching,_by_the_intermittent_light,_these_monstrous_beings_
<b10.P1.164> of_metal_moving_about_in_the_distance_over_the_hedge_tops._A_
<b10.P1.165> thin_hail_was_now_beginning,_and_as_it_came_and_went_their_
<b10.P1.166> figures_grew_misty_and_then_flashed_into_clearness_again._
<b10.P1.167> Now_and_then_came_a_gap_in_the_lightning,_and_the_night_
<b10.P1.168> swallowed_them_up.
<b10.P1.169> =
<b10.P1.170> I_was_soaked_with_hail_above_and_puddle_water_below._It_was_
<b10.P1.171> some_time_before_my_blank_astonishment_would_let_me_struggle_
<b10.P1.172> up_the_bank_to_a_drier_position,_or_think_at_all_of_my_
<b10.P1.173> imminent_peril.
<b10.P1.174> =
<b10.P1.175> Not_far_from_me_was_a_little_one-roomed_squatter's_hut_of_
<b10.P1.176> wood,_surrounded_by_a_patch_of_potato_garden._I_struggled_to_
<b10.P1.177> my_feet_at_last,_and,_crouching_and_making_use_of_every_
<b10.P1.178> chance_of_cover,_I_made_a_run_for_this._I_hammered_at_the_
<b10.P1.179> door,_but_I_could_not_make_the_people_hear_(if_there_were_
<b10.P1.180> any_people_inside),_and_after_a_time_I_desisted,_and,_
<b10.P1.181> availing_myself_of_a_ditch_for_the_greater_part_of_the_way,_
<b10.P1.182> succeeded_in_crawling,_unobserved_by_these_monstrous_
<b10.P1.183> machines,_into_the_pine_woods_towards_Maybury.
<b10.P1.184> =
<b10.P1.185> Under_cover_of_this_I_pushed_on,_wet_and_shivering_now,_
<b10.P1.186> towards_my_own_house._I_walked_among_the_trees_trying_to_
<b10.P1.187> find_the_footpath._It_was_very_dark_indeed_in_the_wood,_for_
<b10.P1.188> the_lightning_was_now_becoming_infrequent,_and_the_hail,_
<b10.P1.189> which_was_pouring_down_in_a_torrent,_fell_in_columns_through_
<b10.P1.190> the_gaps_in_the_heavy_foliage.
<b10.P1.191> =
<b10.P1.192> If_I_had_fully_realised_the_meaning_of_all_the_things_I_had_
<b10.P1.193> seen_I_should_have_immediately_worked_my_way_round_through_
<b10.P1.194> Byfleet_to_Street_Cobham,_and_so_gone_back_to_rejoin_my_wife_
<b10.P1.195> at_Leatherhead._But_that_night_the_strangeness_of_things_
<b10.P1.196> about_me,_and_my_physical_wretchedness,_prevented_me,_for_I_
<b10.P1.197> was_bruised,_weary,_wet_to_the_skin,_deafened_and_blinded_by_
<b10.P1.198> the_storm.
<b10.P1.199> =
<b10.P1.200> I_had_a_vague_idea_of_going_on_to_my_own_house,_and_that_was_
<b10.P1.201> as_much_motive_as_I_had._I_staggered_through_the_trees,_fell_
<b10.P1.202> into_a_ditch_and_bruised_my_knees_against_a_plank,_and_
<b10.P1.203> finally_splashed_out_into_the_lane_that_ran_down_from_the_
<b10.P1.204> College_Arms._I_say_splashed,_for_the_storm_water_was_
<b10.P1.205> sweeping_the_sand_down_the_hill_in_a_muddy_torrent._There_in_
<b10.P1.206> the_darkness_a_man_blundered_into_me_and_sent_me_reeling_
<b10.P1.207> back.
<b10.P1.208> =
<b10.P1.209> He_gave_a_cry_of_terror,_sprang_sideways,_and_rushed_on_
<b10.P1.210> before_I_could_gather_my_wits_sufficiently_to_speak_to_him._
<b10.P1.211> So_heavy_was_the_stress_of_the_storm_just_at_this_place_that_
<b10.P1.212> I_had_the_hardest_task_to_win_my_way_up_the_hill._I_went_
<b10.P1.213> close_up_to_the_fence_on_the_left_and_worked_my_way_along_
<b10.P1.214> its_palings.
<b10.P1.215> =
<b10.P1.216> Near_the_top_I_stumbled_upon_something_soft,_and,_by_a_flash_
<b10.P1.217> of_lightning,_saw_between_my_feet_a_heap_of_black_broadcloth_
<b10.P1.218> and_a_pair_of_boots._Before_I_could_distinguish_clearly_how_
<b10.P1.219> the_man_lay,_the_flicker_of_light_had_passed._I_stood_over_
<b10.P1.220> him_waiting_for_the_next_flash._When_it_came,_I_saw_that_he_
<b10.P1.221> was_a_sturdy_man,_cheaply_but_not_shabbily_dressed;_his_head_
<b10.P1.222> was_bent_under_his_body,_and_he_lay_crumpled_up_close_to_the_
<b10.P1.223> fence,_as_though_he_had_been_flung_violently_against_it.
<b10.P1.224> =
<b10.P1.225> Overcoming_the_repugnance_natural_to_one_who_had_never_
<b10.P1.226> before_touched_a_dead_body,_I_stooped_and_turned_him_over_to_
<b10.P1.227> feel_for_his_heart._He_was_quite_dead._Apparently_his_neck_
<b10.P1.228> had_been_broken._The_lightning_flashed_for_a_third_time,_and_
<b10.P1.229> his_face_leaped_upon_me._I_sprang_to_my_feet._It_was_the_
<b10.P1.230> landlord_of_the_Spotted_Dog,_whose_conveyance_I_had_taken.
<b10.P1.231> =
<b10.P1.232> I_stepped_over_him_gingerly_and_pushed_on_up_the_hill._I_
<b10.P1.233> made_my_way_by_the_police_station_and_the_College_Arms_
<b10.P1.234> towards_my_own_house._Nothing_was_burning_on_the_hillside,_
<b10.P1.235> though_from_the_common_there_still_came_a_red_glare_and_a_
<b10.P1.236> rolling_tumult_of_ruddy_smoke_beating_up_against_the_
<b10.P1.237> drenching_hail._So_far_as_I_could_see_by_the_flashes,_the_
<b10.P1.238> houses_about_me_were_mostly_uninjured._By_the_College_Arms_a_
<b10.P1.239> dark_heap_lay_in_the_road.
<b10.P1.240> =
<b10.P1.241> Down_the_road_towards_Maybury_Bridge_there_were_voices_and_
<b10.P1.242> the_sound_of_feet,_but_I_had_not_the_courage_to_shout_or_to_
<b10.P1.243> go_to_them._I_let_myself_in_with_my_latchkey,_closed,_locked_
<b10.P1.244> and_bolted_the_door,_staggered_to_the_foot_of_the_staircase,_
<b10.P1.245> and_sat_down._My_imagination_was_full_of_those_striding_
<b10.P1.246> metallic_monsters,_and_of_the_dead_body_smashed_against_the_
<b10.P1.247> fence.
<b10.P1.248> =
<b10.P1.249> I_crouched_at_the_foot_of_the_staircase_with_my_back_to_the_
<b10.P1.250> wall,_shivering_violently.
<b10.P1.251> =
#
## <b11>
# chapter 11 ELEVEN
# unit C chapter_number
# unit H chapter_title
# unit P text
<b11.P1.001> I_have_already_said_that_my_storms_of_emotion_have_a_trick_
<b11.P1.002> of_exhausting_themselves._After_a_time_I_discovered_that_I_
<b11.P1.003> was_cold_and_wet,_and_with_little_pools_of_water_about_me_on_
<b11.P1.004> the_stair_carpet._I_got_up_almost_mechanically,_went_into_
<b11.P1.005> the_dining_room_and_drank_some_whiskey,_and_then_I_was_moved_
<b11.P1.006> to_change_my_clothes.
<b11.P1.007> =
<b11.P1.008> After_I_had_done_that_I_went_upstairs_to_my_study,_but_why_I_
<b11.P1.009> did_so_I_do_not_know._The_window_of_my_study_looks_over_the_
<b11.P1.010> trees_and_the_railway_towards_Horsell_Common._In_the_hurry_
<b11.P1.011> of_our_departure_this_window_had_been_left_open._The_passage_
<b11.P1.012> was_dark,_and,_by_contrast_with_the_picture_the_window_frame_
<b11.P1.013> enclosed,_the_side_of_the_room_seemed_impenetrably_dark._I_
<b11.P1.014> stopped_short_in_the_doorway.
<b11.P1.015> =
<b11.P1.016> The_thunderstorm_had_passed._The_towers_of_the_Oriental_
<b11.P1.017> College_and_the_pine_trees_about_it_had_gone,_and_very_far_
<b11.P1.018> away,_lit_by_a_vivid_red_glare,_the_common_about_the_sand_
<b11.P1.019> pits_was_visible._Across_the_light_huge_black_shapes,_
<b11.P1.020> grotesque_and_strange,_moved_busily_to_and_fro.
<b11.P1.021> =
<b11.P1.022> It_seemed_indeed_as_if_the_whole_country_in_that_direction_
<b11.P1.023> was_on_fire--a_broad_hillside_set_with_minute_tongues_of_
<b11.P1.024> flame,_swaying_and_writhing_with_the_gusts_of_the_dying_
<b11.P1.025> storm,_and_throwing_a_red_reflection_upon_the_cloud_scud_
<b11.P1.026> above._Every_now_and_then_a_haze_of_smoke_from_some_nearer_
<b11.P1.027> conflagration_drove_across_the_window_and_hid_the_Martian_
<b11.P1.028> shapes._I_could_not_see_what_they_were_doing,_nor_the_clear_
<b11.P1.029> form_of_them,_nor_recognise_the_black_objects_they_were_
<b11.P1.030> busied_upon._Neither_could_I_see_the_nearer_fire,_though_the_
<b11.P1.031> reflections_of_it_danced_on_the_wall_and_ceiling_of_the_
<b11.P1.032> study._A_sharp,_resinous_tang_of_burning_was_in_the_air.
<b11.P1.033> =
<b11.P1.034> I_closed_the_door_noiselessly_and_crept_towards_the_window._
<b11.P1.035> As_I_did_so,_the_view_opened_out_until,_on_the_one_hand,_it_
<b11.P1.036> reached_to_the_houses_about_Woking_station,_and_on_the_other_
<b11.P1.037> to_the_charred_and_blackened_pine_woods_of_Byfleet._There_
<b11.P1.038> was_a_light_down_below_the_hill,_on_the_railway,_near_the_
<b11.P1.039> arch,_and_several_of_the_houses_along_the_Maybury_road_and_
<b11.P1.040> the_streets_near_the_station_were_glowing_ruins._The_light_
<b11.P1.041> upon_the_railway_puzzled_me_at_first;_there_were_a_black_
<b11.P1.042> heap_and_a_vivid_glare,_and_to_the_right_of_that_a_row_of_
<b11.P1.043> yellow_oblongs._Then_I_perceived_this_was_a_wrecked_train,_
<b11.P1.044> the_fore_part_smashed_and_on_fire,_the_hinder_carriages_
<b11.P1.045> still_upon_the_rails.
<b11.P1.046> =
<b11.P1.047> Between_these_three_main_centres_of_light--the_houses,_the_
<b11.P1.048> train,_and_the_burning_county_towards_Chobham--stretched_
<b11.P1.049> irregular_patches_of_dark_country,_broken_here_and_there_by_
<b11.P1.050> intervals_of_dimly_glowing_and_smoking_ground._It_was_the_
<b11.P1.051> strangest_spectacle,_that_black_expanse_set_with_fire._It_
<b11.P1.052> reminded_me,_more_than_anything_else,_of_the_Potteries_at_
<b11.P1.053> night._At_first_I_could_distinguish_no_people_at_all,_though_
<b11.P1.054> I_peered_intently_for_them._Later_I_saw_against_the_light_of_
<b11.P1.055> Woking_station_a_number_of_black_figures_hurrying_one_after_
<b11.P1.056> the_other_across_the_line.
<b11.P1.057> =
<b11.P1.058> And_this_was_the_little_world_in_which_I_had_been_living_
<b11.P1.059> securely_for_years,_this_fiery_chaos!_What_had_happened_in_
<b11.P1.060> the_last_seven_hours_I_still_did_not_know;_nor_did_I_know,_
<b11.P1.061> though_I_was_beginning_to_guess,_the_relation_between_these_
<b11.P1.062> mechanical_colossi_and_the_sluggish_lumps_I_had_seen_
<b11.P1.063> disgorged_from_the_cylinder._With_a_queer_feeling_of_
<b11.P1.064> impersonal_interest_I_turned_my_desk_chair_to_the_window,_
<b11.P1.065> sat_down,_and_stared_at_the_blackened_country,_and_
<b11.P1.066> particularly_at_the_three_gigantic_black_things_that_were_
<b11.P1.067> going_to_and_fro_in_the_glare_about_the_sand_pits.
<b11.P1.068> =
<b11.P1.069> They_seemed_amazingly_busy._I_began_to_ask_myself_what_they_
<b11.P1.070> could_be._Were_they_intelligent_mechanisms?_Such_a_thing_I_
<b11.P1.071> felt_was_impossible._Or_did_a_Martian_sit_within_each,_
<b11.P1.072> ruling,_directing,_using,_much_as_a_man's_brain_sits_and_
<b11.P1.073> rules_in_his_body?_I_began_to_compare_the_things_to_human_
<b11.P1.074> machines,_to_ask_myself_for_the_first_time_in_my_life_how_an_
<b11.P1.075> ironclad_or_a_steam_engine_would_seem_to_an_intelligent_
<b11.P1.076> lower_animal.
<b11.P1.077> =
<b11.P1.078> The_storm_had_left_the_sky_clear,_and_over_the_smoke_of_the_
<b11.P1.079> burning_land_the_little_fading_pinpoint_of_Mars_was_dropping_
<b11.P1.080> into_the_west,_when_a_soldier_came_into_my_garden._I_heard_a_
<b11.P1.081> slight_scraping_at_the_fence,_and_rousing_myself_from_the_
<b11.P1.082> lethargy_that_had_fallen_upon_me,_I_looked_down_and_saw_him_
<b11.P1.083> dimly,_clambering_over_the_palings._At_the_sight_of_another_
<b11.P1.084> human_being_my_torpor_passed,_and_I_leaned_out_of_the_window_
<b11.P1.085> eagerly.
<b11.P1.086> =
<b11.P1.087> "Hist!"_said_I,_in_a_whisper.
<b11.P1.088> =
<b11.P1.089> He_stopped_astride_of_the_fence_in_doubt._Then_he_came_over_
<b11.P1.090> and_across_the_lawn_to_the_corner_of_the_house._He_bent_down_
<b11.P1.091> and_stepped_softly.
<b11.P1.092> =
<b11.P1.093> "Who's_there?"_he_said,_also_whispering,_standing_under_the_
<b11.P1.094> window_and_peering_up.
<b11.P1.095> =
<b11.P1.096> "Where_are_you_going?"_I_asked.
<b11.P1.097> =
<b11.P1.098> "God_knows."
<b11.P1.099> =
<b11.P1.100> "Are_you_trying_to_hide?"
<b11.P1.101> =
<b11.P1.102> "That's_it."
<b11.P1.103> =
<b11.P1.104> "Come_into_the_house,"_I_said.
<b11.P1.105> =
<b11.P1.106> I_went_down,_unfastened_the_door,_and_let_him_in,_and_locked_
<b11.P1.107> the_door_again._I_could_not_see_his_face._He_was_hatless,_
<b11.P1.108> and_his_coat_was_unbuttoned.
<b11.P1.109> =
<b11.P1.110> "My_God!"_he_said,_as_I_drew_him_in.
<b11.P1.111> =
<b11.P1.112> "What_has_happened?"_I_asked.
<b11.P1.113> =
<b11.P1.114> "What_hasn't?"_In_the_obscurity_I_could_see_he_made_a_
<b11.P1.115> gesture_of_despair._"They_wiped_us_out--simply_wiped_us_
<b11.P1.116> out,"_he_repeated_again_and_again.
<b11.P1.117> =
<b11.P1.118> He_followed_me,_almost_mechanically,_into_the_dining_room.
<b11.P1.119> =
<b11.P1.120> "Take_some_whiskey,"_I_said,_pouring_out_a_stiff_dose.
<b11.P1.121> =
<b11.P1.122> He_drank_it._Then_abruptly_he_sat_down_before_the_table,_put_
<b11.P1.123> his_head_on_his_arms,_and_began_to_sob_and_weep_like_a_
<b11.P1.124> little_boy,_in_a_perfect_passion_of_emotion,_while_I,_with_a_
<b11.P1.125> curious_forgetfulness_of_my_own_recent_despair,_stood_beside_
<b11.P1.126> him,_wondering.
<b11.P1.127> =
<b11.P1.128> It_was_a_long_time_before_he_could_steady_his_nerves_to_
<b11.P1.129> answer_my_questions,_and_then_he_answered_perplexingly_and_
<b11.P1.130> brokenly._He_was_a_driver_in_the_artillery,_and_had_only_
<b11.P1.131> come_into_action_about_seven._At_that_time_firing_was_going_
<b11.P1.132> on_across_the_common,_and_it_was_said_the_first_party_of_
<b11.P1.133> Martians_were_crawling_slowly_towards_their_second_cylinder_
<b11.P1.134> under_cover_of_a_metal_shield.
<b11.P1.135> =
<b11.P1.136> Later_this_shield_staggered_up_on_tripod_legs_and_became_the_
<b11.P1.137> first_of_the_fighting-machines_I_had_seen._The_gun_he_drove_
<b11.P1.138> had_been_unlimbered_near_Horsell,_in_order_to_command_the_
<b11.P1.139> sand_pits,_and_its_arrival_it_was_that_had_precipitated_the_
<b11.P1.140> action._As_the_limber_gunners_went_to_the_rear,_his_horse_
<b11.P1.141> trod_in_a_rabbit_hole_and_came_down,_throwing_him_into_a_
<b11.P1.142> depression_of_the_ground._At_the_same_moment_the_gun_
<b11.P1.143> exploded_behind_him,_the_ammunition_blew_up,_there_was_fire_
<b11.P1.144> all_about_him,_and_he_found_himself_lying_under_a_heap_of_
<b11.P1.145> charred_dead_men_and_dead_horses.
<b11.P1.146> =
<b11.P1.147> "I_lay_still,"_he_said,_"scared_out_of_my_wits,_with_the_
<b11.P1.148> fore_quarter_of_a_horse_atop_of_me._We'd_been_wiped_out._And_
<b11.P1.149> the_smell--good_God!_Like_burnt_meat!_I_was_hurt_across_the_
<b11.P1.150> back_by_the_fall_of_the_horse,_and_there_I_had_to_lie_until_
<b11.P1.151> I_felt_better._Just_like_parade_it_had_been_a_minute_
<b11.P1.152> before--then_stumble,_bang,_swish!"
<b11.P1.153> =
<b11.P1.154> "Wiped_out!"_he_said.
<b11.P1.155> =
<b11.P1.156> He_had_hid_under_the_dead_horse_for_a_long_time,_peeping_out_
<b11.P1.157> furtively_across_the_common._The_Cardigan_men_had_tried_a_
<b11.P1.158> rush,_in_skirmishing_order,_at_the_pit,_simply_to_be_swept_
<b11.P1.159> out_of_existence._Then_the_monster_had_risen_to_its_feet_and_
<b11.P1.160> had_begun_to_walk_leisurely_to_and_fro_across_the_common_
<b11.P1.161> among_the_few_fugitives,_with_its_headlike_hood_turning_
<b11.P1.162> about_exactly_like_the_head_of_a_cowled_human_being._A_kind_
<b11.P1.163> of_arm_carried_a_complicated_metallic_case,_about_which_
<b11.P1.164> green_flashes_scintillated,_and_out_of_the_funnel_of_this_
<b11.P1.165> there_smoked_the_Heat-Ray.
<b11.P1.166> =
<b11.P1.167> In_a_few_minutes_there_was,_so_far_as_the_soldier_could_see,_
<b11.P1.168> not_a_living_thing_left_upon_the_common,_and_every_bush_and_
<b11.P1.169> tree_upon_it_that_was_not_already_a_blackened_skeleton_was_
<b11.P1.170> burning._The_hussars_had_been_on_the_road_beyond_the_
<b11.P1.171> curvature_of_the_ground,_and_he_saw_nothing_of_them._He_
<b11.P1.172> heard_the_Martians_rattle_for_a_time_and_then_become_still._
<b11.P1.173> The_giant_saved_Woking_station_and_its_cluster_of_houses_
<b11.P1.174> until_the_last;_then_in_a_moment_the_Heat-Ray_was_brought_to_
<b11.P1.175> bear,_and_the_town_became_a_heap_of_fiery_ruins._Then_the_
<b11.P1.176> Thing_shut_off_the_Heat-Ray,_and_turning_its_back_upon_the_
<b11.P1.177> artilleryman,_began_to_waddle_away_towards_the_smouldering_
<b11.P1.178> pine_woods_that_sheltered_the_second_cylinder._As_it_did_so_
<b11.P1.179> a_second_glittering_Titan_built_itself_up_out_of_the_pit.
<b11.P1.180> =
<b11.P1.181> The_second_monster_followed_the_first,_and_at_that_the_
<b11.P1.182> artilleryman_began_to_crawl_very_cautiously_across_the_hot_
<b11.P1.183> heather_ash_towards_Horsell._He_managed_to_get_alive_into_
<b11.P1.184> the_ditch_by_the_side_of_the_road,_and_so_escaped_to_Woking._
<b11.P1.185> There_his_story_became_ejaculatory._The_place_was_
<b11.P1.186> impassable._It_seems_there_were_a_few_people_alive_there,_
<b11.P1.187> frantic_for_the_most_part_and_many_burned_and_scalded._He_
<b11.P1.188> was_turned_aside_by_the_fire,_and_hid_among_some_almost_
<b11.P1.189> scorching_heaps_of_broken_wall_as_one_of_the_Martian_giants_
<b11.P1.190> returned._He_saw_this_one_pursue_a_man,_catch_him_up_in_one_
<b11.P1.191> of_its_steely_tentacles,_and_knock_his_head_against_the_
<b11.P1.192> trunk_of_a_pine_tree._At_last,_after_nightfall,_the_
<b11.P1.193> artilleryman_made_a_rush_for_it_and_got_over_the_railway_
<b11.P1.194> embankment.
<b11.P1.195> =
<b11.P1.196> Since_then_he_had_been_skulking_along_towards_Maybury,_in_
<b11.P1.197> the_hope_of_getting_out_of_danger_Londonward._People_were_
<b11.P1.198> hiding_in_trenches_and_cellars,_and_many_of_the_survivors_
<b11.P1.199> had_made_off_towards_Woking_village_and_Send._He_had_been_
<b11.P1.200> consumed_with_thirst_until_he_found_one_of_the_water_mains_
<b11.P1.201> near_the_railway_arch_smashed,_and_the_water_bubbling_out_
<b11.P1.202> like_a_spring_upon_the_road.
<b11.P1.203> =
<b11.P1.204> That_was_the_story_I_got_from_him,_bit_by_bit._He_grew_
<b11.P1.205> calmer_telling_me_and_trying_to_make_me_see_the_things_he_
<b11.P1.206> had_seen._He_had_eaten_no_food_since_midday,_he_told_me_
<b11.P1.207> early_in_his_narrative,_and_I_found_some_mutton_and_bread_in_
<b11.P1.208> the_pantry_and_brought_it_into_the_room._We_lit_no_lamp_for_
<b11.P1.209> fear_of_attracting_the_Martians,_and_ever_and_again_our_
<b11.P1.210> hands_would_touch_upon_bread_or_meat._As_he_talked,_things_
<b11.P1.211> about_us_came_darkly_out_of_the_darkness,_and_the_trampled_
<b11.P1.212> bushes_and_broken_rose_trees_outside_the_window_grew_
<b11.P1.213> distinct._It_would_seem_that_a_number_of_men_or_animals_had_
<b11.P1.214> rushed_across_the_lawn._I_began_to_see_his_face,_blackened_
<b11.P1.215> and_haggard,_as_no_doubt_mine_was_also.
<b11.P1.216> =
<b11.P1.217> When_we_had_finished_eating_we_went_softly_upstairs_to_my_
<b11.P1.218> study,_and_I_looked_again_out_of_the_open_window._In_one_
<b11.P1.219> night_the_valley_had_become_a_valley_of_ashes._The_fires_had_
<b11.P1.220> dwindled_now._Where_flames_had_been_there_were_now_streamers_
<b11.P1.221> of_smoke;_but_the_countless_ruins_of_shattered_and_gutted_
<b11.P1.222> houses_and_blasted_and_blackened_trees_that_the_night_had_
<b11.P1.223> hidden_stood_out_now_gaunt_and_terrible_in_the_pitiless_
<b11.P1.224> light_of_dawn._Yet_here_and_there_some_object_had_had_the_
<b11.P1.225> luck_to_escape--a_white_railway_signal_here,_the_end_of_a_
<b11.P1.226> greenhouse_there,_white_and_fresh_amid_the_wreckage._Never_
<b11.P1.227> before_in_the_history_of_warfare_had_destruction_been_so_
<b11.P1.228> indiscriminate_and_so_universal._And_shining_with_the_
<b11.P1.229> growing_light_of_the_east,_three_of_the_metallic_giants_
<b11.P1.230> stood_about_the_pit,_their_cowls_rotating_as_though_they_
<b11.P1.231> were_surveying_the_desolation_they_had_made.
<b11.P1.232> =
<b11.P1.233> It_seemed_to_me_that_the_pit_had_been_enlarged,_and_ever_and_
<b11.P1.234> again_puffs_of_vivid_green_vapour_streamed_up_and_out_of_it_
<b11.P1.235> towards_the_brightening_dawn--streamed_up,_whirled,_broke,_
<b11.P1.236> and_vanished.
<b11.P1.237> =
<b11.P1.238> Beyond_were_the_pillars_of_fire_about_Chobham._They_became_
<b11.P1.239> pillars_of_bloodshot_smoke_at_the_first_touch_of_day.
<b11.P1.240> =
#
## <b12>
# chapter 12 TWELVE
# unit C chapter_number
# unit H chapter_title
# unit P text
<b12.P1.001> OF_WEYBRIDGE_AND_SHEPPERTON
<b12.P1.002> =
<b12.P1.003> As_the_dawn_grew_brighter_we_withdrew_from_the_window_from_
<b12.P1.004> which_we_had_watched_the_Martians,_and_went_very_quietly_
<b12.P1.005> downstairs.
<b12.P1.006> =
<b12.P1.007> The_artilleryman_agreed_with_me_that_the_house_was_no_place_
<b12.P1.008> to_stay_in._He_proposed,_he_said,_to_make_his_way_
<b12.P1.009> Londonward,_and_thence_rejoin_his_battery--No._12,_of_the_
<b12.P1.010> Horse_Artillery._My_plan_was_to_return_at_once_to_
<b12.P1.011> Leatherhead;_and_so_greatly_had_the_strength_of_the_Martians_
<b12.P1.012> impressed_me_that_I_had_determined_to_take_my_wife_to_
<b12.P1.013> Newhaven,_and_go_with_her_out_of_the_country_forthwith._For_
<b12.P1.014> I_already_perceived_clearly_that_the_country_about_London_
<b12.P1.015> must_inevitably_be_the_scene_of_a_disastrous_struggle_before_
<b12.P1.016> such_creatures_as_these_could_be_destroyed.
<b12.P1.017> =
<b12.P1.018> Between_us_and_Leatherhead,_however,_lay_the_third_cylinder,_
<b12.P1.019> with_its_guarding_giants._Had_I_been_alone,_I_think_I_should_
<b12.P1.020> have_taken_my_chance_and_struck_across_country._But_the_
<b12.P1.021> artilleryman_dissuaded_me:_"It's_no_kindness_to_the_right_
<b12.P1.022> sort_of_wife,"_he_said,_"to_make_her_a_widow";_and_in_the_
<b12.P1.023> end_I_agreed_to_go_with_him,_under_cover_of_the_woods,_
<b12.P1.024> northward_as_far_as_Street_Cobham_before_I_parted_with_him._
<b12.P1.025> Thence_I_would_make_a_big_detour_by_Epsom_to_reach_
<b12.P1.026> Leatherhead.
<b12.P1.027> =
<b12.P1.028> I_should_have_started_at_once,_but_my_companion_had_been_in_
<b12.P1.029> active_service_and_he_knew_better_than_that._He_made_me_
<b12.P1.030> ransack_the_house_for_a_flask,_which_he_filled_with_whiskey;_
<b12.P1.031> and_we_lined_every_available_pocket_with_packets_of_biscuits_
<b12.P1.032> and_slices_of_meat._Then_we_crept_out_of_the_house,_and_ran_
<b12.P1.033> as_quickly_as_we_could_down_the_ill-made_road_by_which_I_had_
<b12.P1.034> come_overnight._The_houses_seemed_deserted._In_the_road_lay_
<b12.P1.035> a_group_of_three_charred_bodies_close_together,_struck_dead_
<b12.P1.036> by_the_Heat-Ray;_and_here_and_there_were_things_that_people_
<b12.P1.037> had_dropped--a_clock,_a_slipper,_a_silver_spoon,_and_the_
<b12.P1.038> like_poor_valuables._At_the_corner_turning_up_towards_the_
<b12.P1.039> post_office_a_little_cart,_filled_with_boxes_and_furniture,_
<b12.P1.040> and_horseless,_heeled_over_on_a_broken_wheel._A_cash_box_had_
<b12.P1.041> been_hastily_smashed_open_and_thrown_under_the_debris.
<b12.P1.042> =
<b12.P1.043> Except_the_lodge_at_the_Orphanage,_which_was_still_on_fire,_
<b12.P1.044> none_of_the_houses_had_suffered_very_greatly_here._The_
<b12.P1.045> Heat-Ray_had_shaved_the_chimney_tops_and_passed._Yet,_save_
<b12.P1.046> ourselves,_there_did_not_seem_to_be_a_living_soul_on_Maybury_
<b12.P1.047> Hill._The_majority_of_the_inhabitants_had_escaped,_I_
<b12.P1.048> suppose,_by_way_of_the_Old_Woking_road--the_road_I_had_taken_
<b12.P1.049> when_I_drove_to_Leatherhead--or_they_had_hidden.
<b12.P1.050> =
<b12.P1.051> We_went_down_the_lane,_by_the_body_of_the_man_in_black,_
<b12.P1.052> sodden_now_from_the_overnight_hail,_and_broke_into_the_woods_
<b12.P1.053> at_the_foot_of_the_hill._We_pushed_through_these_towards_the_
<b12.P1.054> railway_without_meeting_a_soul._The_woods_across_the_line_
<b12.P1.055> were_but_the_scarred_and_blackened_ruins_of_woods;_for_the_
<b12.P1.056> most_part_the_trees_had_fallen,_but_a_certain_proportion_
<b12.P1.057> still_stood,_dismal_grey_stems,_with_dark_brown_foliage_
<b12.P1.058> instead_of_green.
<b12.P1.059> =
<b12.P1.060> On_our_side_the_fire_had_done_no_more_than_scorch_the_nearer_
<b12.P1.061> trees;_it_had_failed_to_secure_its_footing._In_one_place_the_
<b12.P1.062> woodmen_had_been_at_work_on_Saturday;_trees,_felled_and_
<b12.P1.063> freshly_trimmed,_lay_in_a_clearing,_with_heaps_of_sawdust_by_
<b12.P1.064> the_sawing-machine_and_its_engine._Hard_by_was_a_temporary_
<b12.P1.065> hut,_deserted._There_was_not_a_breath_of_wind_this_morning,_
<b12.P1.066> and_everything_was_strangely_still._Even_the_birds_were_
<b12.P1.067> hushed,_and_as_we_hurried_along_I_and_the_artilleryman_
<b12.P1.068> talked_in_whispers_and_looked_now_and_again_over_our_
<b12.P1.069> shoulders._Once_or_twice_we_stopped_to_listen.
<b12.P1.070> =
<b12.P1.071> After_a_time_we_drew_near_the_road,_and_as_we_did_so_we_
<b12.P1.072> heard_the_clatter_of_hoofs_and_saw_through_the_tree_stems_
<b12.P1.073> three_cavalry_soldiers_riding_slowly_towards_Woking._We_
<b12.P1.074> hailed_them,_and_they_halted_while_we_hurried_towards_them._
<b12.P1.075> It_was_a_lieutenant_and_a_couple_of_privates_of_the_8th_
<b12.P1.076> Hussars,_with_a_stand_like_a_theodolite,_which_the_
<b12.P1.077> artilleryman_told_me_was_a_heliograph.
<b12.P1.078> =
<b12.P1.079> "You_are_the_first_men_I've_seen_coming_this_way_this_
<b12.P1.080> morning,"_said_the_lieutenant._"What's_brewing?"
<b12.P1.081> =
<b12.P1.082> His_voice_and_face_were_eager._The_men_behind_him_stared_
<b12.P1.083> curiously._The_artilleryman_jumped_down_the_bank_into_the_
<b12.P1.084> road_and_saluted.
<b12.P1.085> =
<b12.P1.086> "Gun_destroyed_last_night,_sir._Have_been_hiding._Trying_to_
<b12.P1.087> rejoin_battery,_sir._You'll_come_in_sight_of_the_Martians,_I_
<b12.P1.088> expect,_about_half_a_mile_along_this_road."
<b12.P1.089> =
<b12.P1.090> "What_the_dickens_are_they_like?"_asked_the_lieutenant.
<b12.P1.091> =
<b12.P1.092> "Giants_in_armour,_sir._Hundred_feet_high._Three_legs_and_a_
<b12.P1.093> body_like_'luminium,_with_a_mighty_great_head_in_a_hood,_
<b12.P1.094> sir."
<b12.P1.095> =
<b12.P1.096> "Get_out!"_said_the_lieutenant._"What_confounded_nonsense!"
<b12.P1.097> =
<b12.P1.098> "You'll_see,_sir._They_carry_a_kind_of_box,_sir,_that_shoots_
<b12.P1.099> fire_and_strikes_you_dead."
<b12.P1.100> =
<b12.P1.101> "What_d'ye_mean--a_gun?"
<b12.P1.102> =
<b12.P1.103> "No,_sir,"_and_the_artilleryman_began_a_vivid_account_of_the_
<b12.P1.104> Heat-Ray._Halfway_through,_the_lieutenant_interrupted_him_
<b12.P1.105> and_looked_up_at_me._I_was_still_standing_on_the_bank_by_the_
<b12.P1.106> side_of_the_road.
<b12.P1.107> =
<b12.P1.108> "It's_perfectly_true,"_I_said.
<b12.P1.109> =
<b12.P1.110> "Well,"_said_the_lieutenant,_"I_suppose_it's_my_business_to_
<b12.P1.111> see_it_too._Look_here"--to_the_artilleryman--"we're_detailed_
<b12.P1.112> here_clearing_people_out_of_their_houses._You'd_better_go_
<b12.P1.113> along_and_report_yourself_to_Brigadier-General_Marvin,_and_
<b12.P1.114> tell_him_all_you_know._He's_at_Weybridge._Know_the_way?"
<b12.P1.115> =
<b12.P1.116> "I_do,"_I_said;_and_he_turned_his_horse_southward_again.
<b12.P1.117> =
<b12.P1.118> "Half_a_mile,_you_say?"_said_he.
<b12.P1.119> =
<b12.P1.120> "At_most,"_I_answered,_and_pointed_over_the_treetops_
<b12.P1.121> southward._He_thanked_me_and_rode_on,_and_we_saw_them_no_
<b12.P1.122> more.
<b12.P1.123> =
<b12.P1.124> Farther_along_we_came_upon_a_group_of_three_women_and_two_
<b12.P1.125> children_in_the_road,_busy_clearing_out_a_labourer's_
<b12.P1.126> cottage._They_had_got_hold_of_a_little_hand_truck,_and_were_
<b12.P1.127> piling_it_up_with_unclean-looking_bundles_and_shabby_
<b12.P1.128> furniture._They_were_all_too_assiduously_engaged_to_talk_to_
<b12.P1.129> us_as_we_passed.
<b12.P1.130> =
<b12.P1.131> By_Byfleet_station_we_emerged_from_the_pine_trees,_and_found_
<b12.P1.132> the_country_calm_and_peaceful_under_the_morning_sunlight._We_
<b12.P1.133> were_far_beyond_the_range_of_the_Heat-Ray_there,_and_had_it_
<b12.P1.134> not_been_for_the_silent_desertion_of_some_of_the_houses,_the_
<b12.P1.135> stirring_movement_of_packing_in_others,_and_the_knot_of_
<b12.P1.136> soldiers_standing_on_the_bridge_over_the_railway_and_staring_
<b12.P1.137> down_the_line_towards_Woking,_the_day_would_have_seemed_very_
<b12.P1.138> like_any_other_Sunday.
<b12.P1.139> =
<b12.P1.140> Several_farm_waggons_and_carts_were_moving_creakily_along_
<b12.P1.141> the_road_to_Addlestone,_and_suddenly_through_the_gate_of_a_
<b12.P1.142> field_we_saw,_across_a_stretch_of_flat_meadow,_six_
<b12.P1.143> twelve-pounders_standing_neatly_at_equal_distances_pointing_
<b12.P1.144> towards_Woking._The_gunners_stood_by_the_guns_waiting,_and_
<b12.P1.145> the_ammunition_waggons_were_at_a_business-like_distance._The_
<b12.P1.146> men_stood_almost_as_if_under_inspection.
<b12.P1.147> =
<b12.P1.148> "That's_good!"_said_I._"They_will_get_one_fair_shot,_at_any_
<b12.P1.149> rate."
<b12.P1.150> =
<b12.P1.151> The_artilleryman_hesitated_at_the_gate.
<b12.P1.152> =
<b12.P1.153> "I_shall_go_on,"_he_said.
<b12.P1.154> =
<b12.P1.155> Farther_on_towards_Weybridge,_just_over_the_bridge,_there_
<b12.P1.156> were_a_number_of_men_in_white_fatigue_jackets_throwing_up_a_
<b12.P1.157> long_rampart,_and_more_guns_behind.
<b12.P1.158> =
<b12.P1.159> "It's_bows_and_arrows_against_the_lightning,_anyhow,"_said_
<b12.P1.160> the_artilleryman._"They_'aven't_seen_that_fire-beam_yet."
<b12.P1.161> =
<b12.P1.162> The_officers_who_were_not_actively_engaged_stood_and_stared_
<b12.P1.163> over_the_treetops_southwestward,_and_the_men_digging_would_
<b12.P1.164> stop_every_now_and_again_to_stare_in_the_same_direction.
<b12.P1.165> =
<b12.P1.166> Byfleet_was_in_a_tumult;_people_packing,_and_a_score_of_
<b12.P1.167> hussars,_some_of_them_dismounted,_some_on_horseback,_were_
<b12.P1.168> hunting_them_about._Three_or_four_black_government_waggons,_
<b12.P1.169> with_crosses_in_white_circles,_and_an_old_omnibus,_among_
<b12.P1.170> other_vehicles,_were_being_loaded_in_the_village_street._
<b12.P1.171> There_were_scores_of_people,_most_of_them_sufficiently_
<b12.P1.172> sabbatical_to_have_assumed_their_best_clothes._The_soldiers_
<b12.P1.173> were_having_the_greatest_difficulty_in_making_them_realise_
<b12.P1.174> the_gravity_of_their_position._We_saw_one_shrivelled_old_
<b12.P1.175> fellow_with_a_huge_box_and_a_score_or_more_of_flower_pots_
<b12.P1.176> containing_orchids,_angrily_expostulating_with_the_corporal_
<b12.P1.177> who_would_leave_them_behind._I_stopped_and_gripped_his_arm.
<b12.P1.178> =
<b12.P1.179> "Do_you_know_what's_over_there?"_I_said,_pointing_at_the_
<b12.P1.180> pine_tops_that_hid_the_Martians.
<b12.P1.181> =
<b12.P1.182> "Eh?"_said_he,_turning._"I_was_explainin"_these_is_
<b12.P1.183> vallyble."
<b12.P1.184> =
<b12.P1.185> "Death!"_I_shouted._"Death_is_coming!_Death!"_and_leaving_
<b12.P1.186> him_to_digest_that_if_he_could,_I_hurried_on_after_the_
<b12.P1.187> artilleryman._At_the_corner_I_looked_back._The_soldier_had_
<b12.P1.188> left_him,_and_he_was_still_standing_by_his_box,_with_the_
<b12.P1.189> pots_of_orchids_on_the_lid_of_it,_and_staring_vaguely_over_
<b12.P1.190> the_trees.
<b12.P1.191> =
<b12.P1.192> No_one_in_Weybridge_could_tell_us_where_the_headquarters_
<b12.P1.193> were_established;_the_whole_place_was_in_such_confusion_as_I_
<b12.P1.194> had_never_seen_in_any_town_before._Carts,_carriages_
<b12.P1.195> everywhere,_the_most_astonishing_miscellany_of_conveyances_
<b12.P1.196> and_horseflesh._The_respectable_inhabitants_of_the_place,_
<b12.P1.197> men_in_golf_and_boating_costumes,_wives_prettily_dressed,_
<b12.P1.198> were_packing,_river-side_loafers_energetically_helping,_
<b12.P1.199> children_excited,_and,_for_the_most_part,_highly_delighted_
<b12.P1.200> at_this_astonishing_variation_of_their_Sunday_experiences._
<b12.P1.201> In_the_midst_of_it_all_the_worthy_vicar_was_very_pluckily_
<b12.P1.202> holding_an_early_celebration,_and_his_bell_was_jangling_out_
<b12.P1.203> above_the_excitement.
<b12.P1.204> =
<b12.P1.205> I_and_the_artilleryman,_seated_on_the_step_of_the_drinking_
<b12.P1.206> fountain,_made_a_very_passable_meal_upon_what_we_had_brought_
<b12.P1.207> with_us._Patrols_of_soldiers--here_no_longer_hussars,_but_
<b12.P1.208> grenadiers_in_white--were_warning_people_to_move_now_or_to_
<b12.P1.209> take_refuge_in_their_cellars_as_soon_as_the_firing_began._We_
<b12.P1.210> saw_as_we_crossed_the_railway_bridge_that_a_growing_crowd_of_
<b12.P1.211> people_had_assembled_in_and_about_the_railway_station,_and_
<b12.P1.212> the_swarming_platform_was_piled_with_boxes_and_packages._The_
<b12.P1.213> ordinary_traffic_had_been_stopped,_I_believe,_in_order_to_
<b12.P1.214> allow_of_the_passage_of_troops_and_guns_to_Chertsey,_and_I_
<b12.P1.215> have_heard_since_that_a_savage_struggle_occurred_for_places_
<b12.P1.216> in_the_special_trains_that_were_put_on_at_a_later_hour.
<b12.P1.217> =
<b12.P1.218> We_remained_at_Weybridge_until_midday,_and_at_that_hour_we_
<b12.P1.219> found_ourselves_at_the_place_near_Shepperton_Lock_where_the_
<b12.P1.220> Wey_and_Thames_join._Part_of_the_time_we_spent_helping_two_
<b12.P1.221> old_women_to_pack_a_little_cart._The_Wey_has_a_treble_mouth,_
<b12.P1.222> and_at_this_point_boats_are_to_be_hired,_and_there_was_a_
<b12.P1.223> ferry_across_the_river._On_the_Shepperton_side_was_an_inn_
<b12.P1.224> with_a_lawn,_and_beyond_that_the_tower_of_Shepperton_Church_
<b12.P1.225> --it_has_been_replaced_by_a_spire--rose_above_the_trees.
<b12.P1.226> =
<b12.P1.227> Here_we_found_an_excited_and_noisy_crowd_of_fugitives._As_
<b12.P1.228> yet_the_flight_had_not_grown_to_a_panic,_but_there_were_
<b12.P1.229> already_far_more_people_than_all_the_boats_going_to_and_fro_
<b12.P1.230> could_enable_to_cross._People_came_panting_along_under_heavy_
<b12.P1.231> burdens;_one_husband_and_wife_were_even_carrying_a_small_
<b12.P1.232> outhouse_door_between_them,_with_some_of_their_household_
<b12.P1.233> goods_piled_thereon._One_man_told_us_he_meant_to_try_to_get_
<b12.P1.234> away_from_Shepperton_station.
<b12.P1.235> =
<b12.P1.236> There_was_a_lot_of_shouting,_and_one_man_was_even_jesting._
<b12.P1.237> The_idea_people_seemed_to_have_here_was_that_the_Martians_
<b12.P1.238> were_simply_formidable_human_beings,_who_might_attack_and_
<b12.P1.239> sack_the_town,_to_be_certainly_destroyed_in_the_end._Every_
<b12.P1.240> now_and_then_people_would_glance_nervously_across_the_Wey,_
<b12.P1.241> at_the_meadows_towards_Chertsey,_but_everything_over_there_
<b12.P1.242> was_still.
<b12.P1.243> =
<b12.P1.244> Across_the_Thames,_except_just_where_the_boats_landed,_
<b12.P1.245> everything_was_quiet,_in_vivid_contrast_with_the_Surrey_
<b12.P1.246> side._The_people_who_landed_there_from_the_boats_went_
<b12.P1.247> tramping_off_down_the_lane._The_big_ferryboat_had_just_made_
<b12.P1.248> a_journey._Three_or_four_soldiers_stood_on_the_lawn_of_the_
<b12.P1.249> inn,_staring_and_jesting_at_the_fugitives,_without_offering_
<b12.P1.250> to_help._The_inn_was_closed,_as_it_was_now_within_prohibited_
<b12.P1.251> hours.
<b12.P1.252> =
<b12.P1.253> "What's_that?"_cried_a_boatman,_and_"Shut_up,_you_fool!"_
<b12.P1.254> said_a_man_near_me_to_a_yelping_dog._Then_the_sound_came_
<b12.P1.255> again,_this_time_from_the_direction_of_Chertsey,_a_muffled_
<b12.P1.256> thud--the_sound_of_a_gun.
<b12.P1.257> =
<b12.P1.258> The_fighting_was_beginning._Almost_immediately_unseen_
<b12.P1.259> batteries_across_the_river_to_our_right,_unseen_because_of_
<b12.P1.260> the_trees,_took_up_the_chorus,_firing_heavily_one_after_the_
<b12.P1.261> other._A_woman_screamed._Everyone_stood_arrested_by_the_
<b12.P1.262> sudden_stir_of_battle,_near_us_and_yet_invisible_to_us._
<b12.P1.263> Nothing_was_to_be_seen_save_flat_meadows,_cows_feeding_
<b12.P1.264> unconcernedly_for_the_most_part,_and_silvery_pollard_willows_
<b12.P1.265> motionless_in_the_warm_sunlight.
<b12.P1.266> =
<b12.P1.267> "The_sojers'll_stop_'em,"_said_a_woman_beside_me,_
<b12.P1.268> doubtfully._A_haziness_rose_over_the_treetops.
<b12.P1.269> =
<b12.P1.270> Then_suddenly_we_saw_a_rush_of_smoke_far_away_up_the_river,_
<b12.P1.271> a_puff_of_smoke_that_jerked_up_into_the_air_and_hung;_and_
<b12.P1.272> forthwith_the_ground_heaved_under_foot_and_a_heavy_explosion_
<b12.P1.273> shook_the_air,_smashing_two_or_three_windows_in_the_houses_
<b12.P1.274> near,_and_leaving_us_astonished.
<b12.P1.275> =
<b12.P1.276> "Here_they_are!"_shouted_a_man_in_a_blue_jersey._"Yonder!_
<b12.P1.277> D'yer_see_them?_Yonder!"
<b12.P1.278> =
<b12.P1.279> Quickly,_one_after_the_other,_one,_two,_three,_four_of_the_
<b12.P1.280> armoured_Martians_appeared,_far_away_over_the_little_trees,_
<b12.P1.281> across_the_flat_meadows_that_stretched_towards_Chertsey,_and_
<b12.P1.282> striding_hurriedly_towards_the_river._Little_cowled_figures_
<b12.P1.283> they_seemed_at_first,_going_with_a_rolling_motion_and_as_
<b12.P1.284> fast_as_flying_birds.
<b12.P1.285> =
<b12.P1.286> Then,_advancing_obliquely_towards_us,_came_a_fifth._Their_
<b12.P1.287> armoured_bodies_glittered_in_the_sun_as_they_swept_swiftly_
<b12.P1.288> forward_upon_the_guns,_growing_rapidly_larger_as_they_drew_
<b12.P1.289> nearer._One_on_the_extreme_left,_the_remotest_that_is,_
<b12.P1.290> flourished_a_huge_case_high_in_the_air,_and_the_ghostly,_
<b12.P1.291> terrible_Heat-Ray_I_had_already_seen_on_Friday_night_smote_
<b12.P1.292> towards_Chertsey,_and_struck_the_town.
<b12.P1.293> =
<b12.P1.294> At_sight_of_these_strange,_swift,_and_terrible_creatures_the_
<b12.P1.295> crowd_near_the_water's_edge_seemed_to_me_to_be_for_a_moment_
<b12.P1.296> horror-struck._There_was_no_screaming_or_shouting,_but_a_
<b12.P1.297> silence._Then_a_hoarse_murmur_and_a_movement_of_feet--a_
<b12.P1.298> splashing_from_the_water._A_man,_too_frightened_to_drop_the_
<b12.P1.299> portmanteau_he_carried_on_his_shoulder,_swung_round_and_sent_
<b12.P1.300> me_staggering_with_a_blow_from_the_corner_of_his_burden._A_
<b12.P1.301> woman_thrust_at_me_with_her_hand_and_rushed_past_me._I_
<b12.P1.302> turned_with_the_rush_of_the_people,_but_I_was_not_too_
<b12.P1.303> terrified_for_thought._The_terrible_Heat-Ray_was_in_my_mind._
<b12.P1.304> To_get_under_water!_That_was_it!
<b12.P1.305> =
<b12.P1.306> "Get_under_water!"_I_shouted,_unheeded.
<b12.P1.307> =
<b12.P1.308> I_faced_about_again,_and_rushed_towards_the_approaching_
<b12.P1.309> Martian,_rushed_right_down_the_gravelly_beach_and_headlong_
<b12.P1.310> into_the_water._Others_did_the_same._A_boatload_of_people_
<b12.P1.311> putting_back_came_leaping_out_as_I_rushed_past._The_stones_
<b12.P1.312> under_my_feet_were_muddy_and_slippery,_and_the_river_was_so_
<b12.P1.313> low_that_I_ran_perhaps_twenty_feet_scarcely_waist-deep._
<b12.P1.314> Then,_as_the_Martian_towered_overhead_scarcely_a_couple_of_
<b12.P1.315> hundred_yards_away,_I_flung_myself_forward_under_the_
<b12.P1.316> surface._The_splashes_of_the_people_in_the_boats_leaping_
<b12.P1.317> into_the_river_sounded_like_thunderclaps_in_my_ears._People_
<b12.P1.318> were_landing_hastily_on_both_sides_of_the_river._But_the_
<b12.P1.319> Martian_machine_took_no_more_notice_for_the_moment_of_the_
<b12.P1.320> people_running_this_way_and_that_than_a_man_would_of_the_
<b12.P1.321> confusion_of_ants_in_a_nest_against_which_his_foot_has_
<b12.P1.322> kicked._When,_half_suffocated,_I_raised_my_head_above_water,_
<b12.P1.323> the_Martian's_hood_pointed_at_the_batteries_that_were_still_
<b12.P1.324> firing_across_the_river,_and_as_it_advanced_it_swung_loose_
<b12.P1.325> what_must_have_been_the_generator_of_the_Heat-Ray.
<b12.P1.326> =
<b12.P1.327> In_another_moment_it_was_on_the_bank,_and_in_a_stride_wading_
<b12.P1.328> halfway_across._The_knees_of_its_foremost_legs_bent_at_the_
<b12.P1.329> farther_bank,_and_in_another_moment_it_had_raised_itself_to_
<b12.P1.330> its_full_height_again,_close_to_the_village_of_Shepperton._
<b12.P1.331> Forthwith_the_six_guns_which,_unknown_to_anyone_on_the_right_
<b12.P1.332> bank,_had_been_hidden_behind_the_outskirts_of_that_village,_
<b12.P1.333> fired_simultaneously._The_sudden_near_concussion,_the_last_
<b12.P1.334> close_upon_the_first,_made_my_heart_jump._The_monster_was_
<b12.P1.335> already_raising_the_case_generating_the_Heat-Ray_as_the_
<b12.P1.336> first_shell_burst_six_yards_above_the_hood.
<b12.P1.337> =
<b12.P1.338> I_gave_a_cry_of_astonishment._I_saw_and_thought_nothing_of_
<b12.P1.339> the_other_four_Martian_monsters;_my_attention_was_riveted_
<b12.P1.340> upon_the_nearer_incident._Simultaneously_two_other_shells_
<b12.P1.341> burst_in_the_air_near_the_body_as_the_hood_twisted_round_in_
<b12.P1.342> time_to_receive,_but_not_in_time_to_dodge,_the_fourth_shell.
<b12.P1.343> =
<b12.P1.344> The_shell_burst_clean_in_the_face_of_the_Thing._The_hood_
<b12.P1.345> bulged,_flashed,_was_whirled_off_in_a_dozen_tattered_
<b12.P1.346> fragments_of_red_flesh_and_glittering_metal.
<b12.P1.347> =
<b12.P1.348> "Hit!"_shouted_I,_with_something_between_a_scream_and_a_
<b12.P1.349> cheer.
<b12.P1.350> =
<b12.P1.351> I_heard_answering_shouts_from_the_people_in_the_water_about_
<b12.P1.352> me._I_could_have_leaped_out_of_the_water_with_that_momentary_
<b12.P1.353> exultation.
<b12.P1.354> =
<b12.P1.355> The_decapitated_colossus_reeled_like_a_drunken_giant;_but_it_
<b12.P1.356> did_not_fall_over._It_recovered_its_balance_by_a_miracle,_
<b12.P1.357> and,_no_longer_heeding_its_steps_and_with_the_camera_that_
<b12.P1.358> fired_the_Heat-Ray_now_rigidly_upheld,_it_reeled_swiftly_
<b12.P1.359> upon_Shepperton._The_living_intelligence,_the_Martian_within_
<b12.P1.360> the_hood,_was_slain_and_splashed_to_the_four_winds_of_
<b12.P1.361> heaven,_and_the_Thing_was_now_but_a_mere_intricate_device_of_
<b12.P1.362> metal_whirling_to_destruction._It_drove_along_in_a_straight_
<b12.P1.363> line,_incapable_of_guidance._It_struck_the_tower_of_
<b12.P1.364> Shepperton_Church,_smashing_it_down_as_the_impact_of_a_
<b12.P1.365> battering_ram_might_have_done,_swerved_aside,_blundered_on_
<b12.P1.366> and_collapsed_with_tremendous_force_into_the_river_out_of_my_
<b12.P1.367> sight.
<b12.P1.368> =
<b12.P1.369> A_violent_explosion_shook_the_air,_and_a_spout_of_water,_
<b12.P1.370> steam,_mud,_and_shattered_metal_shot_far_up_into_the_sky._As_
<b12.P1.371> the_camera_of_the_Heat-Ray_hit_the_water,_the_latter_had_
<b12.P1.372> immediately_flashed_into_steam._In_another_moment_a_huge_
<b12.P1.373> wave,_like_a_muddy_tidal_bore_but_almost_scaldingly_hot,_
<b12.P1.374> came_sweeping_round_the_bend_upstream._I_saw_people_
<b12.P1.375> struggling_shorewards,_and_heard_their_screaming_and_
<b12.P1.376> shouting_faintly_above_the_seething_and_roar_of_the_
<b12.P1.377> Martian's_collapse.
<b12.P1.378> =
<b12.P1.379> For_a_moment_I_heeded_nothing_of_the_heat,_forgot_the_patent_
<b12.P1.380> need_of_self-preservation._I_splashed_through_the_tumultuous_
<b12.P1.381> water,_pushing_aside_a_man_in_black_to_do_so,_until_I_could_
<b12.P1.382> see_round_the_bend._Half_a_dozen_deserted_boats_pitched_
<b12.P1.383> aimlessly_upon_the_confusion_of_the_waves._The_fallen_
<b12.P1.384> Martian_came_into_sight_downstream,_lying_across_the_river,_
<b12.P1.385> and_for_the_most_part_submerged.
<b12.P1.386> =
<b12.P1.387> Thick_clouds_of_steam_were_pouring_off_the_wreckage,_and_
<b12.P1.388> through_the_tumultuously_whirling_wisps_I_could_see,_
<b12.P1.389> intermittently_and_vaguely,_the_gigantic_limbs_churning_the_
<b12.P1.390> water_and_flinging_a_splash_and_spray_of_mud_and_froth_into_
<b12.P1.391> the_air._The_tentacles_swayed_and_struck_like_living_arms,_
<b12.P1.392> and,_save_for_the_helpless_purposelessness_of_these_
<b12.P1.393> movements,_it_was_as_if_some_wounded_thing_were_struggling_
<b12.P1.394> for_its_life_amid_the_waves._Enormous_quantities_of_a_
<b12.P1.395> ruddy-brown_fluid_were_spurting_up_in_noisy_jets_out_of_the_
<b12.P1.396> machine.
<b12.P1.397> =
<b12.P1.398> My_attention_was_diverted_from_this_death_flurry_by_a_
<b12.P1.399> furious_yelling,_like_that_of_the_thing_called_a_siren_in_
<b12.P1.400> our_manufacturing_towns._A_man,_knee-deep_near_the_towing_
<b12.P1.401> path,_shouted_inaudibly_to_me_and_pointed._Looking_back,_I_
<b12.P1.402> saw_the_other_Martians_advancing_with_gigantic_strides_down_
<b12.P1.403> the_riverbank_from_the_direction_of_Chertsey._The_Shepperton_
<b12.P1.404> guns_spoke_this_time_unavailingly.
<b12.P1.405> =
<b12.P1.406> At_that_I_ducked_at_once_under_water,_and,_holding_my_breath_
<b12.P1.407> until_movement_was_an_agony,_blundered_painfully_ahead_under_
<b12.P1.408> the_surface_as_long_as_I_could._The_water_was_in_a_tumult_
<b12.P1.409> about_me,_and_rapidly_growing_hotter.
<b12.P1.410> =
<b12.P1.411> When_for_a_moment_I_raised_my_head_to_take_breath_and_throw_
<b12.P1.412> the_hair_and_water_from_my_eyes,_the_steam_was_rising_in_a_
<b12.P1.413> whirling_white_fog_that_at_first_hid_the_Martians_
<b12.P1.414> altogether._The_noise_was_deafening._Then_I_saw_them_dimly,_
<b12.P1.415> colossal_figures_of_grey,_magnified_by_the_mist._They_had_
<b12.P1.416> passed_by_me,_and_two_were_stooping_over_the_frothing,_
<b12.P1.417> tumultuous_ruins_of_their_comrade.
<b12.P1.418> =
<b12.P1.419> The_third_and_fourth_stood_beside_him_in_the_water,_one_
<b12.P1.420> perhaps_two_hundred_yards_from_me,_the_other_towards_
<b12.P1.421> Laleham._The_generators_of_the_Heat-Rays_waved_high,_and_the_
<b12.P1.422> hissing_beams_smote_down_this_way_and_that.
<b12.P1.423> =
<b12.P1.424> The_air_was_full_of_sound,_a_deafening_and_confusing_
<b12.P1.425> conflict_of_noises--the_clangorous_din_of_the_Martians,_the_
<b12.P1.426> crash_of_falling_houses,_the_thud_of_trees,_fences,_sheds_
<b12.P1.427> flashing_into_flame,_and_the_crackling_and_roaring_of_fire._
<b12.P1.428> Dense_black_smoke_was_leaping_up_to_mingle_with_the_steam_
<b12.P1.429> from_the_river,_and_as_the_Heat-Ray_went_to_and_fro_over_
<b12.P1.430> Weybridge_its_impact_was_marked_by_flashes_of_incandescent_
<b12.P1.431> white,_that_gave_place_at_once_to_a_smoky_dance_of_lurid_
<b12.P1.432> flames._The_nearer_houses_still_stood_intact,_awaiting_their_
<b12.P1.433> fate,_shadowy,_faint_and_pallid_in_the_steam,_with_the_fire_
<b12.P1.434> behind_them_going_to_and_fro.
<b12.P1.435> =
<b12.P1.436> For_a_moment_perhaps_I_stood_there,_breast-high_in_the_
<b12.P1.437> almost_boiling_water,_dumbfounded_at_my_position,_hopeless_
<b12.P1.438> of_escape._Through_the_reek_I_could_see_the_people_who_had_
<b12.P1.439> been_with_me_in_the_river_scrambling_out_of_the_water_
<b12.P1.440> through_the_reeds,_like_little_frogs_hurrying_through_grass_
<b12.P1.441> from_the_advance_of_a_man,_or_running_to_and_fro_in_utter_
<b12.P1.442> dismay_on_the_towing_path.
<b12.P1.443> =
<b12.P1.444> Then_suddenly_the_white_flashes_of_the_Heat-Ray_came_leaping_
<b12.P1.445> towards_me._The_houses_caved_in_as_they_dissolved_at_its_
<b12.P1.446> touch,_and_darted_out_flames;_the_trees_changed_to_fire_with_
<b12.P1.447> a_roar._The_Ray_flickered_up_and_down_the_towing_path,_
<b12.P1.448> licking_off_the_people_who_ran_this_way_and_that,_and_came_
<b12.P1.449> down_to_the_water's_edge_not_fifty_yards_from_where_I_stood._
<b12.P1.450> It_swept_across_the_river_to_Shepperton,_and_the_water_in_
<b12.P1.451> its_track_rose_in_a_boiling_weal_crested_with_steam._I_
<b12.P1.452> turned_shoreward.
<b12.P1.453> =
<b12.P1.454> In_another_moment_the_huge_wave,_well-nigh_at_the_
<b12.P1.455> boiling-point_had_rushed_upon_me._I_screamed_aloud,_and_
<b12.P1.456> scalded,_half_blinded,_agonised,_I_staggered_through_the_
<b12.P1.457> leaping,_hissing_water_towards_the_shore._Had_my_foot_
<b12.P1.458> stumbled,_it_would_have_been_the_end._I_fell_helplessly,_in_
<b12.P1.459> full_sight_of_the_Martians,_upon_the_broad,_bare_gravelly_
<b12.P1.460> spit_that_runs_down_to_mark_the_angle_of_the_Wey_and_Thames._
<b12.P1.461> I_expected_nothing_but_death.
<b12.P1.462> =
<b12.P1.463> I_have_a_dim_memory_of_the_foot_of_a_Martian_coming_down_
<b12.P1.464> within_a_score_of_yards_of_my_head,_driving_straight_into_
<b12.P1.465> the_loose_gravel,_whirling_it_this_way_and_that_and_lifting_
<b12.P1.466> again;_of_a_long_suspense,_and_then_of_the_four_carrying_the_
<b12.P1.467> debris_of_their_comrade_between_them,_now_clear_and_then_
<b12.P1.468> presently_faint_through_a_veil_of_smoke,_receding_
<b12.P1.469> interminably,_as_it_seemed_to_me,_across_a_vast_space_of_
<b12.P1.470> river_and_meadow._And_then,_very_slowly,_I_realised_that_by_
<b12.P1.471> a_miracle_I_had_escaped.
<b12.P1.472> =
#
## <b13>
# chapter 13 THIRTEEN
# unit C chapter_number
# unit H chapter_title
# unit P text
<b13.P1.001> After_getting_this_sudden_lesson_in_the_power_of_terrestrial_
<b13.P1.002> weapons,_the_Martians_retreated_to_their_original_position_
<b13.P1.003> upon_Horsell_Common;_and_in_their_haste,_and_encumbered_with_
<b13.P1.004> the_debris_of_their_smashed_companion,_they_no_doubt_
<b13.P1.005> overlooked_many_such_a_stray_and_negligible_victim_as_
<b13.P1.006> myself._Had_they_left_their_comrade_and_pushed_on_forthwith,_
<b13.P1.007> there_was_nothing_at_that_time_between_them_and_London_but_
<b13.P1.008> batteries_of_twelve-pounder_guns,_and_they_would_certainly_
<b13.P1.009> have_reached_the_capital_in_advance_of_the_tidings_of_their_
<b13.P1.010> approach;_as_sudden,_dreadful,_and_destructive_their_advent_
<b13.P1.011> would_have_been_as_the_earthquake_that_destroyed_Lisbon_a_
<b13.P1.012> century_ago.
<b13.P1.013> =
<b13.P1.014> But_they_were_in_no_hurry._Cylinder_followed_cylinder_on_its_
<b13.P1.015> interplanetary_flight;_every_twenty-four_hours_brought_them_
<b13.P1.016> reinforcement._And_meanwhile_the_military_and_naval_
<b13.P1.017> authorities,_now_fully_alive_to_the_tremendous_power_of_
<b13.P1.018> their_antagonists,_worked_with_furious_energy._Every_minute_
<b13.P1.019> a_fresh_gun_came_into_position_until,_before_twilight,_every_
<b13.P1.020> copse,_every_row_of_suburban_villas_on_the_hilly_slopes_
<b13.P1.021> about_Kingston_and_Richmond,_masked_an_expectant_black_
<b13.P1.022> muzzle._And_through_the_charred_and_desolated_area--perhaps_
<b13.P1.023> twenty_square_miles_altogether--that_encircled_the_Martian_
<b13.P1.024> encampment_on_Horsell_Common,_through_charred_and_ruined_
<b13.P1.025> villages_among_the_green_trees,_through_the_blackened_and_
<b13.P1.026> smoking_arcades_that_had_been_but_a_day_ago_pine_spinneys,_
<b13.P1.027> crawled_the_devoted_scouts_with_the_heliographs_that_were_
<b13.P1.028> presently_to_warn_the_gunners_of_the_Martian_approach._But_
<b13.P1.029> the_Martians_now_understood_our_command_of_artillery_and_the_
<b13.P1.030> danger_of_human_proximity,_and_not_a_man_ventured_within_a_
<b13.P1.031> mile_of_either_cylinder,_save_at_the_price_of_his_life.
<b13.P1.032> =
<b13.P1.033> It_would_seem_that_these_giants_spent_the_earlier_part_of_
<b13.P1.034> the_afternoon_in_going_to_and_fro,_transferring_everything_
<b13.P1.035> from_the_second_and_third_cylinders--the_second_in_
<b13.P1.036> Addlestone_Golf_Links_and_the_third_at_Pyrford--to_their_
<b13.P1.037> original_pit_on_Horsell_Common._Over_that,_above_the_
<b13.P1.038> blackened_heather_and_ruined_buildings_that_stretched_far_
<b13.P1.039> and_wide,_stood_one_as_sentinel,_while_the_rest_abandoned_
<b13.P1.040> their_vast_fighting-machines_and_descended_into_the_pit._
<b13.P1.041> They_were_hard_at_work_there_far_into_the_night,_and_the_
<b13.P1.042> towering_pillar_of_dense_green_smoke_that_rose_therefrom_
<b13.P1.043> could_be_seen_from_the_hills_about_Merrow,_and_even,_it_is_
<b13.P1.044> said,_from_Banstead_and_Epsom_Downs.
<b13.P1.045> =
<b13.P1.046> And_while_the_Martians_behind_me_were_thus_preparing_for_
<b13.P1.047> their_next_sally,_and_in_front_of_me_Humanity_gathered_for_
<b13.P1.048> the_battle,_I_made_my_way_with_infinite_pains_and_labour_
<b13.P1.049> from_the_fire_and_smoke_of_burning_Weybridge_towards_London.
<b13.P1.050> =
<b13.P1.051> I_saw_an_abandoned_boat,_very_small_and_remote,_drifting_
<b13.P1.052> down-stream;_and_throwing_off_the_most_of_my_sodden_clothes,_
<b13.P1.053> I_went_after_it,_gained_it,_and_so_escaped_out_of_that_
<b13.P1.054> destruction._There_were_no_oars_in_the_boat,_but_I_contrived_
<b13.P1.055> to_paddle,_as_well_as_my_parboiled_hands_would_allow,_down_
<b13.P1.056> the_river_towards_Halliford_and_Walton,_going_very_tediously_
<b13.P1.057> and_continually_looking_behind_me,_as_you_may_well_
<b13.P1.058> understand._I_followed_the_river,_because_I_considered_that_
<b13.P1.059> the_water_gave_me_my_best_chance_of_escape_should_these_
<b13.P1.060> giants_return.
<b13.P1.061> =
<b13.P1.062> The_hot_water_from_the_Martian's_overthrow_drifted_
<b13.P1.063> downstream_with_me,_so_that_for_the_best_part_of_a_mile_I_
<b13.P1.064> could_see_little_of_either_bank._Once,_however,_I_made_out_a_
<b13.P1.065> string_of_black_figures_hurrying_across_the_meadows_from_the_
<b13.P1.066> direction_of_Weybridge._Halliford,_it_seemed,_was_deserted,_
<b13.P1.067> and_several_of_the_houses_facing_the_river_were_on_fire._It_
<b13.P1.068> was_strange_to_see_the_place_quite_tranquil,_quite_desolate_
<b13.P1.069> under_the_hot_blue_sky,_with_the_smoke_and_little_threads_of_
<b13.P1.070> flame_going_straight_up_into_the_heat_of_the_afternoon._
<b13.P1.071> Never_before_had_I_seen_houses_burning_without_the_
<b13.P1.072> accompaniment_of_an_obstructive_crowd._A_little_farther_on_
<b13.P1.073> the_dry_reeds_up_the_bank_were_smoking_and_glowing,_and_a_
<b13.P1.074> line_of_fire_inland_was_marching_steadily_across_a_late_
<b13.P1.075> field_of_hay.
<b13.P1.076> =
<b13.P1.077> For_a_long_time_I_drifted,_so_painful_and_weary_was_I_after_
<b13.P1.078> the_violence_I_had_been_through,_and_so_intense_the_heat_
<b13.P1.079> upon_the_water._Then_my_fears_got_the_better_of_me_again,_
<b13.P1.080> and_I_resumed_my_paddling._The_sun_scorched_my_bare_back._At_
<b13.P1.081> last,_as_the_bridge_at_Walton_was_coming_into_sight_round_
<b13.P1.082> the_bend,_my_fever_and_faintness_overcame_my_fears,_and_I_
<b13.P1.083> landed_on_the_Middlesex_bank_and_lay_down,_deadly_sick,_amid_
<b13.P1.084> the_long_grass._I_suppose_the_time_was_then_about_four_or_
<b13.P1.085> five_o'clock._I_got_up_presently,_walked_perhaps_half_a_mile_
<b13.P1.086> without_meeting_a_soul,_and_then_lay_down_again_in_the_
<b13.P1.087> shadow_of_a_hedge._I_seem_to_remember_talking,_wanderingly,_
<b13.P1.088> to_myself_during_that_last_spurt._I_was_also_very_thirsty,_
<b13.P1.089> and_bitterly_regretful_I_had_drunk_no_more_water._It_is_a_
<b13.P1.090> curious_thing_that_I_felt_angry_with_my_wife;_I_cannot_
<b13.P1.091> account_for_it,_but_my_impotent_desire_to_reach_Leatherhead_
<b13.P1.092> worried_me_excessively.
<b13.P1.093> =
<b13.P1.094> I_do_not_clearly_remember_the_arrival_of_the_curate,_so_that_
<b13.P1.095> probably_I_dozed._I_became_aware_of_him_as_a_seated_figure_
<b13.P1.096> in_soot-smudged_shirt_sleeves,_and_with_his_upturned,_
<b13.P1.097> clean-shaven_face_staring_at_a_faint_flickering_that_danced_
<b13.P1.098> over_the_sky._The_sky_was_what_is_called_a_mackerel_
<b13.P1.099> sky--rows_and_rows_of_faint_down-plumes_of_cloud,_just_
<b13.P1.100> tinted_with_the_midsummer_sunset.
<b13.P1.101> =
<b13.P1.102> I_sat_up,_and_at_the_rustle_of_my_motion_he_looked_at_me_
<b13.P1.103> quickly.
<b13.P1.104> =
<b13.P1.105> "Have_you_any_water?"_I_asked_abruptly.
<b13.P1.106> =
<b13.P1.107> He_shook_his_head.
<b13.P1.108> =
<b13.P1.109> "You_have_been_asking_for_water_for_the_last_hour,"_he_said.
<b13.P1.110> =
<b13.P1.111> For_a_moment_we_were_silent,_taking_stock_of_each_other._I_
<b13.P1.112> dare_say_he_found_me_a_strange_enough_figure,_naked,_save_
<b13.P1.113> for_my_water-soaked_trousers_and_socks,_scalded,_and_my_face_
<b13.P1.114> and_shoulders_blackened_by_the_smoke._His_face_was_a_fair_
<b13.P1.115> weakness,_his_chin_retreated,_and_his_hair_lay_in_crisp,_
<b13.P1.116> almost_flaxen_curls_on_his_low_forehead;_his_eyes_were_
<b13.P1.117> rather_large,_pale_blue,_and_blankly_staring._He_spoke_
<b13.P1.118> abruptly,_looking_vacantly_away_from_me.
<b13.P1.119> =
<b13.P1.120> "What_does_it_mean?"_he_said._"What_do_these_things_mean?"
<b13.P1.121> =
<b13.P1.122> I_stared_at_him_and_made_no_answer.
<b13.P1.123> =
<b13.P1.124> He_extended_a_thin_white_hand_and_spoke_in_almost_a_
<b13.P1.125> complaining_tone.
<b13.P1.126> =
<b13.P1.127> "Why_are_these_things_permitted?_What_sins_have_we_done?_The_
<b13.P1.128> morning_service_was_over,_I_was_walking_through_the_roads_to_
<b13.P1.129> clear_my_brain_for_the_afternoon,_and_then--fire,_
<b13.P1.130> earthquake,_death!_As_if_it_were_Sodom_and_Gomorrah!_All_our_
<b13.P1.131> work_undone,_all_the_work----What_are_these_Martians?"
<b13.P1.132> =
<b13.P1.133> "What_are_we?"_I_answered,_clearing_my_throat.
<b13.P1.134> =
<b13.P1.135> He_gripped_his_knees_and_turned_to_look_at_me_again._For_
<b13.P1.136> half_a_minute,_perhaps,_he_stared_silently.
<b13.P1.137> =
<b13.P1.138> "I_was_walking_through_the_roads_to_clear_my_brain,"_he_
<b13.P1.139> said._"And_suddenly--fire,_earthquake,_death!"
<b13.P1.140> =
<b13.P1.141> He_relapsed_into_silence,_with_his_chin_now_sunken_almost_to_
<b13.P1.142> his_knees.
<b13.P1.143> =
<b13.P1.144> Presently_he_began_waving_his_hand.
<b13.P1.145> =
<b13.P1.146> "All_the_work--all_the_Sunday_schools----What_have_we_
<b13.P1.147> done--what_has_Weybridge_done?_Everything_gone--everything_
<b13.P1.148> destroyed._The_church!_We_rebuilt_it_only_three_years_ago._
<b13.P1.149> Gone!_Swept_out_of_existence!_Why?"
<b13.P1.150> =
<b13.P1.151> Another_pause,_and_he_broke_out_again_like_one_demented.
<b13.P1.152> =
<b13.P1.153> "The_smoke_of_her_burning_goeth_up_for_ever_and_ever!"_he_
<b13.P1.154> shouted.
<b13.P1.155> =
<b13.P1.156> His_eyes_flamed,_and_he_pointed_a_lean_finger_in_the_
<b13.P1.157> direction_of_Weybridge.
<b13.P1.158> =
<b13.P1.159> By_this_time_I_was_beginning_to_take_his_measure._The_
<b13.P1.160> tremendous_tragedy_in_which_he_had_been_involved--it_was_
<b13.P1.161> evident_he_was_a_fugitive_from_Weybridge--had_driven_him_to_
<b13.P1.162> the_very_verge_of_his_reason.
<b13.P1.163> =
<b13.P1.164> "Are_we_far_from_Sunbury?"_I_said,_in_a_matter-of-fact_tone.
<b13.P1.165> =
<b13.P1.166> "What_are_we_to_do?"_he_asked._"Are_these_creatures_
<b13.P1.167> everywhere?_Has_the_earth_been_given_over_to_them?"
<b13.P1.168> =
<b13.P1.169> "Are_we_far_from_Sunbury?"
<b13.P1.170> =
<b13.P1.171> "Only_this_morning_I_officiated_at_early_celebration----"
<b13.P1.172> =
<b13.P1.173> "Things_have_changed,"_I_said,_quietly._"You_must_keep_your_
<b13.P1.174> head._There_is_still_hope."
<b13.P1.175> =
<b13.P1.176> "Hope!"
<b13.P1.177> =
<b13.P1.178> "Yes._Plentiful_hope--for_all_this_destruction!"
<b13.P1.179> =
<b13.P1.180> I_began_to_explain_my_view_of_our_position._He_listened_at_
<b13.P1.181> first,_but_as_I_went_on_the_interest_dawning_in_his_eyes_
<b13.P1.182> gave_place_to_their_former_stare,_and_his_regard_wandered_
<b13.P1.183> from_me.
<b13.P1.184> =
<b13.P1.185> "This_must_be_the_beginning_of_the_end,"_he_said,_
<b13.P1.186> interrupting_me._"The_end!_The_great_and_terrible_day_of_the_
<b13.P1.187> Lord!_When_men_shall_call_upon_the_mountains_and_the_rocks_
<b13.P1.188> to_fall_upon_them_and_hide_them--hide_them_from_the_face_of_
<b13.P1.189> Him_that_sitteth_upon_the_throne!"
<b13.P1.190> =
<b13.P1.191> I_began_to_understand_the_position._I_ceased_my_laboured_
<b13.P1.192> reasoning,_struggled_to_my_feet,_and,_standing_over_him,_
<b13.P1.193> laid_my_hand_on_his_shoulder.
<b13.P1.194> =
<b13.P1.195> "Be_a_man!"_said_I._"You_are_scared_out_of_your_wits!_What_
<b13.P1.196> good_is_religion_if_it_collapses_under_calamity?_Think_of_
<b13.P1.197> what_earthquakes_and_floods,_wars_and_volcanoes,_have_done_
<b13.P1.198> before_to_men!_Did_you_think_God_had_exempted_Weybridge?_He_
<b13.P1.199> is_not_an_insurance_agent."
<b13.P1.200> =
<b13.P1.201> For_a_time_he_sat_in_blank_silence.
<b13.P1.202> =
<b13.P1.203> "But_how_can_we_escape?"_he_asked,_suddenly._"They_are_
<b13.P1.204> invulnerable,_they_are_pitiless."
<b13.P1.205> =
<b13.P1.206> "Neither_the_one_nor,_perhaps,_the_other,"_I_answered._"And_
<b13.P1.207> the_mightier_they_are_the_more_sane_and_wary_should_we_be._
<b13.P1.208> One_of_them_was_killed_yonder_not_three_hours_ago."
<b13.P1.209> =
<b13.P1.210> "Killed!"_he_said,_staring_about_him._"How_can_God's_
<b13.P1.211> ministers_be_killed?"
<b13.P1.212> =
<b13.P1.213> "I_saw_it_happen."_I_proceeded_to_tell_him._"We_have_chanced_
<b13.P1.214> to_come_in_for_the_thick_of_it,"_said_I,_"and_that_is_all."
<b13.P1.215> =
<b13.P1.216> "What_is_that_flicker_in_the_sky?"_he_asked_abruptly.
<b13.P1.217> =
<b13.P1.218> I_told_him_it_was_the_heliograph_signalling--that_it_was_the_
<b13.P1.219> sign_of_human_help_and_effort_in_the_sky.
<b13.P1.220> =
<b13.P1.221> "We_are_in_the_midst_of_it,"_I_said,_"quiet_as_it_is._That_
<b13.P1.222> flicker_in_the_sky_tells_of_the_gathering_storm._Yonder,_I_
<b13.P1.223> take_it_are_the_Martians,_and_Londonward,_where_those_hills_
<b13.P1.224> rise_about_Richmond_and_Kingston_and_the_trees_give_cover,_
<b13.P1.225> earthworks_are_being_thrown_up_and_guns_are_being_placed._
<b13.P1.226> Presently_the_Martians_will_be_coming_this_way_again."
<b13.P1.227> =
<b13.P1.228> And_even_as_I_spoke_he_sprang_to_his_feet_and_stopped_me_by_
<b13.P1.229> a_gesture.
<b13.P1.230> =
<b13.P1.231> "Listen!"_he_said.
<b13.P1.232> =
<b13.P1.233> From_beyond_the_low_hills_across_the_water_came_the_dull_
<b13.P1.234> resonance_of_distant_guns_and_a_remote_weird_crying._Then_
<b13.P1.235> everything_was_still._A_cockchafer_came_droning_over_the_
<b13.P1.236> hedge_and_past_us._High_in_the_west_the_crescent_moon_hung_
<b13.P1.237> faint_and_pale_above_the_smoke_of_Weybridge_and_Shepperton_
<b13.P1.238> and_the_hot,_still_splendour_of_the_sunset.
<b13.P1.239> =
<b13.P1.240> "We_had_better_follow_this_path,"_I_said,_"northward."
<b13.P1.241> =
#
## <b14>
# chapter 14 FOURTEEN
# unit C chapter_number
# unit H chapter_title
# unit P text
<b14.P1.001> My_younger_brother_was_in_London_when_the_Martians_fell_at_
<b14.P1.002> Woking._He_was_a_medical_student_working_for_an_imminent_
<b14.P1.003> examination,_and_he_heard_nothing_of_the_arrival_until_
<b14.P1.004> Saturday_morning._The_morning_papers_on_Saturday_contained,_
<b14.P1.005> in_addition_to_lengthy_special_articles_on_the_planet_Mars,_
<b14.P1.006> on_life_in_the_planets,_and_so_forth,_a_brief_and_vaguely_
<b14.P1.007> worded_telegram,_all_the_more_striking_for_its_brevity.
<b14.P1.008> =
<b14.P1.009> The_Martians,_alarmed_by_the_approach_of_a_crowd,_had_killed_
<b14.P1.010> a_number_of_people_with_a_quick-firing_gun,_so_the_story_
<b14.P1.011> ran._The_telegram_concluded_with_the_words:_"Formidable_as_
<b14.P1.012> they_seem_to_be,_the_Martians_have_not_moved_from_the_pit_
<b14.P1.013> into_which_they_have_fallen,_and,_indeed,_seem_incapable_of_
<b14.P1.014> doing_so._Probably_this_is_due_to_the_relative_strength_of_
<b14.P1.015> the_earth's_gravitational_energy."_On_that_last_text_their_
<b14.P1.016> leader-writer_expanded_very_comfortingly.
<b14.P1.017> =
<b14.P1.018> Of_course_all_the_students_in_the_crammer's_biology_class,_
<b14.P1.019> to_which_my_brother_went_that_day,_were_intensely_
<b14.P1.020> interested,_but_there_were_no_signs_of_any_unusual_
<b14.P1.021> excitement_in_the_streets._The_afternoon_papers_puffed_
<b14.P1.022> scraps_of_news_under_big_headlines._They_had_nothing_to_tell_
<b14.P1.023> beyond_the_movements_of_troops_about_the_common,_and_the_
<b14.P1.024> burning_of_the_pine_woods_between_Woking_and_Weybridge,_
<b14.P1.025> until_eight._Then_the_ST._JAMES'S_GAZETTE,_in_an_
<b14.P1.026> extra-special_edition,_announced_the_bare_fact_of_the_
<b14.P1.027> interruption_of_telegraphic_communication._This_was_thought_
<b14.P1.028> to_be_due_to_the_falling_of_burning_pine_trees_across_the_
<b14.P1.029> line._Nothing_more_of_the_fighting_was_known_that_night,_the_
<b14.P1.030> night_of_my_drive_to_Leatherhead_and_back.
<b14.P1.031> =
<b14.P1.032> My_brother_felt_no_anxiety_about_us,_as_he_knew_from_the_
<b14.P1.033> description_in_the_papers_that_the_cylinder_was_a_good_two_
<b14.P1.034> miles_from_my_house._He_made_up_his_mind_to_run_down_that_
<b14.P1.035> night_to_me,_in_order,_as_he_says,_to_see_the_Things_before_
<b14.P1.036> they_were_killed._He_despatched_a_telegram,_which_never_
<b14.P1.037> reached_me,_about_four_o'clock,_and_spent_the_evening_at_a_
<b14.P1.038> music_hall.
<b14.P1.039> =
<b14.P1.040> In_London,_also,_on_Saturday_night_there_was_a_thunderstorm,_
<b14.P1.041> and_my_brother_reached_Waterloo_in_a_cab._On_the_platform_
<b14.P1.042> from_which_the_midnight_train_usually_starts_he_learned,_
<b14.P1.043> after_some_waiting,_that_an_accident_prevented_trains_from_
<b14.P1.044> reaching_Woking_that_night._The_nature_of_the_accident_he_
<b14.P1.045> could_not_ascertain;_indeed,_the_railway_authorities_did_not_
<b14.P1.046> clearly_know_at_that_time._There_was_very_little_excitement_
<b14.P1.047> in_the_station,_as_the_officials,_failing_to_realise_that_
<b14.P1.048> anything_further_than_a_breakdown_between_Byfleet_and_Woking_
<b14.P1.049> junction_had_occurred,_were_running_the_theatre_trains_which_
<b14.P1.050> usually_passed_through_Woking_round_by_Virginia_Water_or_
<b14.P1.051> Guildford._They_were_busy_making_the_necessary_arrangements_
<b14.P1.052> to_alter_the_route_of_the_Southampton_and_Portsmouth_Sunday_
<b14.P1.053> League_excursions._A_nocturnal_newspaper_reporter,_mistaking_
<b14.P1.054> my_brother_for_the_traffic_manager,_to_whom_he_bears_a_
<b14.P1.055> slight_resemblance,_waylaid_and_tried_to_interview_him._Few_
<b14.P1.056> people,_excepting_the_railway_officials,_connected_the_
<b14.P1.057> breakdown_with_the_Martians.
<b14.P1.058> =
<b14.P1.059> I_have_read,_in_another_account_of_these_events,_that_on_
<b14.P1.060> Sunday_morning_"all_London_was_electrified_by_the_news_from_
<b14.P1.061> Woking."_As_a_matter_of_fact,_there_was_nothing_to_justify_
<b14.P1.062> that_very_extravagant_phrase._Plenty_of_Londoners_did_not_
<b14.P1.063> hear_of_the_Martians_until_the_panic_of_Monday_morning._
<b14.P1.064> Those_who_did_took_some_time_to_realise_all_that_the_hastily_
<b14.P1.065> worded_telegrams_in_the_Sunday_papers_conveyed._The_majority_
<b14.P1.066> of_people_in_London_do_not_read_Sunday_papers.
<b14.P1.067> =
<b14.P1.068> The_habit_of_personal_security,_moreover,_is_so_deeply_fixed_
<b14.P1.069> in_the_Londoner's_mind,_and_startling_intelligence_so_much_a_
<b14.P1.070> matter_of_course_in_the_papers,_that_they_could_read_without_
<b14.P1.071> any_personal_tremors:_"About_seven_o'clock_last_night_the_
<b14.P1.072> Martians_came_out_of_the_cylinder,_and,_moving_about_under_
<b14.P1.073> an_armour_of_metallic_shields,_have_completely_wrecked_
<b14.P1.074> Woking_station_with_the_adjacent_houses,_and_massacred_an_
<b14.P1.075> entire_battalion_of_the_Cardigan_Regiment._No_details_are_
<b14.P1.076> known._Maxims_have_been_absolutely_useless_against_their_
<b14.P1.077> armour;_the_field_guns_have_been_disabled_by_them._Flying_
<b14.P1.078> hussars_have_been_galloping_into_Chertsey._The_Martians_
<b14.P1.079> appear_to_be_moving_slowly_towards_Chertsey_or_Windsor._
<b14.P1.080> Great_anxiety_prevails_in_West_Surrey,_and_earthworks_are_
<b14.P1.081> being_thrown_up_to_check_the_advance_Londonward."_That_was_
<b14.P1.082> how_the_Sunday_SUN_put_it,_and_a_clever_and_remarkably_
<b14.P1.083> prompt_"handbook"_article_in_the_REFEREE_compared_the_affair_
<b14.P1.084> to_a_menagerie_suddenly_let_loose_in_a_village.
<b14.P1.085> =
<b14.P1.086> No_one_in_London_knew_positively_of_the_nature_of_the_
<b14.P1.087> armoured_Martians,_and_there_was_still_a_fixed_idea_that_
<b14.P1.088> these_monsters_must_be_sluggish:_"crawling,"_"creeping_
<b14.P1.089> painfully"--such_expressions_occurred_in_almost_all_the_
<b14.P1.090> earlier_reports._None_of_the_telegrams_could_have_been_
<b14.P1.091> written_by_an_eyewitness_of_their_advance._The_Sunday_papers_
<b14.P1.092> printed_separate_editions_as_further_news_came_to_hand,_some_
<b14.P1.093> even_in_default_of_it._But_there_was_practically_nothing_
<b14.P1.094> more_to_tell_people_until_late_in_the_afternoon,_when_the_
<b14.P1.095> authorities_gave_the_press_agencies_the_news_in_their_
<b14.P1.096> possession._It_was_stated_that_the_people_of_Walton_and_
<b14.P1.097> Weybridge,_and_all_the_district_were_pouring_along_the_roads_
<b14.P1.098> Londonward,_and_that_was_all.
<b14.P1.099> =
<b14.P1.100> My_brother_went_to_church_at_the_Foundling_Hospital_in_the_
<b14.P1.101> morning,_still_in_ignorance_of_what_had_happened_on_the_
<b14.P1.102> previous_night._There_he_heard_allusions_made_to_the_
<b14.P1.103> invasion,_and_a_special_prayer_for_peace._Coming_out,_he_
<b14.P1.104> bought_a_REFEREE._He_became_alarmed_at_the_news_in_this,_and_
<b14.P1.105> went_again_to_Waterloo_station_to_find_out_if_communication_
<b14.P1.106> were_restored._The_omnibuses,_carriages,_cyclists,_and_
<b14.P1.107> innumerable_people_walking_in_their_best_clothes_seemed_
<b14.P1.108> scarcely_affected_by_the_strange_intelligence_that_the_news_
<b14.P1.109> venders_were_disseminating._People_were_interested,_or,_if_
<b14.P1.110> alarmed,_alarmed_only_on_account_of_the_local_residents._At_
<b14.P1.111> the_station_he_heard_for_the_first_time_that_the_Windsor_and_
<b14.P1.112> Chertsey_lines_were_now_interrupted._The_porters_told_him_
<b14.P1.113> that_several_remarkable_telegrams_had_been_received_in_the_
<b14.P1.114> morning_from_Byfleet_and_Chertsey_stations,_but_that_these_
<b14.P1.115> had_abruptly_ceased._My_brother_could_get_very_little_
<b14.P1.116> precise_detail_out_of_them.
<b14.P1.117> =
<b14.P1.118> "There's_fighting_going_on_about_Weybridge"_was_the_extent_
<b14.P1.119> of_their_information.
<b14.P1.120> =
<b14.P1.121> The_train_service_was_now_very_much_disorganised._Quite_a_
<b14.P1.122> number_of_people_who_had_been_expecting_friends_from_places_
<b14.P1.123> on_the_South-Western_network_were_standing_about_the_
<b14.P1.124> station._One_grey-headed_old_gentleman_came_and_abused_the_
<b14.P1.125> South-Western_Company_bitterly_to_my_brother._"It_wants_
<b14.P1.126> showing_up,"_he_said.
<b14.P1.127> =
<b14.P1.128> One_or_two_trains_came_in_from_Richmond,_Putney,_and_
<b14.P1.129> Kingston,_containing_people_who_had_gone_out_for_a_day's_
<b14.P1.130> boating_and_found_the_locks_closed_and_a_feeling_of_panic_in_
<b14.P1.131> the_air._A_man_in_a_blue_and_white_blazer_addressed_my_
<b14.P1.132> brother,_full_of_strange_tidings.
<b14.P1.133> =
<b14.P1.134> "There's_hosts_of_people_driving_into_Kingston_in_traps_and_
<b14.P1.135> carts_and_things,_with_boxes_of_valuables_and_all_that,"_he_
<b14.P1.136> said._"They_come_from_Molesey_and_Weybridge_and_Walton,_and_
<b14.P1.137> they_say_there's_been_guns_heard_at_Chertsey,_heavy_firing,_
<b14.P1.138> and_that_mounted_soldiers_have_told_them_to_get_off_at_once_
<b14.P1.139> because_the_Martians_are_coming._We_heard_guns_firing_at_
<b14.P1.140> Hampton_Court_station,_but_we_thought_it_was_thunder._What_
<b14.P1.141> the_dickens_does_it_all_mean?_The_Martians_can't_get_out_of_
<b14.P1.142> their_pit,_can_they?"
<b14.P1.143> =
<b14.P1.144> My_brother_could_not_tell_him.
<b14.P1.145> =
<b14.P1.146> Afterwards_he_found_that_the_vague_feeling_of_alarm_had_
<b14.P1.147> spread_to_the_clients_of_the_underground_railway,_and_that_
<b14.P1.148> the_Sunday_excursionists_began_to_return_from_all_over_the_
<b14.P1.149> South-Western_"lung"--Barnes,_Wimbledon,_Richmond_Park,_Kew,_
<b14.P1.150> and_so_forth--at_unnaturally_early_hours;_but_not_a_soul_had_
<b14.P1.151> anything_more_than_vague_hearsay_to_tell_of._Everyone_
<b14.P1.152> connected_with_the_terminus_seemed_ill-tempered.
<b14.P1.153> =
<b14.P1.154> About_five_o'clock_the_gathering_crowd_in_the_station_was_
<b14.P1.155> immensely_excited_by_the_opening_of_the_line_of_
<b14.P1.156> communication,_which_is_almost_invariably_closed,_between_
<b14.P1.157> the_South-Eastern_and_the_South-Western_stations,_and_the_
<b14.P1.158> passage_of_carriage_trucks_bearing_huge_guns_and_carriages_
<b14.P1.159> crammed_with_soldiers._These_were_the_guns_that_were_brought_
<b14.P1.160> up_from_Woolwich_and_Chatham_to_cover_Kingston._There_was_an_
<b14.P1.161> exchange_of_pleasantries:_"You'll_get_eaten!"_"We're_the_
<b14.P1.162> beast-tamers!"_and_so_forth._A_little_while_after_that_a_
<b14.P1.163> squad_of_police_came_into_the_station_and_began_to_clear_the_
<b14.P1.164> public_off_the_platforms,_and_my_brother_went_out_into_the_
<b14.P1.165> street_again.
<b14.P1.166> =
<b14.P1.167> The_church_bells_were_ringing_for_evensong,_and_a_squad_of_
<b14.P1.168> Salvation_Army_lassies_came_singing_down_Waterloo_Road._On_
<b14.P1.169> the_bridge_a_number_of_loafers_were_watching_a_curious_brown_
<b14.P1.170> scum_that_came_drifting_down_the_stream_in_patches._The_sun_
<b14.P1.171> was_just_setting,_and_the_Clock_Tower_and_the_Houses_of_
<b14.P1.172> Parliament_rose_against_one_of_the_most_peaceful_skies_it_is_
<b14.P1.173> possible_to_imagine,_a_sky_of_gold,_barred_with_long_
<b14.P1.174> transverse_stripes_of_reddish-purple_cloud._There_was_talk_
<b14.P1.175> of_a_floating_body._One_of_the_men_there,_a_reservist_he_
<b14.P1.176> said_he_was,_told_my_brother_he_had_seen_the_heliograph_
<b14.P1.177> flickering_in_the_west.
<b14.P1.178> =
<b14.P1.179> In_Wellington_Street_my_brother_met_a_couple_of_sturdy_
<b14.P1.180> roughs_who_had_just_been_rushed_out_of_Fleet_Street_with_
<b14.P1.181> still-wet_newspapers_and_staring_placards._"Dreadful_
<b14.P1.182> catastrophe!"_they_bawled_one_to_the_other_down_Wellington_
<b14.P1.183> Street._"Fight_ing_at_Weybridge!_Full_description!_Repulse_
<b14.P1.184> of_the_Martians!_London_in_Danger!"_He_had_to_give_
<b14.P1.185> threepence_for_a_copy_of_that_paper.
<b14.P1.186> =
<b14.P1.187> Then_it_was,_and_then_only,_that_he_realised_something_of_
<b14.P1.188> the_full_power_and_terror_of_these_monsters._He_learned_that_
<b14.P1.189> they_were_not_merely_a_handful_of_small_sluggish_creatures,_
<b14.P1.190> but_that_they_were_minds_swaying_vast_mechanical_bodies;_and_
<b14.P1.191> that_they_could_move_swiftly_and_smite_with_such_power_that_
<b14.P1.192> even_the_mightiest_guns_could_not_stand_against_them.
<b14.P1.193> =
<b14.P1.194> They_were_described_as_"vast_spiderlike_machines,_nearly_a_
<b14.P1.195> hundred_feet_high,_capable_of_the_speed_of_an_express_train,_
<b14.P1.196> and_able_to_shoot_out_a_beam_of_intense_heat."_Masked_
<b14.P1.197> batteries,_chiefly_of_field_guns,_had_been_planted_in_the_
<b14.P1.198> country_about_Horsell_Common,_and_especially_between_the_
<b14.P1.199> Woking_district_and_London._Five_of_the_machines_had_been_
<b14.P1.200> seen_moving_towards_the_Thames,_and_one,_by_a_happy_chance,_
<b14.P1.201> had_been_destroyed._In_the_other_cases_the_shells_had_
<b14.P1.202> missed,_and_the_batteries_had_been_at_once_annihilated_by_
<b14.P1.203> the_Heat-Rays._Heavy_losses_of_soldiers_were_mentioned,_but_
<b14.P1.204> the_tone_of_the_despatch_was_optimistic.
<b14.P1.205> =
<b14.P1.206> The_Martians_had_been_repulsed;_they_were_not_invulnerable._
<b14.P1.207> They_had_retreated_to_their_triangle_of_cylinders_again,_in_
<b14.P1.208> the_circle_about_Woking._Signallers_with_heliographs_were_
<b14.P1.209> pushing_forward_upon_them_from_all_sides._Guns_were_in_rapid_
<b14.P1.210> transit_from_Windsor,_Portsmouth,_Aldershot,_Woolwich--even_
<b14.P1.211> from_the_north;_among_others,_long_wire-guns_of_ninety-five_
<b14.P1.212> tons_from_Woolwich._Altogether_one_hundred_and_sixteen_were_
<b14.P1.213> in_position_or_being_hastily_placed,_chiefly_covering_
<b14.P1.214> London._Never_before_in_England_had_there_been_such_a_vast_
<b14.P1.215> or_rapid_concentration_of_military_material.
<b14.P1.216> =
<b14.P1.217> Any_further_cylinders_that_fell,_it_was_hoped,_could_be_
<b14.P1.218> destroyed_at_once_by_high_explosives,_which_were_being_
<b14.P1.219> rapidly_manufactured_and_distributed._No_doubt,_ran_the_
<b14.P1.220> report,_the_situation_was_of_the_strangest_and_gravest_
<b14.P1.221> description,_but_the_public_was_exhorted_to_avoid_and_
<b14.P1.222> discourage_panic._No_doubt_the_Martians_were_strange_and_
<b14.P1.223> terrible_in_the_extreme,_but_at_the_outside_there_could_not_
<b14.P1.224> be_more_than_twenty_of_them_against_our_millions.
<b14.P1.225> =
<b14.P1.226> The_authorities_had_reason_to_suppose,_from_the_size_of_the_
<b14.P1.227> cylinders,_that_at_the_outside_there_could_not_be_more_than_
<b14.P1.228> five_in_each_cylinder--fifteen_altogether._And_one_at_least_
<b14.P1.229> was_disposed_of--perhaps_more._The_public_would_be_fairly_
<b14.P1.230> warned_of_the_approach_of_danger,_and_elaborate_measures_
<b14.P1.231> were_being_taken_for_the_protection_of_the_people_in_the_
<b14.P1.232> threatened_southwestern_suburbs._And_so,_with_reiterated_
<b14.P1.233> assurances_of_the_safety_of_London_and_the_ability_of_the_
<b14.P1.234> authorities_to_cope_with_the_difficulty,_this_
<b14.P1.235> quasi-proclamation_closed.
<b14.P1.236> =
<b14.P1.237> This_was_printed_in_enormous_type_on_paper_so_fresh_that_it_
<b14.P1.238> was_still_wet,_and_there_had_been_no_time_to_add_a_word_of_
<b14.P1.239> comment._It_was_curious,_my_brother_said,_to_see_how_
<b14.P1.240> ruthlessly_the_usual_contents_of_the_paper_had_been_hacked_
<b14.P1.241> and_taken_out_to_give_this_place.
<b14.P1.242> =
<b14.P1.243> All_down_Wellington_Street_people_could_be_seen_fluttering_
<b14.P1.244> out_the_pink_sheets_and_reading,_and_the_Strand_was_suddenly_
<b14.P1.245> noisy_with_the_voices_of_an_army_of_hawkers_following_these_
<b14.P1.246> pioneers._Men_came_scrambling_off_buses_to_secure_copies._
<b14.P1.247> Certainly_this_news_excited_people_intensely,_whatever_their_
<b14.P1.248> previous_apathy._The_shutters_of_a_map_shop_in_the_Strand_
<b14.P1.249> were_being_taken_down,_my_brother_said,_and_a_man_in_his_
<b14.P1.250> Sunday_raiment,_lemon-yellow_gloves_even,_was_visible_inside_
<b14.P1.251> the_window_hastily_fastening_maps_of_Surrey_to_the_glass.
<b14.P1.252> =
<b14.P1.253> Going_on_along_the_Strand_to_Trafalgar_Square,_the_paper_in_
<b14.P1.254> his_hand,_my_brother_saw_some_of_the_fugitives_from_West_
<b14.P1.255> Surrey._There_was_a_man_with_his_wife_and_two_boys_and_some_
<b14.P1.256> articles_of_furniture_in_a_cart_such_as_greengrocers_use._He_
<b14.P1.257> was_driving_from_the_direction_of_Westminster_Bridge;_and_
<b14.P1.258> close_behind_him_came_a_hay_waggon_with_five_or_six_
<b14.P1.259> respectable-looking_people_in_it,_and_some_boxes_and_
<b14.P1.260> bundles._The_faces_of_these_people_were_haggard,_and_their_
<b14.P1.261> entire_appearance_contrasted_conspicuously_with_the_
<b14.P1.262> Sabbath-best_appearance_of_the_people_on_the_omnibuses._
<b14.P1.263> People_in_fashionable_clothing_peeped_at_them_out_of_cabs._
<b14.P1.264> They_stopped_at_the_Square_as_if_undecided_which_way_to_
<b14.P1.265> take,_and_finally_turned_eastward_along_the_Strand._Some_way_
<b14.P1.266> behind_these_came_a_man_in_workday_clothes,_riding_one_of_
<b14.P1.267> those_old-fashioned_tricycles_with_a_small_front_wheel._He_
<b14.P1.268> was_dirty_and_white_in_the_face.
<b14.P1.269> =
<b14.P1.270> My_brother_turned_down_towards_Victoria,_and_met_a_number_of_
<b14.P1.271> such_people._He_had_a_vague_idea_that_he_might_see_something_
<b14.P1.272> of_me._He_noticed_an_unusual_number_of_police_regulating_the_
<b14.P1.273> traffic._Some_of_the_refugees_were_exchanging_news_with_the_
<b14.P1.274> people_on_the_omnibuses._One_was_professing_to_have_seen_the_
<b14.P1.275> Martians._"Boilers_on_stilts,_I_tell_you,_striding_along_
<b14.P1.276> like_men."_Most_of_them_were_excited_and_animated_by_their_
<b14.P1.277> strange_experience.
<b14.P1.278> =
<b14.P1.279> Beyond_Victoria_the_public-houses_were_doing_a_lively_trade_
<b14.P1.280> with_these_arrivals._At_all_the_street_corners_groups_of_
<b14.P1.281> people_were_reading_papers,_talking_excitedly,_or_staring_at_
<b14.P1.282> these_unusual_Sunday_visitors._They_seemed_to_increase_as_
<b14.P1.283> night_drew_on,_until_at_last_the_roads,_my_brother_said,_
<b14.P1.284> were_like_Epsom_High_Street_on_a_Derby_Day._My_brother_
<b14.P1.285> addressed_several_of_these_fugitives_and_got_unsatisfactory_
<b14.P1.286> answers_from_most.
<b14.P1.287> =
<b14.P1.288> None_of_them_could_tell_him_any_news_of_Woking_except_one_
<b14.P1.289> man,_who_assured_him_that_Woking_had_been_entirely_destroyed_
<b14.P1.290> on_the_previous_night.
<b14.P1.291> =
<b14.P1.292> "I_come_from_Byfleet,"_he_said;_"man_on_a_bicycle_came_
<b14.P1.293> through_the_place_in_the_early_morning,_and_ran_from_door_to_
<b14.P1.294> door_warning_us_to_come_away._Then_came_soldiers._We_went_
<b14.P1.295> out_to_look,_and_there_were_clouds_of_smoke_to_the_
<b14.P1.296> south--nothing_but_smoke,_and_not_a_soul_coming_that_way._
<b14.P1.297> Then_we_heard_the_guns_at_Chertsey,_and_folks_coming_from_
<b14.P1.298> Weybridge._So_I've_locked_up_my_house_and_come_on."
<b14.P1.299> =
<b14.P1.300> At_the_time_there_was_a_strong_feeling_in_the_streets_that_
<b14.P1.301> the_authorities_were_to_blame_for_their_incapacity_to_
<b14.P1.302> dispose_of_the_invaders_without_all_this_inconvenience.
<b14.P1.303> =
<b14.P1.304> About_eight_o'clock_a_noise_of_heavy_firing_was_distinctly_
<b14.P1.305> audible_all_over_the_south_of_London._My_brother_could_not_
<b14.P1.306> hear_it_for_the_traffic_in_the_main_thoroughfares,_but_by_
<b14.P1.307> striking_through_the_quiet_back_streets_to_the_river_he_was_
<b14.P1.308> able_to_distinguish_it_quite_plainly.
<b14.P1.309> =
<b14.P1.310> He_walked_from_Westminster_to_his_apartments_near_Regent's_
<b14.P1.311> Park,_about_two._He_was_now_very_anxious_on_my_account,_and_
<b14.P1.312> disturbed_at_the_evident_magnitude_of_the_trouble._His_mind_
<b14.P1.313> was_inclined_to_run,_even_as_mine_had_run_on_Saturday,_on_
<b14.P1.314> military_details._He_thought_of_all_those_silent,_expectant_
<b14.P1.315> guns,_of_the_suddenly_nomadic_countryside;_he_tried_to_
<b14.P1.316> imagine_"boilers_on_stilts"_a_hundred_feet_high.
<b14.P1.317> =
<b14.P1.318> There_were_one_or_two_cartloads_of_refugees_passing_along_
<b14.P1.319> Oxford_Street,_and_several_in_the_Marylebone_Road,_but_so_
<b14.P1.320> slowly_was_the_news_spreading_that_Regent_Street_and_
<b14.P1.321> Portland_Place_were_full_of_their_usual_Sunday-night_
<b14.P1.322> promenaders,_albeit_they_talked_in_groups,_and_along_the_
<b14.P1.323> edge_of_Regent's_Park_there_were_as_many_silent_couples_
<b14.P1.324> "walking_out"_together_under_the_scattered_gas_lamps_as_ever_
<b14.P1.325> there_had_been._The_night_was_warm_and_still,_and_a_little_
<b14.P1.326> oppressive;_the_sound_of_guns_continued_intermittently,_and_
<b14.P1.327> after_midnight_there_seemed_to_be_sheet_lightning_in_the_
<b14.P1.328> south.
<b14.P1.329> =
<b14.P1.330> He_read_and_re-read_the_paper,_fearing_the_worst_had_
<b14.P1.331> happened_to_me._He_was_restless,_and_after_supper_prowled_
<b14.P1.332> out_again_aimlessly._He_returned_and_tried_in_vain_to_divert_
<b14.P1.333> his_attention_to_his_examination_notes._He_went_to_bed_a_
<b14.P1.334> little_after_midnight,_and_was_awakened_from_lurid_dreams_in_
<b14.P1.335> the_small_hours_of_Monday_by_the_sound_of_door_knockers,_
<b14.P1.336> feet_running_in_the_street,_distant_drumming,_and_a_clamour_
<b14.P1.337> of_bells._Red_reflections_danced_on_the_ceiling._For_a_
<b14.P1.338> moment_he_lay_astonished,_wondering_whether_day_had_come_or_
<b14.P1.339> the_world_gone_mad._Then_he_jumped_out_of_bed_and_ran_to_the_
<b14.P1.340> window.
<b14.P1.341> =
<b14.P1.342> His_room_was_an_attic_and_as_he_thrust_his_head_out,_up_and_
<b14.P1.343> down_the_street_there_were_a_dozen_echoes_to_the_noise_of_
<b14.P1.344> his_window_sash,_and_heads_in_every_kind_of_night_disarray_
<b14.P1.345> appeared._Enquiries_were_being_shouted._"They_are_coming!"_
<b14.P1.346> bawled_a_policeman,_hammering_at_the_door;_"the_Martians_are_
<b14.P1.347> coming!"_and_hurried_to_the_next_door.
<b14.P1.348> =
<b14.P1.349> The_sound_of_drumming_and_trumpeting_came_from_the_Albany_
<b14.P1.350> Street_Barracks,_and_every_church_within_earshot_was_hard_at_
<b14.P1.351> work_killing_sleep_with_a_vehement_disorderly_tocsin._There_
<b14.P1.352> was_a_noise_of_doors_opening,_and_window_after_window_in_the_
<b14.P1.353> houses_opposite_flashed_from_darkness_into_yellow_
<b14.P1.354> illumination.
<b14.P1.355> =
<b14.P1.356> Up_the_street_came_galloping_a_closed_carriage,_bursting_
<b14.P1.357> abruptly_into_noise_at_the_corner,_rising_to_a_clattering_
<b14.P1.358> climax_under_the_window,_and_dying_away_slowly_in_the_
<b14.P1.359> distance._Close_on_the_rear_of_this_came_a_couple_of_cabs,_
<b14.P1.360> the_forerunners_of_a_long_procession_of_flying_vehicles,_
<b14.P1.361> going_for_the_most_part_to_Chalk_Farm_station,_where_the_
<b14.P1.362> North-Western_special_trains_were_loading_up,_instead_of_
<b14.P1.363> coming_down_the_gradient_into_Euston.
<b14.P1.364> =
<b14.P1.365> For_a_long_time_my_brother_stared_out_of_the_window_in_blank_
<b14.P1.366> astonishment,_watching_the_policemen_hammering_at_door_after_
<b14.P1.367> door,_and_delivering_their_incomprehensible_message._Then_
<b14.P1.368> the_door_behind_him_opened,_and_the_man_who_lodged_across_
<b14.P1.369> the_landing_came_in,_dressed_only_in_shirt,_trousers,_and_
<b14.P1.370> slippers,_his_braces_loose_about_his_waist,_his_hair_
<b14.P1.371> disordered_from_his_pillow.
<b14.P1.372> =
<b14.P1.373> "What_the_devil_is_it?"_he_asked._"A_fire?_What_a_devil_of_a_
<b14.P1.374> row!"
<b14.P1.375> =
<b14.P1.376> They_both_craned_their_heads_out_of_the_window,_straining_to_
<b14.P1.377> hear_what_the_policemen_were_shouting._People_were_coming_
<b14.P1.378> out_of_the_side_streets,_and_standing_in_groups_at_the_
<b14.P1.379> corners_talking.
<b14.P1.380> =
<b14.P1.381> "What_the_devil_is_it_all_about?"_said_my_brother's_fellow_
<b14.P1.382> lodger.
<b14.P1.383> =
<b14.P1.384> My_brother_answered_him_vaguely_and_began_to_dress,_running_
<b14.P1.385> with_each_garment_to_the_window_in_order_to_miss_nothing_of_
<b14.P1.386> the_growing_excitement._And_presently_men_selling_
<b14.P1.387> unnaturally_early_newspapers_came_bawling_into_the_street:
<b14.P1.388> =
<b14.P1.389> "London_in_danger_of_suffocation!_The_Kingston_and_Richmond_
<b14.P1.390> defences_forced!_Fearful_massacres_in_the_Thames_Valley!"
<b14.P1.391> =
<b14.P1.392> And_all_about_him--in_the_rooms_below,_in_the_houses_on_each_
<b14.P1.393> side_and_across_the_road,_and_behind_in_the_Park_Terraces_
<b14.P1.394> and_in_the_hundred_other_streets_of_that_part_of_Marylebone,_
<b14.P1.395> and_the_Westbourne_Park_district_and_St._Pancras,_and_
<b14.P1.396> westward_and_northward_in_Kilburn_and_St._John's_Wood_and_
<b14.P1.397> Hampstead,_and_eastward_in_Shoreditch_and_Highbury_and_
<b14.P1.398> Haggerston_and_Hoxton,_and,_indeed,_through_all_the_vastness_
<b14.P1.399> of_London_from_Ealing_to_East_Ham--people_were_rubbing_their_
<b14.P1.400> eyes,_and_opening_windows_to_stare_out_and_ask_aimless_
<b14.P1.401> questions,_dressing_hastily_as_the_first_breath_of_the_
<b14.P1.402> coming_storm_of_Fear_blew_through_the_streets._It_was_the_
<b14.P1.403> dawn_of_the_great_panic._London,_which_had_gone_to_bed_on_
<b14.P1.404> Sunday_night_oblivious_and_inert,_was_awakened,_in_the_small_
<b14.P1.405> hours_of_Monday_morning,_to_a_vivid_sense_of_danger.
<b14.P1.406> =
<b14.P1.407> Unable_from_his_window_to_learn_what_was_happening,_my_
<b14.P1.408> brother_went_down_and_out_into_the_street,_just_as_the_sky_
<b14.P1.409> between_the_parapets_of_the_houses_grew_pink_with_the_early_
<b14.P1.410> dawn._The_flying_people_on_foot_and_in_vehicles_grew_more_
<b14.P1.411> numerous_every_moment._"Black_Smoke!"_he_heard_people_
<b14.P1.412> crying,_and_again_"Black_Smoke!"_The_contagion_of_such_a_
<b14.P1.413> unanimous_fear_was_inevitable._As_my_brother_hesitated_on_
<b14.P1.414> the_door-step,_he_saw_another_news_vender_approaching,_and_
<b14.P1.415> got_a_paper_forthwith._The_man_was_running_away_with_the_
<b14.P1.416> rest,_and_selling_his_papers_for_a_shilling_each_as_he_
<b14.P1.417> ran--a_grotesque_mingling_of_profit_and_panic.
<b14.P1.418> =
<b14.P1.419> And_from_this_paper_my_brother_read_that_catastrophic_
<b14.P1.420> despatch_of_the_Commander-in-Chief:
<b14.P1.421> =
<b14.P1.422> "The_Martians_are_able_to_discharge_enormous_clouds_of_a_
<b14.P1.423> black_and_poisonous_vapour_by_means_of_rockets._They_have_
<b14.P1.424> smothered_our_batteries,_destroyed_Richmond,_Kingston,_and_
<b14.P1.425> Wimbledon,_and_are_advancing_slowly_towards_London,_
<b14.P1.426> destroying_everything_on_the_way._It_is_impossible_to_stop_
<b14.P1.427> them._There_is_no_safety_from_the_Black_Smoke_but_in_instant_
<b14.P1.428> flight."
<b14.P1.429> =
<b14.P1.430> That_was_all,_but_it_was_enough._The_whole_population_of_the_
<b14.P1.431> great_six-million_city_was_stirring,_slipping,_running;_
<b14.P1.432> presently_it_would_be_pouring_EN_MASSE_northward.
<b14.P1.433> =
<b14.P1.434> "Black_Smoke!"_the_voices_cried._"Fire!"
<b14.P1.435> =
<b14.P1.436> The_bells_of_the_neighbouring_church_made_a_jangling_tumult,_
<b14.P1.437> a_cart_carelessly_driven_smashed,_amid_shrieks_and_curses,_
<b14.P1.438> against_the_water_trough_up_the_street._Sickly_yellow_lights_
<b14.P1.439> went_to_and_fro_in_the_houses,_and_some_of_the_passing_cabs_
<b14.P1.440> flaunted_unextinguished_lamps._And_overhead_the_dawn_was_
<b14.P1.441> growing_brighter,_clear_and_steady_and_calm.
<b14.P1.442> =
<b14.P1.443> He_heard_footsteps_running_to_and_fro_in_the_rooms,_and_up_
<b14.P1.444> and_down_stairs_behind_him._His_landlady_came_to_the_door,_
<b14.P1.445> loosely_wrapped_in_dressing_gown_and_shawl;_her_husband_
<b14.P1.446> followed_ejaculating.
<b14.P1.447> =
<b14.P1.448> As_my_brother_began_to_realise_the_import_of_all_these_
<b14.P1.449> things,_he_turned_hastily_to_his_own_room,_put_all_his_
<b14.P1.450> available_money--some_ten_pounds_altogether--into_his_
<b14.P1.451> pockets,_and_went_out_again_into_the_streets.
<b14.P1.452> =
#
## <b15>
# chapter 15 FIFTEEN
# unit C chapter_number
# unit H chapter_title
# unit P text
<b15.P1.001> It_was_while_the_curate_had_sat_and_talked_so_wildly_to_me_
<b15.P1.002> under_the_hedge_in_the_flat_meadows_near_Halliford,_and_
<b15.P1.003> while_my_brother_was_watching_the_fugitives_stream_over_
<b15.P1.004> Westminster_Bridge,_that_the_Martians_had_resumed_the_
<b15.P1.005> offensive._So_far_as_one_can_ascertain_from_the_conflicting_
<b15.P1.006> accounts_that_have_been_put_forth,_the_majority_of_them_
<b15.P1.007> remained_busied_with_preparations_in_the_Horsell_pit_until_
<b15.P1.008> nine_that_night,_hurrying_on_some_operation_that_disengaged_
<b15.P1.009> huge_volumes_of_green_smoke.
<b15.P1.010> =
<b15.P1.011> But_three_certainly_came_out_about_eight_o'clock_and,_
<b15.P1.012> advancing_slowly_and_cautiously,_made_their_way_through_
<b15.P1.013> Byfleet_and_Pyrford_towards_Ripley_and_Weybridge,_and_so_
<b15.P1.014> came_in_sight_of_the_expectant_batteries_against_the_setting_
<b15.P1.015> sun._These_Martians_did_not_advance_in_a_body,_but_in_a_
<b15.P1.016> line,_each_perhaps_a_mile_and_a_half_from_his_nearest_
<b15.P1.017> fellow._They_communicated_with_one_another_by_means_of_
<b15.P1.018> sirenlike_howls,_running_up_and_down_the_scale_from_one_note_
<b15.P1.019> to_another.
<b15.P1.020> =
<b15.P1.021> It_was_this_howling_and_firing_of_the_guns_at_Ripley_and_St._
<b15.P1.022> George's_Hill_that_we_had_heard_at_Upper_Halliford._The_
<b15.P1.023> Ripley_gunners,_unseasoned_artillery_volunteers_who_ought_
<b15.P1.024> never_to_have_been_placed_in_such_a_position,_fired_one_
<b15.P1.025> wild,_premature,_ineffectual_volley,_and_bolted_on_horse_and_
<b15.P1.026> foot_through_the_deserted_village,_while_the_Martian,_
<b15.P1.027> without_using_his_Heat-Ray,_walked_serenely_over_their_guns,_
<b15.P1.028> stepped_gingerly_among_them,_passed_in_front_of_them,_and_so_
<b15.P1.029> came_unexpectedly_upon_the_guns_in_Painshill_Park,_which_he_
<b15.P1.030> destroyed.
<b15.P1.031> =
<b15.P1.032> The_St._George's_Hill_men,_however,_were_better_led_or_of_a_
<b15.P1.033> better_mettle._Hidden_by_a_pine_wood_as_they_were,_they_seem_
<b15.P1.034> to_have_been_quite_unsuspected_by_the_Martian_nearest_to_
<b15.P1.035> them._They_laid_their_guns_as_deliberately_as_if_they_had_
<b15.P1.036> been_on_parade,_and_fired_at_about_a_thousand_yards'_range.
<b15.P1.037> =
<b15.P1.038> The_shells_flashed_all_round_him,_and_he_was_seen_to_advance_
<b15.P1.039> a_few_paces,_stagger,_and_go_down._Everybody_yelled_
<b15.P1.040> together,_and_the_guns_were_reloaded_in_frantic_haste._The_
<b15.P1.041> overthrown_Martian_set_up_a_prolonged_ululation,_and_
<b15.P1.042> immediately_a_second_glittering_giant,_answering_him,_
<b15.P1.043> appeared_over_the_trees_to_the_south._It_would_seem_that_a_
<b15.P1.044> leg_of_the_tripod_had_been_smashed_by_one_of_the_shells._The_
<b15.P1.045> whole_of_the_second_volley_flew_wide_of_the_Martian_on_the_
<b15.P1.046> ground,_and,_simultaneously,_both_his_companions_brought_
<b15.P1.047> their_Heat-Rays_to_bear_on_the_battery._The_ammunition_blew_
<b15.P1.048> up,_the_pine_trees_all_about_the_guns_flashed_into_fire,_and_
<b15.P1.049> only_one_or_two_of_the_men_who_were_already_running_over_the_
<b15.P1.050> crest_of_the_hill_escaped.
<b15.P1.051> =
<b15.P1.052> After_this_it_would_seem_that_the_three_took_counsel_
<b15.P1.053> together_and_halted,_and_the_scouts_who_were_watching_them_
<b15.P1.054> report_that_they_remained_absolutely_stationary_for_the_next_
<b15.P1.055> half_hour._The_Martian_who_had_been_overthrown_crawled_
<b15.P1.056> tediously_out_of_his_hood,_a_small_brown_figure,_oddly_
<b15.P1.057> suggestive_from_that_distance_of_a_speck_of_blight,_and_
<b15.P1.058> apparently_engaged_in_the_repair_of_his_support._About_nine_
<b15.P1.059> he_had_finished,_for_his_cowl_was_then_seen_above_the_trees_
<b15.P1.060> again.
<b15.P1.061> =
<b15.P1.062> It_was_a_few_minutes_past_nine_that_night_when_these_three_
<b15.P1.063> sentinels_were_joined_by_four_other_Martians,_each_carrying_
<b15.P1.064> a_thick_black_tube._A_similar_tube_was_handed_to_each_of_the_
<b15.P1.065> three,_and_the_seven_proceeded_to_distribute_themselves_at_
<b15.P1.066> equal_distances_along_a_curved_line_between_St._George's_
<b15.P1.067> Hill,_Weybridge,_and_the_village_of_Send,_southwest_of_
<b15.P1.068> Ripley.
<b15.P1.069> =
<b15.P1.070> A_dozen_rockets_sprang_out_of_the_hills_before_them_so_soon_
<b15.P1.071> as_they_began_to_move,_and_warned_the_waiting_batteries_
<b15.P1.072> about_Ditton_and_Esher._At_the_same_time_four_of_their_
<b15.P1.073> fighting_machines,_similarly_armed_with_tubes,_crossed_the_
<b15.P1.074> river,_and_two_of_them,_black_against_the_western_sky,_came_
<b15.P1.075> into_sight_of_myself_and_the_curate_as_we_hurried_wearily_
<b15.P1.076> and_painfully_along_the_road_that_runs_northward_out_of_
<b15.P1.077> Halliford._They_moved,_as_it_seemed_to_us,_upon_a_cloud,_for_
<b15.P1.078> a_milky_mist_covered_the_fields_and_rose_to_a_third_of_their_
<b15.P1.079> height.
<b15.P1.080> =
<b15.P1.081> At_this_sight_the_curate_cried_faintly_in_his_throat,_and_
<b15.P1.082> began_running;_but_I_knew_it_was_no_good_running_from_a_
<b15.P1.083> Martian,_and_I_turned_aside_and_crawled_through_dewy_nettles_
<b15.P1.084> and_brambles_into_the_broad_ditch_by_the_side_of_the_road._
<b15.P1.085> He_looked_back,_saw_what_I_was_doing,_and_turned_to_join_me.
<b15.P1.086> =
<b15.P1.087> The_two_halted,_the_nearer_to_us_standing_and_facing_
<b15.P1.088> Sunbury,_the_remoter_being_a_grey_indistinctness_towards_the_
<b15.P1.089> evening_star,_away_towards_Staines.
<b15.P1.090> =
<b15.P1.091> The_occasional_howling_of_the_Martians_had_ceased;_they_took_
<b15.P1.092> up_their_positions_in_the_huge_crescent_about_their_
<b15.P1.093> cylinders_in_absolute_silence._It_was_a_crescent_with_twelve_
<b15.P1.094> miles_between_its_horns._Never_since_the_devising_of_
<b15.P1.095> gun-powder_was_the_beginning_of_a_battle_so_still._To_us_and_
<b15.P1.096> to_an_observer_about_Ripley_it_would_have_had_precisely_the_
<b15.P1.097> same_effect--the_Martians_seemed_in_solitary_possession_of_
<b15.P1.098> the_darkling_night,_lit_only_as_it_was_by_the_slender_moon,_
<b15.P1.099> the_stars,_the_afterglow_of_the_daylight,_and_the_ruddy_
<b15.P1.100> glare_from_St._George's_Hill_and_the_woods_of_Painshill.
<b15.P1.101> =
<b15.P1.102> But_facing_that_crescent_everywhere--at_Staines,_Hounslow,_
<b15.P1.103> Ditton,_Esher,_Ockham,_behind_hills_and_woods_south_of_the_
<b15.P1.104> river,_and_across_the_flat_grass_meadows_to_the_north_of_it,_
<b15.P1.105> wherever_a_cluster_of_trees_or_village_houses_gave_
<b15.P1.106> sufficient_cover--the_guns_were_waiting._The_signal_rockets_
<b15.P1.107> burst_and_rained_their_sparks_through_the_night_and_
<b15.P1.108> vanished,_and_the_spirit_of_all_those_watching_batteries_
<b15.P1.109> rose_to_a_tense_expectation._The_Martians_had_but_to_advance_
<b15.P1.110> into_the_line_of_fire,_and_instantly_those_motionless_black_
<b15.P1.111> forms_of_men,_those_guns_glittering_so_darkly_in_the_early_
<b15.P1.112> night,_would_explode_into_a_thunderous_fury_of_battle.
<b15.P1.113> =
<b15.P1.114> No_doubt_the_thought_that_was_uppermost_in_a_thousand_of_
<b15.P1.115> those_vigilant_minds,_even_as_it_was_uppermost_in_mine,_was_
<b15.P1.116> the_riddle--how_much_they_understood_of_us._Did_they_grasp_
<b15.P1.117> that_we_in_our_millions_were_organized,_disciplined,_working_
<b15.P1.118> together?_Or_did_they_interpret_our_spurts_of_fire,_the_
<b15.P1.119> sudden_stinging_of_our_shells,_our_steady_investment_of_
<b15.P1.120> their_encampment,_as_we_should_the_furious_unanimity_of_
<b15.P1.121> onslaught_in_a_disturbed_hive_of_bees?_Did_they_dream_they_
<b15.P1.122> might_exterminate_us?_(At_that_time_no_one_knew_what_food_
<b15.P1.123> they_needed.)_A_hundred_such_questions_struggled_together_in_
<b15.P1.124> my_mind_as_I_watched_that_vast_sentinel_shape._And_in_the_
<b15.P1.125> back_of_my_mind_was_the_sense_of_all_the_huge_unknown_and_
<b15.P1.126> hidden_forces_Londonward._Had_they_prepared_pitfalls?_Were_
<b15.P1.127> the_powder_mills_at_Hounslow_ready_as_a_snare?_Would_the_
<b15.P1.128> Londoners_have_the_heart_and_courage_to_make_a_greater_
<b15.P1.129> Moscow_of_their_mighty_province_of_houses?
<b15.P1.130> =
<b15.P1.131> Then,_after_an_interminable_time,_as_it_seemed_to_us,_
<b15.P1.132> crouching_and_peering_through_the_hedge,_came_a_sound_like_
<b15.P1.133> the_distant_concussion_of_a_gun._Another_nearer,_and_then_
<b15.P1.134> another._And_then_the_Martian_beside_us_raised_his_tube_on_
<b15.P1.135> high_and_discharged_it,_gunwise,_with_a_heavy_report_that_
<b15.P1.136> made_the_ground_heave._The_one_towards_Staines_answered_him._
<b15.P1.137> There_was_no_flash,_no_smoke,_simply_that_loaded_detonation.
<b15.P1.138> =
<b15.P1.139> I_was_so_excited_by_these_heavy_minute-guns_following_one_
<b15.P1.140> another_that_I_so_far_forgot_my_personal_safety_and_my_
<b15.P1.141> scalded_hands_as_to_clamber_up_into_the_hedge_and_stare_
<b15.P1.142> towards_Sunbury._As_I_did_so_a_second_report_followed,_and_a_
<b15.P1.143> big_projectile_hurtled_overhead_towards_Hounslow._I_expected_
<b15.P1.144> at_least_to_see_smoke_or_fire,_or_some_such_evidence_of_its_
<b15.P1.145> work._But_all_I_saw_was_the_deep_blue_sky_above,_with_one_
<b15.P1.146> solitary_star,_and_the_white_mist_spreading_wide_and_low_
<b15.P1.147> beneath._And_there_had_been_no_crash,_no_answering_
<b15.P1.148> explosion._The_silence_was_restored;_the_minute_lengthened_
<b15.P1.149> to_three.
<b15.P1.150> =
<b15.P1.151> "What_has_happened?"_said_the_curate,_standing_up_beside_me.
<b15.P1.152> =
<b15.P1.153> "Heaven_knows!"_said_I.
<b15.P1.154> =
<b15.P1.155> A_bat_flickered_by_and_vanished._A_distant_tumult_of_
<b15.P1.156> shouting_began_and_ceased._I_looked_again_at_the_Martian,_
<b15.P1.157> and_saw_he_was_now_moving_eastward_along_the_riverbank,_with_
<b15.P1.158> a_swift,_rolling_motion,
<b15.P1.159> =
<b15.P1.160> Every_moment_I_expected_the_fire_of_some_hidden_battery_to_
<b15.P1.161> spring_upon_him;_but_the_evening_calm_was_unbroken._The_
<b15.P1.162> figure_of_the_Martian_grew_smaller_as_he_receded,_and_
<b15.P1.163> presently_the_mist_and_the_gathering_night_had_swallowed_him_
<b15.P1.164> up._By_a_common_impulse_we_clambered_higher._Towards_Sunbury_
<b15.P1.165> was_a_dark_appearance,_as_though_a_conical_hill_had_suddenly_
<b15.P1.166> come_into_being_there,_hiding_our_view_of_the_farther_
<b15.P1.167> country;_and_then,_remoter_across_the_river,_over_Walton,_we_
<b15.P1.168> saw_another_such_summit._These_hill-like_forms_grew_lower_
<b15.P1.169> and_broader_even_as_we_stared.
<b15.P1.170> =
<b15.P1.171> Moved_by_a_sudden_thought,_I_looked_northward,_and_there_I_
<b15.P1.172> perceived_a_third_of_these_cloudy_black_kopjes_had_risen.
<b15.P1.173> =
<b15.P1.174> Everything_had_suddenly_become_very_still._Far_away_to_the_
<b15.P1.175> southeast,_marking_the_quiet,_we_heard_the_Martians_hooting_
<b15.P1.176> to_one_another,_and_then_the_air_quivered_again_with_the_
<b15.P1.177> distant_thud_of_their_guns._But_the_earthly_artillery_made_
<b15.P1.178> no_reply.
<b15.P1.179> =
<b15.P1.180> Now_at_the_time_we_could_not_understand_these_things,_but_
<b15.P1.181> later_I_was_to_learn_the_meaning_of_these_ominous_kopjes_
<b15.P1.182> that_gathered_in_the_twilight._Each_of_the_Martians,_
<b15.P1.183> standing_in_the_great_crescent_I_have_described,_had_
<b15.P1.184> discharged,_by_means_of_the_gunlike_tube_he_carried,_a_huge_
<b15.P1.185> canister_over_whatever_hill,_copse,_cluster_of_houses,_or_
<b15.P1.186> other_possible_cover_for_guns,_chanced_to_be_in_front_of_
<b15.P1.187> him._Some_fired_only_one_of_these,_some_two--as_in_the_case_
<b15.P1.188> of_the_one_we_had_seen;_the_one_at_Ripley_is_said_to_have_
<b15.P1.189> discharged_no_fewer_than_five_at_that_time._These_canisters_
<b15.P1.190> smashed_on_striking_the_ground--they_did_not_explode--and_
<b15.P1.191> incontinently_disengaged_an_enormous_volume_of_heavy,_inky_
<b15.P1.192> vapour,_coiling_and_pouring_upward_in_a_huge_and_ebony_
<b15.P1.193> cumulus_cloud,_a_gaseous_hill_that_sank_and_spread_itself_
<b15.P1.194> slowly_over_the_surrounding_country._And_the_touch_of_that_
<b15.P1.195> vapour,_the_inhaling_of_its_pungent_wisps,_was_death_to_all_
<b15.P1.196> that_breathes.
<b15.P1.197> =
<b15.P1.198> It_was_heavy,_this_vapour,_heavier_than_the_densest_smoke,_
<b15.P1.199> so_that,_after_the_first_tumultuous_uprush_and_outflow_of_
<b15.P1.200> its_impact,_it_sank_down_through_the_air_and_poured_over_the_
<b15.P1.201> ground_in_a_manner_rather_liquid_than_gaseous,_abandoning_
<b15.P1.202> the_hills,_and_streaming_into_the_valleys_and_ditches_and_
<b15.P1.203> watercourses_even_as_I_have_heard_the_carbonic-acid_gas_that_
<b15.P1.204> pours_from_volcanic_clefts_is_wont_to_do._And_where_it_came_
<b15.P1.205> upon_water_some_chemical_action_occurred,_and_the_surface_
<b15.P1.206> would_be_instantly_covered_with_a_powdery_scum_that_sank_
<b15.P1.207> slowly_and_made_way_for_more._The_scum_was_absolutely_
<b15.P1.208> insoluble,_and_it_is_a_strange_thing,_seeing_the_instant_
<b15.P1.209> effect_of_the_gas,_that_one_could_drink_without_hurt_the_
<b15.P1.210> water_from_which_it_had_been_strained._The_vapour_did_not_
<b15.P1.211> diffuse_as_a_true_gas_would_do._It_hung_together_in_banks,_
<b15.P1.212> flowing_sluggishly_down_the_slope_of_the_land_and_driving_
<b15.P1.213> reluctantly_before_the_wind,_and_very_slowly_it_combined_
<b15.P1.214> with_the_mist_and_moisture_of_the_air,_and_sank_to_the_earth_
<b15.P1.215> in_the_form_of_dust._Save_that_an_unknown_element_giving_a_
<b15.P1.216> group_of_four_lines_in_the_blue_of_the_spectrum_is_
<b15.P1.217> concerned,_we_are_still_entirely_ignorant_of_the_nature_of_
<b15.P1.218> this_substance.
<b15.P1.219> =
<b15.P1.220> Once_the_tumultuous_upheaval_of_its_dispersion_was_over,_the_
<b15.P1.221> black_smoke_clung_so_closely_to_the_ground,_even_before_its_
<b15.P1.222> precipitation,_that_fifty_feet_up_in_the_air,_on_the_roofs_
<b15.P1.223> and_upper_stories_of_high_houses_and_on_great_trees,_there_
<b15.P1.224> was_a_chance_of_escaping_its_poison_altogether,_as_was_
<b15.P1.225> proved_even_that_night_at_Street_Cobham_and_Ditton.
<b15.P1.226> =
<b15.P1.227> The_man_who_escaped_at_the_former_place_tells_a_wonderful_
<b15.P1.228> story_of_the_strangeness_of_its_coiling_flow,_and_how_he_
<b15.P1.229> looked_down_from_the_church_spire_and_saw_the_houses_of_the_
<b15.P1.230> village_rising_like_ghosts_out_of_its_inky_nothingness._For_
<b15.P1.231> a_day_and_a_half_he_remained_there,_weary,_starving_and_
<b15.P1.232> sun-scorched,_the_earth_under_the_blue_sky_and_against_the_
<b15.P1.233> prospect_of_the_distant_hills_a_velvet-black_expanse,_with_
<b15.P1.234> red_roofs,_green_trees,_and,_later,_black-veiled_shrubs_and_
<b15.P1.235> gates,_barns,_out-houses,_and_walls,_rising_here_and_there_
<b15.P1.236> into_the_sunlight.
<b15.P1.237> =
<b15.P1.238> But_that_was_at_Street_Cobham,_where_the_black_vapour_was_
<b15.P1.239> allowed_to_remain_until_it_sank_of_its_own_accord_into_the_
<b15.P1.240> ground._As_a_rule_the_Martians,_when_it_had_served_its_
<b15.P1.241> purpose,_cleared_the_air_of_it_again_by_wading_into_it_and_
<b15.P1.242> directing_a_jet_of_steam_upon_it.
<b15.P1.243> =
<b15.P1.244> This_they_did_with_the_vapour_banks_near_us,_as_we_saw_in_
<b15.P1.245> the_starlight_from_the_window_of_a_deserted_house_at_Upper_
<b15.P1.246> Halliford,_whither_we_had_returned._From_there_we_could_see_
<b15.P1.247> the_searchlights_on_Richmond_Hill_and_Kingston_Hill_going_to_
<b15.P1.248> and_fro,_and_about_eleven_the_windows_rattled,_and_we_heard_
<b15.P1.249> the_sound_of_the_huge_siege_guns_that_had_been_put_in_
<b15.P1.250> position_there._These_continued_intermittently_for_the_space_
<b15.P1.251> of_a_quarter_of_an_hour,_sending_chance_shots_at_the_
<b15.P1.252> invisible_Martians_at_Hampton_and_Ditton,_and_then_the_pale_
<b15.P1.253> beams_of_the_electric_light_vanished,_and_were_replaced_by_a_
<b15.P1.254> bright_red_glow.
<b15.P1.255> =
<b15.P1.256> Then_the_fourth_cylinder_fell--a_brilliant_green_meteor--as_
<b15.P1.257> I_learned_afterwards,_in_Bushey_Park._Before_the_guns_on_the_
<b15.P1.258> Richmond_and_Kingston_line_of_hills_began,_there_was_a_
<b15.P1.259> fitful_cannonade_far_away_in_the_southwest,_due,_I_believe,_
<b15.P1.260> to_guns_being_fired_haphazard_before_the_black_vapour_could_
<b15.P1.261> overwhelm_the_gunners.
<b15.P1.262> =
<b15.P1.263> So,_setting_about_it_as_methodically_as_men_might_smoke_out_
<b15.P1.264> a_wasps'_nest,_the_Martians_spread_this_strange_stifling_
<b15.P1.265> vapour_over_the_Londonward_country._The_horns_of_the_
<b15.P1.266> crescent_slowly_moved_apart,_until_at_last_they_formed_a_
<b15.P1.267> line_from_Hanwell_to_Coombe_and_Malden._All_night_through_
<b15.P1.268> their_destructive_tubes_advanced._Never_once,_after_the_
<b15.P1.269> Martian_at_St._George's_Hill_was_brought_down,_did_they_give_
<b15.P1.270> the_artillery_the_ghost_of_a_chance_against_them._Wherever_
<b15.P1.271> there_was_a_possibility_of_guns_being_laid_for_them_unseen,_
<b15.P1.272> a_fresh_canister_of_the_black_vapour_was_discharged,_and_
<b15.P1.273> where_the_guns_were_openly_displayed_the_Heat-Ray_was_
<b15.P1.274> brought_to_bear.
<b15.P1.275> =
<b15.P1.276> By_midnight_the_blazing_trees_along_the_slopes_of_Richmond_
<b15.P1.277> Park_and_the_glare_of_Kingston_Hill_threw_their_light_upon_a_
<b15.P1.278> network_of_black_smoke,_blotting_out_the_whole_valley_of_the_
<b15.P1.279> Thames_and_extending_as_far_as_the_eye_could_reach._And_
<b15.P1.280> through_this_two_Martians_slowly_waded,_and_turned_their_
<b15.P1.281> hissing_steam_jets_this_way_and_that.
<b15.P1.282> =
<b15.P1.283> They_were_sparing_of_the_Heat-Ray_that_night,_either_because_
<b15.P1.284> they_had_but_a_limited_supply_of_material_for_its_production_
<b15.P1.285> or_because_they_did_not_wish_to_destroy_the_country_but_only_
<b15.P1.286> to_crush_and_overawe_the_opposition_they_had_aroused._In_the_
<b15.P1.287> latter_aim_they_certainly_succeeded._Sunday_night_was_the_
<b15.P1.288> end_of_the_organised_opposition_to_their_movements._After_
<b15.P1.289> that_no_body_of_men_would_stand_against_them,_so_hopeless_
<b15.P1.290> was_the_enterprise._Even_the_crews_of_the_torpedo-boats_and_
<b15.P1.291> destroyers_that_had_brought_their_quick-firers_up_the_Thames_
<b15.P1.292> refused_to_stop,_mutinied,_and_went_down_again._The_only_
<b15.P1.293> offensive_operation_men_ventured_upon_after_that_night_was_
<b15.P1.294> the_preparation_of_mines_and_pitfalls,_and_even_in_that_
<b15.P1.295> their_energies_were_frantic_and_spasmodic.
<b15.P1.296> =
<b15.P1.297> One_has_to_imagine,_as_well_as_one_may,_the_fate_of_those_
<b15.P1.298> batteries_towards_Esher,_waiting_so_tensely_in_the_twilight._
<b15.P1.299> Survivors_there_were_none._One_may_picture_the_orderly_
<b15.P1.300> expectation,_the_officers_alert_and_watchful,_the_gunners_
<b15.P1.301> ready,_the_ammunition_piled_to_hand,_the_limber_gunners_with_
<b15.P1.302> their_horses_and_waggons,_the_groups_of_civilian_spectators_
<b15.P1.303> standing_as_near_as_they_were_permitted,_the_evening_
<b15.P1.304> stillness,_the_ambulances_and_hospital_tents_with_the_burned_
<b15.P1.305> and_wounded_from_Weybridge;_then_the_dull_resonance_of_the_
<b15.P1.306> shots_the_Martians_fired,_and_the_clumsy_projectile_whirling_
<b15.P1.307> over_the_trees_and_houses_and_smashing_amid_the_neighbouring_
<b15.P1.308> fields.
<b15.P1.309> =
<b15.P1.310> One_may_picture,_too,_the_sudden_shifting_of_the_attention,_
<b15.P1.311> the_swiftly_spreading_coils_and_bellyings_of_that_blackness_
<b15.P1.312> advancing_headlong,_towering_heavenward,_turning_the_
<b15.P1.313> twilight_to_a_palpable_darkness,_a_strange_and_horrible_
<b15.P1.314> antagonist_of_vapour_striding_upon_its_victims,_men_and_
<b15.P1.315> horses_near_it_seen_dimly,_running,_shrieking,_falling_
<b15.P1.316> headlong,_shouts_of_dismay,_the_guns_suddenly_abandoned,_men_
<b15.P1.317> choking_and_writhing_on_the_ground,_and_the_swift_
<b15.P1.318> broadening-out_of_the_opaque_cone_of_smoke._And_then_night_
<b15.P1.319> and_extinction--nothing_but_a_silent_mass_of_impenetrable_
<b15.P1.320> vapour_hiding_its_dead.
<b15.P1.321> =
<b15.P1.322> Before_dawn_the_black_vapour_was_pouring_through_the_streets_
<b15.P1.323> of_Richmond,_and_the_disintegrating_organism_of_government_
<b15.P1.324> was,_with_a_last_expiring_effort,_rousing_the_population_of_
<b15.P1.325> London_to_the_necessity_of_flight.
<b15.P1.326> =
#
## <b16>
# chapter 16 SIXTEEN
# unit C chapter_number
# unit H chapter_title
# unit P text
<b16.P1.001> So_you_understand_the_roaring_wave_of_fear_that_swept_
<b16.P1.002> through_the_greatest_city_in_the_world_just_as_Monday_was_
<b16.P1.003> dawning--the_stream_of_flight_rising_swiftly_to_a_torrent,_
<b16.P1.004> lashing_in_a_foaming_tumult_round_the_railway_stations,_
<b16.P1.005> banked_up_into_a_horrible_struggle_about_the_shipping_in_the_
<b16.P1.006> Thames,_and_hurrying_by_every_available_channel_northward_
<b16.P1.007> and_eastward._By_ten_o'clock_the_police_organisation,_and_by_
<b16.P1.008> midday_even_the_railway_organisations,_were_losing_
<b16.P1.009> coherency,_losing_shape_and_efficiency,_guttering,_
<b16.P1.010> softening,_running_at_last_in_that_swift_liquefaction_of_the_
<b16.P1.011> social_body.
<b16.P1.012> =
<b16.P1.013> All_the_railway_lines_north_of_the_Thames_and_the_
<b16.P1.014> South-Eastern_people_at_Cannon_Street_had_been_warned_by_
<b16.P1.015> midnight_on_Sunday,_and_trains_were_being_filled._People_
<b16.P1.016> were_fighting_savagely_for_standing-room_in_the_carriages_
<b16.P1.017> even_at_two_o'clock._By_three,_people_were_being_trampled_
<b16.P1.018> and_crushed_even_in_Bishopsgate_Street,_a_couple_of_hundred_
<b16.P1.019> yards_or_more_from_Liverpool_Street_station;_revolvers_were_
<b16.P1.020> fired,_people_stabbed,_and_the_policemen_who_had_been_sent_
<b16.P1.021> to_direct_the_traffic,_exhausted_and_infuriated,_were_
<b16.P1.022> breaking_the_heads_of_the_people_they_were_called_out_to_
<b16.P1.023> protect.
<b16.P1.024> =
<b16.P1.025> And_as_the_day_advanced_and_the_engine_drivers_and_stokers_
<b16.P1.026> refused_to_return_to_London,_the_pressure_of_the_flight_
<b16.P1.027> drove_the_people_in_an_ever-thickening_multitude_away_from_
<b16.P1.028> the_stations_and_along_the_northward-running_roads._By_
<b16.P1.029> midday_a_Martian_had_been_seen_at_Barnes,_and_a_cloud_of_
<b16.P1.030> slowly_sinking_black_vapour_drove_along_the_Thames_and_
<b16.P1.031> across_the_flats_of_Lambeth,_cutting_off_all_escape_over_the_
<b16.P1.032> bridges_in_its_sluggish_advance._Another_bank_drove_over_
<b16.P1.033> Ealing,_and_surrounded_a_little_island_of_survivors_on_
<b16.P1.034> Castle_Hill,_alive,_but_unable_to_escape.
<b16.P1.035> =
<b16.P1.036> After_a_fruitless_struggle_to_get_aboard_a_North-Western_
<b16.P1.037> train_at_Chalk_Farm--the_engines_of_the_trains_that_had_
<b16.P1.038> loaded_in_the_goods_yard_there_PLOUGHED_through_shrieking_
<b16.P1.039> people,_and_a_dozen_stalwart_men_fought_to_keep_the_crowd_
<b16.P1.040> from_crushing_the_driver_against_his_furnace--my_brother_
<b16.P1.041> emerged_upon_the_Chalk_Farm_road,_dodged_across_through_a_
<b16.P1.042> hurrying_swarm_of_vehicles,_and_had_the_luck_to_be_foremost_
<b16.P1.043> in_the_sack_of_a_cycle_shop._The_front_tire_of_the_machine_
<b16.P1.044> he_got_was_punctured_in_dragging_it_through_the_window,_but_
<b16.P1.045> he_got_up_and_off,_notwithstanding,_with_no_further_injury_
<b16.P1.046> than_a_cut_wrist._The_steep_foot_of_Haverstock_Hill_was_
<b16.P1.047> impassable_owing_to_several_overturned_horses,_and_my_
<b16.P1.048> brother_struck_into_Belsize_Road.
<b16.P1.049> =
<b16.P1.050> So_he_got_out_of_the_fury_of_the_panic,_and,_skirting_the_
<b16.P1.051> Edgware_Road,_reached_Edgware_about_seven,_fasting_and_
<b16.P1.052> wearied,_but_well_ahead_of_the_crowd._Along_the_road_people_
<b16.P1.053> were_standing_in_the_roadway,_curious,_wondering._He_was_
<b16.P1.054> passed_by_a_number_of_cyclists,_some_horsemen,_and_two_motor_
<b16.P1.055> cars._A_mile_from_Edgware_the_rim_of_the_wheel_broke,_and_
<b16.P1.056> the_machine_became_unridable._He_left_it_by_the_roadside_and_
<b16.P1.057> trudged_through_the_village._There_were_shops_half_opened_in_
<b16.P1.058> the_main_street_of_the_place,_and_people_crowded_on_the_
<b16.P1.059> pavement_and_in_the_doorways_and_windows,_staring_astonished_
<b16.P1.060> at_this_extraordinary_procession_of_fugitives_that_was_
<b16.P1.061> beginning._He_succeeded_in_getting_some_food_at_an_inn.
<b16.P1.062> =
<b16.P1.063> For_a_time_he_remained_in_Edgware_not_knowing_what_next_to_
<b16.P1.064> do._The_flying_people_increased_in_number._Many_of_them,_
<b16.P1.065> like_my_brother,_seemed_inclined_to_loiter_in_the_place._
<b16.P1.066> There_was_no_fresh_news_of_the_invaders_from_Mars.
<b16.P1.067> =
<b16.P1.068> At_that_time_the_road_was_crowded,_but_as_yet_far_from_
<b16.P1.069> congested._Most_of_the_fugitives_at_that_hour_were_mounted_
<b16.P1.070> on_cycles,_but_there_were_soon_motor_cars,_hansom_cabs,_and_
<b16.P1.071> carriages_hurrying_along,_and_the_dust_hung_in_heavy_clouds_
<b16.P1.072> along_the_road_to_St._Albans.
<b16.P1.073> =
<b16.P1.074> It_was_perhaps_a_vague_idea_of_making_his_way_to_Chelmsford,_
<b16.P1.075> where_some_friends_of_his_lived,_that_at_last_induced_my_
<b16.P1.076> brother_to_strike_into_a_quiet_lane_running_eastward._
<b16.P1.077> Presently_he_came_upon_a_stile,_and,_crossing_it,_followed_a_
<b16.P1.078> footpath_northeastward._He_passed_near_several_farmhouses_
<b16.P1.079> and_some_little_places_whose_names_he_did_not_learn._He_saw_
<b16.P1.080> few_fugitives_until,_in_a_grass_lane_towards_High_Barnet,_he_
<b16.P1.081> happened_upon_two_ladies_who_became_his_fellow_travellers._
<b16.P1.082> He_came_upon_them_just_in_time_to_save_them.
<b16.P1.083> =
<b16.P1.084> He_heard_their_screams,_and,_hurrying_round_the_corner,_saw_
<b16.P1.085> a_couple_of_men_struggling_to_drag_them_out_of_the_little_
<b16.P1.086> pony-chaise_in_which_they_had_been_driving,_while_a_third_
<b16.P1.087> with_difficulty_held_the_frightened_pony's_head._One_of_the_
<b16.P1.088> ladies,_a_short_woman_dressed_in_white,_was_simply_
<b16.P1.089> screaming;_the_other,_a_dark,_slender_figure,_slashed_at_the_
<b16.P1.090> man_who_gripped_her_arm_with_a_whip_she_held_in_her_
<b16.P1.091> disengaged_hand.
<b16.P1.092> =
<b16.P1.093> My_brother_immediately_grasped_the_situation,_shouted,_and_
<b16.P1.094> hurried_towards_the_struggle._One_of_the_men_desisted_and_
<b16.P1.095> turned_towards_him,_and_my_brother,_realising_from_his_
<b16.P1.096> antagonist's_face_that_a_fight_was_unavoidable,_and_being_an_
<b16.P1.097> expert_boxer,_went_into_him_forthwith_and_sent_him_down_
<b16.P1.098> against_the_wheel_of_the_chaise.
<b16.P1.099> =
<b16.P1.100> It_was_no_time_for_pugilistic_chivalry_and_my_brother_laid_
<b16.P1.101> him_quiet_with_a_kick,_and_gripped_the_collar_of_the_man_who_
<b16.P1.102> pulled_at_the_slender_lady's_arm._He_heard_the_clatter_of_
<b16.P1.103> hoofs,_the_whip_stung_across_his_face,_a_third_antagonist_
<b16.P1.104> struck_him_between_the_eyes,_and_the_man_he_held_wrenched_
<b16.P1.105> himself_free_and_made_off_down_the_lane_in_the_direction_
<b16.P1.106> from_which_he_had_come.
<b16.P1.107> =
<b16.P1.108> Partly_stunned,_he_found_himself_facing_the_man_who_had_held_
<b16.P1.109> the_horse's_head,_and_became_aware_of_the_chaise_receding_
<b16.P1.110> from_him_down_the_lane,_swaying_from_side_to_side,_and_with_
<b16.P1.111> the_women_in_it_looking_back._The_man_before_him,_a_burly_
<b16.P1.112> rough,_tried_to_close,_and_he_stopped_him_with_a_blow_in_the_
<b16.P1.113> face._Then,_realising_that_he_was_deserted,_he_dodged_round_
<b16.P1.114> and_made_off_down_the_lane_after_the_chaise,_with_the_sturdy_
<b16.P1.115> man_close_behind_him,_and_the_fugitive,_who_had_turned_now,_
<b16.P1.116> following_remotely.
<b16.P1.117> =
<b16.P1.118> Suddenly_he_stumbled_and_fell;_his_immediate_pursuer_went_
<b16.P1.119> headlong,_and_he_rose_to_his_feet_to_find_himself_with_a_
<b16.P1.120> couple_of_antagonists_again._He_would_have_had_little_chance_
<b16.P1.121> against_them_had_not_the_slender_lady_very_pluckily_pulled_
<b16.P1.122> up_and_returned_to_his_help._It_seems_she_had_had_a_revolver_
<b16.P1.123> all_this_time,_but_it_had_been_under_the_seat_when_she_and_
<b16.P1.124> her_companion_were_attacked._She_fired_at_six_yards'_
<b16.P1.125> distance,_narrowly_missing_my_brother._The_less_courageous_
<b16.P1.126> of_the_robbers_made_off,_and_his_companion_followed_him,_
<b16.P1.127> cursing_his_cowardice._They_both_stopped_in_sight_down_the_
<b16.P1.128> lane,_where_the_third_man_lay_insensible.
<b16.P1.129> =
<b16.P1.130> "Take_this!"_said_the_slender_lady,_and_she_gave_my_brother_
<b16.P1.131> her_revolver.
<b16.P1.132> =
<b16.P1.133> "Go_back_to_the_chaise,"_said_my_brother,_wiping_the_blood_
<b16.P1.134> from_his_split_lip.
<b16.P1.135> =
<b16.P1.136> She_turned_without_a_word--they_were_both_panting--and_they_
<b16.P1.137> went_back_to_where_the_lady_in_white_struggled_to_hold_back_
<b16.P1.138> the_frightened_pony.
<b16.P1.139> =
<b16.P1.140> The_robbers_had_evidently_had_enough_of_it._When_my_brother_
<b16.P1.141> looked_again_they_were_retreating.
<b16.P1.142> =
<b16.P1.143> "I'll_sit_here,"_said_my_brother,_"if_I_may";_and_he_got_
<b16.P1.144> upon_the_empty_front_seat._The_lady_looked_over_her_
<b16.P1.145> shoulder.
<b16.P1.146> =
<b16.P1.147> "Give_me_the_reins,"_she_said,_and_laid_the_whip_along_the_
<b16.P1.148> pony's_side._In_another_moment_a_bend_in_the_road_hid_the_
<b16.P1.149> three_men_from_my_brother's_eyes.
<b16.P1.150> =
<b16.P1.151> So,_quite_unexpectedly,_my_brother_found_himself,_panting,_
<b16.P1.152> with_a_cut_mouth,_a_bruised_jaw,_and_bloodstained_knuckles,_
<b16.P1.153> driving_along_an_unknown_lane_with_these_two_women.
<b16.P1.154> =
<b16.P1.155> He_learned_they_were_the_wife_and_the_younger_sister_of_a_
<b16.P1.156> surgeon_living_at_Stanmore,_who_had_come_in_the_small_hours_
<b16.P1.157> from_a_dangerous_case_at_Pinner,_and_heard_at_some_railway_
<b16.P1.158> station_on_his_way_of_the_Martian_advance._He_had_hurried_
<b16.P1.159> home,_roused_the_women--their_servant_had_left_them_two_days_
<b16.P1.160> before--packed_some_provisions,_put_his_revolver_under_the_
<b16.P1.161> seat--luckily_for_my_brother--and_told_them_to_drive_on_to_
<b16.P1.162> Edgware,_with_the_idea_of_getting_a_train_there._He_stopped_
<b16.P1.163> behind_to_tell_the_neighbours._He_would_overtake_them,_he_
<b16.P1.164> said,_at_about_half_past_four_in_the_morning,_and_now_it_was_
<b16.P1.165> nearly_nine_and_they_had_seen_nothing_of_him._They_could_not_
<b16.P1.166> stop_in_Edgware_because_of_the_growing_traffic_through_the_
<b16.P1.167> place,_and_so_they_had_come_into_this_side_lane.
<b16.P1.168> =
<b16.P1.169> That_was_the_story_they_told_my_brother_in_fragments_when_
<b16.P1.170> presently_they_stopped_again,_nearer_to_New_Barnet._He_
<b16.P1.171> promised_to_stay_with_them,_at_least_until_they_could_
<b16.P1.172> determine_what_to_do,_or_until_the_missing_man_arrived,_and_
<b16.P1.173> professed_to_be_an_expert_shot_with_the_revolver--a_weapon_
<b16.P1.174> strange_to_him--in_order_to_give_them_confidence.
<b16.P1.175> =
<b16.P1.176> They_made_a_sort_of_encampment_by_the_wayside,_and_the_pony_
<b16.P1.177> became_happy_in_the_hedge._He_told_them_of_his_own_escape_
<b16.P1.178> out_of_London,_and_all_that_he_knew_of_these_Martians_and_
<b16.P1.179> their_ways._The_sun_crept_higher_in_the_sky,_and_after_a_
<b16.P1.180> time_their_talk_died_out_and_gave_place_to_an_uneasy_state_
<b16.P1.181> of_anticipation._Several_wayfarers_came_along_the_lane,_and_
<b16.P1.182> of_these_my_brother_gathered_such_news_as_he_could._Every_
<b16.P1.183> broken_answer_he_had_deepened_his_impression_of_the_great_
<b16.P1.184> disaster_that_had_come_on_humanity,_deepened_his_persuasion_
<b16.P1.185> of_the_immediate_necessity_for_prosecuting_this_flight._He_
<b16.P1.186> urged_the_matter_upon_them.
<b16.P1.187> =
<b16.P1.188> "We_have_money,"_said_the_slender_woman,_and_hesitated.
<b16.P1.189> =
<b16.P1.190> Her_eyes_met_my_brother's,_and_her_hesitation_ended.
<b16.P1.191> =
<b16.P1.192> "So_have_I,"_said_my_brother.
<b16.P1.193> =
<b16.P1.194> She_explained_that_they_had_as_much_as_thirty_pounds_in_
<b16.P1.195> gold,_besides_a_five-pound_note,_and_suggested_that_with_
<b16.P1.196> that_they_might_get_upon_a_train_at_St._Albans_or_New_
<b16.P1.197> Barnet._My_brother_thought_that_was_hopeless,_seeing_the_
<b16.P1.198> fury_of_the_Londoners_to_crowd_upon_the_trains,_and_broached_
<b16.P1.199> his_own_idea_of_striking_across_Essex_towards_Harwich_and_
<b16.P1.200> thence_escaping_from_the_country_altogether.
<b16.P1.201> =
<b16.P1.202> Mrs._Elphinstone--that_was_the_name_of_the_woman_in_
<b16.P1.203> white--would_listen_to_no_reasoning,_and_kept_calling_upon_
<b16.P1.204> "George";_but_her_sister-in-law_was_astonishingly_quiet_and_
<b16.P1.205> deliberate,_and_at_last_agreed_to_my_brother's_suggestion._
<b16.P1.206> So,_designing_to_cross_the_Great_North_Road,_they_went_on_
<b16.P1.207> towards_Barnet,_my_brother_leading_the_pony_to_save_it_as_
<b16.P1.208> much_as_possible._As_the_sun_crept_up_the_sky_the_day_became_
<b16.P1.209> excessively_hot,_and_under_foot_a_thick,_whitish_sand_grew_
<b16.P1.210> burning_and_blinding,_so_that_they_travelled_only_very_
<b16.P1.211> slowly._The_hedges_were_grey_with_dust._And_as_they_advanced_
<b16.P1.212> towards_Barnet_a_tumultuous_murmuring_grew_stronger.
<b16.P1.213> =
<b16.P1.214> They_began_to_meet_more_people._For_the_most_part_these_were_
<b16.P1.215> staring_before_them,_murmuring_indistinct_questions,_jaded,_
<b16.P1.216> haggard,_unclean._One_man_in_evening_dress_passed_them_on_
<b16.P1.217> foot,_his_eyes_on_the_ground._They_heard_his_voice,_and,_
<b16.P1.218> looking_back_at_him,_saw_one_hand_clutched_in_his_hair_and_
<b16.P1.219> the_other_beating_invisible_things._His_paroxysm_of_rage_
<b16.P1.220> over,_he_went_on_his_way_without_once_looking_back.
<b16.P1.221> =
<b16.P1.222> As_my_brother's_party_went_on_towards_the_crossroads_to_the_
<b16.P1.223> south_of_Barnet_they_saw_a_woman_approaching_the_road_across_
<b16.P1.224> some_fields_on_their_left,_carrying_a_child_and_with_two_
<b16.P1.225> other_children;_and_then_passed_a_man_in_dirty_black,_with_a_
<b16.P1.226> thick_stick_in_one_hand_and_a_small_portmanteau_in_the_
<b16.P1.227> other._Then_round_the_corner_of_the_lane,_from_between_the_
<b16.P1.228> villas_that_guarded_it_at_its_confluence_with_the_high_road,_
<b16.P1.229> came_a_little_cart_drawn_by_a_sweating_black_pony_and_driven_
<b16.P1.230> by_a_sallow_youth_in_a_bowler_hat,_grey_with_dust._There_
<b16.P1.231> were_three_girls,_East_End_factory_girls,_and_a_couple_of_
<b16.P1.232> little_children_crowded_in_the_cart.
<b16.P1.233> =
<b16.P1.234> "This'll_tike_us_rahnd_Edgware?"_asked_the_driver,_
<b16.P1.235> wild-eyed,_white-faced;_and_when_my_brother_told_him_it_
<b16.P1.236> would_if_he_turned_to_the_left,_he_whipped_up_at_once_
<b16.P1.237> without_the_formality_of_thanks.
<b16.P1.238> =
<b16.P1.239> My_brother_noticed_a_pale_grey_smoke_or_haze_rising_among_
<b16.P1.240> the_houses_in_front_of_them,_and_veiling_the_white_facade_of_
<b16.P1.241> a_terrace_beyond_the_road_that_appeared_between_the_backs_of_
<b16.P1.242> the_villas._Mrs._Elphinstone_suddenly_cried_out_at_a_number_
<b16.P1.243> of_tongues_of_smoky_red_flame_leaping_up_above_the_houses_in_
<b16.P1.244> front_of_them_against_the_hot,_blue_sky._The_tumultuous_
<b16.P1.245> noise_resolved_itself_now_into_the_disorderly_mingling_of_
<b16.P1.246> many_voices,_the_gride_of_many_wheels,_the_creaking_of_
<b16.P1.247> waggons,_and_the_staccato_of_hoofs._The_lane_came_round_
<b16.P1.248> sharply_not_fifty_yards_from_the_crossroads.
<b16.P1.249> =
<b16.P1.250> "Good_heavens!"_cried_Mrs._Elphinstone._"What_is_this_you_
<b16.P1.251> are_driving_us_into?"
<b16.P1.252> =
<b16.P1.253> My_brother_stopped.
<b16.P1.254> =
<b16.P1.255> For_the_main_road_was_a_boiling_stream_of_people,_a_torrent_
<b16.P1.256> of_human_beings_rushing_northward,_one_pressing_on_another._
<b16.P1.257> A_great_bank_of_dust,_white_and_luminous_in_the_blaze_of_the_
<b16.P1.258> sun,_made_everything_within_twenty_feet_of_the_ground_grey_
<b16.P1.259> and_indistinct_and_was_perpetually_renewed_by_the_hurrying_
<b16.P1.260> feet_of_a_dense_crowd_of_horses_and_of_men_and_women_on_
<b16.P1.261> foot,_and_by_the_wheels_of_vehicles_of_every_description.
<b16.P1.262> =
<b16.P1.263> "Way!"_my_brother_heard_voices_crying._"Make_way!"
<b16.P1.264> =
<b16.P1.265> It_was_like_riding_into_the_smoke_of_a_fire_to_approach_the_
<b16.P1.266> meeting_point_of_the_lane_and_road;_the_crowd_roared_like_a_
<b16.P1.267> fire,_and_the_dust_was_hot_and_pungent._And,_indeed,_a_
<b16.P1.268> little_way_up_the_road_a_villa_was_burning_and_sending_
<b16.P1.269> rolling_masses_of_black_smoke_across_the_road_to_add_to_the_
<b16.P1.270> confusion.
<b16.P1.271> =
<b16.P1.272> Two_men_came_past_them._Then_a_dirty_woman,_carrying_a_heavy_
<b16.P1.273> bundle_and_weeping._A_lost_retriever_dog,_with_hanging_
<b16.P1.274> tongue,_circled_dubiously_round_them,_scared_and_wretched,_
<b16.P1.275> and_fled_at_my_brother's_threat.
<b16.P1.276> =
<b16.P1.277> So_much_as_they_could_see_of_the_road_Londonward_between_the_
<b16.P1.278> houses_to_the_right_was_a_tumultuous_stream_of_dirty,_
<b16.P1.279> hurrying_people,_pent_in_between_the_villas_on_either_side;_
<b16.P1.280> the_black_heads,_the_crowded_forms,_grew_into_distinctness_
<b16.P1.281> as_they_rushed_towards_the_corner,_hurried_past,_and_merged_
<b16.P1.282> their_individuality_again_in_a_receding_multitude_that_was_
<b16.P1.283> swallowed_up_at_last_in_a_cloud_of_dust.
<b16.P1.284> =
<b16.P1.285> "Go_on!_Go_on!"_cried_the_voices._"Way!_Way!"
<b16.P1.286> =
<b16.P1.287> One_man's_hands_pressed_on_the_back_of_another._My_brother_
<b16.P1.288> stood_at_the_pony's_head._Irresistibly_attracted,_he_
<b16.P1.289> advanced_slowly,_pace_by_pace,_down_the_lane.
<b16.P1.290> =
<b16.P1.291> Edgware_had_been_a_scene_of_confusion,_Chalk_Farm_a_riotous_
<b16.P1.292> tumult,_but_this_was_a_whole_population_in_movement._It_is_
<b16.P1.293> hard_to_imagine_that_host._It_had_no_character_of_its_own._
<b16.P1.294> The_figures_poured_out_past_the_corner,_and_receded_with_
<b16.P1.295> their_backs_to_the_group_in_the_lane._Along_the_margin_came_
<b16.P1.296> those_who_were_on_foot_threatened_by_the_wheels,_stumbling_
<b16.P1.297> in_the_ditches,_blundering_into_one_another.
<b16.P1.298> =
<b16.P1.299> The_carts_and_carriages_crowded_close_upon_one_another,_
<b16.P1.300> making_little_way_for_those_swifter_and_more_impatient_
<b16.P1.301> vehicles_that_darted_forward_every_now_and_then_when_an_
<b16.P1.302> opportunity_showed_itself_of_doing_so,_sending_the_people_
<b16.P1.303> scattering_against_the_fences_and_gates_of_the_villas.
<b16.P1.304> =
<b16.P1.305> "Push_on!"_was_the_cry._"Push_on!_They_are_coming!"
<b16.P1.306> =
<b16.P1.307> In_one_cart_stood_a_blind_man_in_the_uniform_of_the_
<b16.P1.308> Salvation_Army,_gesticulating_with_his_crooked_fingers_and_
<b16.P1.309> bawling,_"Eternity!_Eternity!"_His_voice_was_hoarse_and_very_
<b16.P1.310> loud_so_that_my_brother_could_hear_him_long_after_he_was_
<b16.P1.311> lost_to_sight_in_the_dust._Some_of_the_people_who_crowded_in_
<b16.P1.312> the_carts_whipped_stupidly_at_their_horses_and_quarrelled_
<b16.P1.313> with_other_drivers;_some_sat_motionless,_staring_at_nothing_
<b16.P1.314> with_miserable_eyes;_some_gnawed_their_hands_with_thirst,_or_
<b16.P1.315> lay_prostrate_in_the_bottoms_of_their_conveyances._The_
<b16.P1.316> horses"_bits_were_covered_with_foam,_their_eyes_bloodshot.
<b16.P1.317> =
<b16.P1.318> There_were_cabs,_carriages,_shop_cars,_waggons,_beyond_
<b16.P1.319> counting;_a_mail_cart,_a_road-cleaner's_cart_marked_"Vestry_
<b16.P1.320> of_St._Pancras,"_a_huge_timber_waggon_crowded_with_roughs._A_
<b16.P1.321> brewer's_dray_rumbled_by_with_its_two_near_wheels_splashed_
<b16.P1.322> with_fresh_blood.
<b16.P1.323> =
<b16.P1.324> "Clear_the_way!"_cried_the_voices._"Clear_the_way!"
<b16.P1.325> =
<b16.P1.326> "Eter-nity!_Eter-nity!"_came_echoing_down_the_road.
<b16.P1.327> =
<b16.P1.328> There_were_sad,_haggard_women_tramping_by,_well_dressed,_
<b16.P1.329> with_children_that_cried_and_stumbled,_their_dainty_clothes_
<b16.P1.330> smothered_in_dust,_their_weary_faces_smeared_with_tears._
<b16.P1.331> With_many_of_these_came_men,_sometimes_helpful,_sometimes_
<b16.P1.332> lowering_and_savage._Fighting_side_by_side_with_them_pushed_
<b16.P1.333> some_weary_street_outcast_in_faded_black_rags,_wide-eyed,_
<b16.P1.334> loud-voiced,_and_foul-mouthed._There_were_sturdy_workmen_
<b16.P1.335> thrusting_their_way_along,_wretched,_unkempt_men,_clothed_
<b16.P1.336> like_clerks_or_shopmen,_struggling_spasmodically;_a_wounded_
<b16.P1.337> soldier_my_brother_noticed,_men_dressed_in_the_clothes_of_
<b16.P1.338> railway_porters,_one_wretched_creature_in_a_nightshirt_with_
<b16.P1.339> a_coat_thrown_over_it.
<b16.P1.340> =
<b16.P1.341> But_varied_as_its_composition_was,_certain_things_all_that_
<b16.P1.342> host_had_in_common._There_were_fear_and_pain_on_their_faces,_
<b16.P1.343> and_fear_behind_them._A_tumult_up_the_road,_a_quarrel_for_a_
<b16.P1.344> place_in_a_waggon,_sent_the_whole_host_of_them_quickening_
<b16.P1.345> their_pace;_even_a_man_so_scared_and_broken_that_his_knees_
<b16.P1.346> bent_under_him_was_galvanised_for_a_moment_into_renewed_
<b16.P1.347> activity._The_heat_and_dust_had_already_been_at_work_upon_
<b16.P1.348> this_multitude._Their_skins_were_dry,_their_lips_black_and_
<b16.P1.349> cracked._They_were_all_thirsty,_weary,_and_footsore._And_
<b16.P1.350> amid_the_various_cries_one_heard_disputes,_reproaches,_
<b16.P1.351> groans_of_weariness_and_fatigue;_the_voices_of_most_of_them_
<b16.P1.352> were_hoarse_and_weak._Through_it_all_ran_a_refrain:
<b16.P1.353> =
<b16.P1.354> "Way!_Way!_The_Martians_are_coming!"
<b16.P1.355> =
<b16.P1.356> Few_stopped_and_came_aside_from_that_flood._The_lane_opened_
<b16.P1.357> slantingly_into_the_main_road_with_a_narrow_opening,_and_had_
<b16.P1.358> a_delusive_appearance_of_coming_from_the_direction_of_
<b16.P1.359> London._Yet_a_kind_of_eddy_of_people_drove_into_its_mouth;_
<b16.P1.360> weaklings_elbowed_out_of_the_stream,_who_for_the_most_part_
<b16.P1.361> rested_but_a_moment_before_plunging_into_it_again._A_little_
<b16.P1.362> way_down_the_lane,_with_two_friends_bending_over_him,_lay_a_
<b16.P1.363> man_with_a_bare_leg,_wrapped_about_with_bloody_rags._He_was_
<b16.P1.364> a_lucky_man_to_have_friends.
<b16.P1.365> =
<b16.P1.366> A_little_old_man,_with_a_grey_military_moustache_and_a_
<b16.P1.367> filthy_black_frock_coat,_limped_out_and_sat_down_beside_the_
<b16.P1.368> trap,_removed_his_boot--his_sock_was_blood-stained--shook_
<b16.P1.369> out_a_pebble,_and_hobbled_on_again;_and_then_a_little_girl_
<b16.P1.370> of_eight_or_nine,_all_alone,_threw_herself_under_the_hedge_
<b16.P1.371> close_by_my_brother,_weeping.
<b16.P1.372> =
<b16.P1.373> "I_can't_go_on!_I_can't_go_on!"
<b16.P1.374> =
<b16.P1.375> My_brother_woke_from_his_torpor_of_astonishment_and_lifted_
<b16.P1.376> her_up,_speaking_gently_to_her,_and_carried_her_to_Miss_
<b16.P1.377> Elphinstone._So_soon_as_my_brother_touched_her_she_became_
<b16.P1.378> quite_still,_as_if_frightened.
<b16.P1.379> =
<b16.P1.380> "Ellen!"_shrieked_a_woman_in_the_crowd,_with_tears_in_her_
<b16.P1.381> voice--"Ellen!"_And_the_child_suddenly_darted_away_from_my_
<b16.P1.382> brother,_crying_"Mother!"
<b16.P1.383> =
<b16.P1.384> "They_are_coming,"_said_a_man_on_horseback,_riding_past_
<b16.P1.385> along_the_lane.
<b16.P1.386> =
<b16.P1.387> "Out_of_the_way,_there!"_bawled_a_coachman,_towering_high;_
<b16.P1.388> and_my_brother_saw_a_closed_carriage_turning_into_the_lane.
<b16.P1.389> =
<b16.P1.390> The_people_crushed_back_on_one_another_to_avoid_the_horse._
<b16.P1.391> My_brother_pushed_the_pony_and_chaise_back_into_the_hedge,_
<b16.P1.392> and_the_man_drove_by_and_stopped_at_the_turn_of_the_way._It_
<b16.P1.393> was_a_carriage,_with_a_pole_for_a_pair_of_horses,_but_only_
<b16.P1.394> one_was_in_the_traces._My_brother_saw_dimly_through_the_dust_
<b16.P1.395> that_two_men_lifted_out_something_on_a_white_stretcher_and_
<b16.P1.396> put_it_gently_on_the_grass_beneath_the_privet_hedge.
<b16.P1.397> =
<b16.P1.398> One_of_the_men_came_running_to_my_brother.
<b16.P1.399> =
<b16.P1.400> "Where_is_there_any_water?"_he_said._"He_is_dying_fast,_and_
<b16.P1.401> very_thirsty._It_is_Lord_Garrick."
<b16.P1.402> =
<b16.P1.403> "Lord_Garrick!"_said_my_brother;_"the_Chief_Justice?"
<b16.P1.404> =
<b16.P1.405> "The_water?"_he_said.
<b16.P1.406> =
<b16.P1.407> "There_may_be_a_tap,"_said_my_brother,_"in_some_of_the_
<b16.P1.408> houses._We_have_no_water._I_dare_not_leave_my_people."
<b16.P1.409> =
<b16.P1.410> The_man_pushed_against_the_crowd_towards_the_gate_of_the_
<b16.P1.411> corner_house.
<b16.P1.412> =
<b16.P1.413> "Go_on!"_said_the_people,_thrusting_at_him._"They_are_
<b16.P1.414> coming!_Go_on!"
<b16.P1.415> =
<b16.P1.416> Then_my_brother's_attention_was_distracted_by_a_bearded,_
<b16.P1.417> eagle-faced_man_lugging_a_small_handbag,_which_split_even_as_
<b16.P1.418> my_brother's_eyes_rested_on_it_and_disgorged_a_mass_of_
<b16.P1.419> sovereigns_that_seemed_to_break_up_into_separate_coins_as_it_
<b16.P1.420> struck_the_ground._They_rolled_hither_and_thither_among_the_
<b16.P1.421> struggling_feet_of_men_and_horses._The_man_stopped_and_
<b16.P1.422> looked_stupidly_at_the_heap,_and_the_shaft_of_a_cab_struck_
<b16.P1.423> his_shoulder_and_sent_him_reeling._He_gave_a_shriek_and_
<b16.P1.424> dodged_back,_and_a_cartwheel_shaved_him_narrowly.
<b16.P1.425> =
<b16.P1.426> "Way!"_cried_the_men_all_about_him._"Make_way!"
<b16.P1.427> =
<b16.P1.428> So_soon_as_the_cab_had_passed,_he_flung_himself,_with_both_
<b16.P1.429> hands_open,_upon_the_heap_of_coins,_and_began_thrusting_
<b16.P1.430> handfuls_in_his_pocket._A_horse_rose_close_upon_him,_and_in_
<b16.P1.431> another_moment,_half_rising,_he_had_been_borne_down_under_
<b16.P1.432> the_horse's_hoofs.
<b16.P1.433> =
<b16.P1.434> "Stop!"_screamed_my_brother,_and_pushing_a_woman_out_of_his_
<b16.P1.435> way,_tried_to_clutch_the_bit_of_the_horse.
<b16.P1.436> =
<b16.P1.437> Before_he_could_get_to_it,_he_heard_a_scream_under_the_
<b16.P1.438> wheels,_and_saw_through_the_dust_the_rim_passing_over_the_
<b16.P1.439> poor_wretch's_back._The_driver_of_the_cart_slashed_his_whip_
<b16.P1.440> at_my_brother,_who_ran_round_behind_the_cart._The_
<b16.P1.441> multitudinous_shouting_confused_his_ears._The_man_was_
<b16.P1.442> writhing_in_the_dust_among_his_scattered_money,_unable_to_
<b16.P1.443> rise,_for_the_wheel_had_broken_his_back,_and_his_lower_limbs_
<b16.P1.444> lay_limp_and_dead._My_brother_stood_up_and_yelled_at_the_
<b16.P1.445> next_driver,_and_a_man_on_a_black_horse_came_to_his_
<b16.P1.446> assistance.
<b16.P1.447> =
<b16.P1.448> "Get_him_out_of_the_road,"_said_he;_and,_clutching_the_man's_
<b16.P1.449> collar_with_his_free_hand,_my_brother_lugged_him_sideways._
<b16.P1.450> But_he_still_clutched_after_his_money,_and_regarded_my_
<b16.P1.451> brother_fiercely,_hammering_at_his_arm_with_a_handful_of_
<b16.P1.452> gold._"Go_on!_Go_on!"_shouted_angry_voices_behind.
<b16.P1.453> =
<b16.P1.454> "Way!_Way!"
<b16.P1.455> =
<b16.P1.456> There_was_a_smash_as_the_pole_of_a_carriage_crashed_into_the_
<b16.P1.457> cart_that_the_man_on_horseback_stopped._My_brother_looked_
<b16.P1.458> up,_and_the_man_with_the_gold_twisted_his_head_round_and_bit_
<b16.P1.459> the_wrist_that_held_his_collar._There_was_a_concussion,_and_
<b16.P1.460> the_black_horse_came_staggering_sideways,_and_the_carthorse_
<b16.P1.461> pushed_beside_it._A_hoof_missed_my_brother's_foot_by_a_
<b16.P1.462> hair's_breadth._He_released_his_grip_on_the_fallen_man_and_
<b16.P1.463> jumped_back._He_saw_anger_change_to_terror_on_the_face_of_
<b16.P1.464> the_poor_wretch_on_the_ground,_and_in_a_moment_he_was_hidden_
<b16.P1.465> and_my_brother_was_borne_backward_and_carried_past_the_
<b16.P1.466> entrance_of_the_lane,_and_had_to_fight_hard_in_the_torrent_
<b16.P1.467> to_recover_it.
<b16.P1.468> =
<b16.P1.469> He_saw_Miss_Elphinstone_covering_her_eyes,_and_a_little_
<b16.P1.470> child,_with_all_a_child's_want_of_sympathetic_imagination,_
<b16.P1.471> staring_with_dilated_eyes_at_a_dusty_something_that_lay_
<b16.P1.472> black_and_still,_ground_and_crushed_under_the_rolling_
<b16.P1.473> wheels._"Let_us_go_back!"_he_shouted,_and_began_turning_the_
<b16.P1.474> pony_round._"We_cannot_cross_this--hell,"_he_said_and_they_
<b16.P1.475> went_back_a_hundred_yards_the_way_they_had_come,_until_the_
<b16.P1.476> fighting_crowd_was_hidden._As_they_passed_the_bend_in_the_
<b16.P1.477> lane_my_brother_saw_the_face_of_the_dying_man_in_the_ditch_
<b16.P1.478> under_the_privet,_deadly_white_and_drawn,_and_shining_with_
<b16.P1.479> perspiration._The_two_women_sat_silent,_crouching_in_their_
<b16.P1.480> seat_and_shivering.
<b16.P1.481> =
<b16.P1.482> Then_beyond_the_bend_my_brother_stopped_again._Miss_
<b16.P1.483> Elphinstone_was_white_and_pale,_and_her_sister-in-law_sat_
<b16.P1.484> weeping,_too_wretched_even_to_call_upon_"George."_My_brother_
<b16.P1.485> was_horrified_and_perplexed._So_soon_as_they_had_retreated_
<b16.P1.486> he_realised_how_urgent_and_unavoidable_it_was_to_attempt_
<b16.P1.487> this_crossing._He_turned_to_Miss_Elphinstone,_suddenly_
<b16.P1.488> resolute.
<b16.P1.489> =
<b16.P1.490> "We_must_go_that_way,"_he_said,_and_led_the_pony_round_
<b16.P1.491> again.
<b16.P1.492> =
<b16.P1.493> For_the_second_time_that_day_this_girl_proved_her_quality._
<b16.P1.494> To_force_their_way_into_the_torrent_of_people,_my_brother_
<b16.P1.495> plunged_into_the_traffic_and_held_back_a_cab_horse,_while_
<b16.P1.496> she_drove_the_pony_across_its_head._A_waggon_locked_wheels_
<b16.P1.497> for_a_moment_and_ripped_a_long_splinter_from_the_chaise._In_
<b16.P1.498> another_moment_they_were_caught_and_swept_forward_by_the_
<b16.P1.499> stream._My_brother,_with_the_cabman's_whip_marks_red_across_
<b16.P1.500> his_face_and_hands,_scrambled_into_the_chaise_and_took_the_
<b16.P1.501> reins_from_her.
<b16.P1.502> =
<b16.P1.503> "Point_the_revolver_at_the_man_behind,"_he_said,_giving_it_
<b16.P1.504> to_her,_"if_he_presses_us_too_hard._No!--point_it_at_his_
<b16.P1.505> horse."
<b16.P1.506> =
<b16.P1.507> Then_he_began_to_look_out_for_a_chance_of_edging_to_the_
<b16.P1.508> right_across_the_road._But_once_in_the_stream_he_seemed_to_
<b16.P1.509> lose_volition,_to_become_a_part_of_that_dusty_rout._They_
<b16.P1.510> swept_through_Chipping_Barnet_with_the_torrent;_they_were_
<b16.P1.511> nearly_a_mile_beyond_the_centre_of_the_town_before_they_had_
<b16.P1.512> fought_across_to_the_opposite_side_of_the_way._It_was_din_
<b16.P1.513> and_confusion_indescribable;_but_in_and_beyond_the_town_the_
<b16.P1.514> road_forks_repeatedly,_and_this_to_some_extent_relieved_the_
<b16.P1.515> stress.
<b16.P1.516> =
<b16.P1.517> They_struck_eastward_through_Hadley,_and_there_on_either_
<b16.P1.518> side_of_the_road,_and_at_another_place_farther_on_they_came_
<b16.P1.519> upon_a_great_multitude_of_people_drinking_at_the_stream,_
<b16.P1.520> some_fighting_to_come_at_the_water._And_farther_on,_from_a_
<b16.P1.521> lull_near_East_Barnet,_they_saw_two_trains_running_slowly_
<b16.P1.522> one_after_the_other_without_signal_or_order--trains_swarming_
<b16.P1.523> with_people,_with_men_even_among_the_coals_behind_the_
<b16.P1.524> engines--going_northward_along_the_Great_Northern_Railway._
<b16.P1.525> My_brother_supposes_they_must_have_filled_outside_London,_
<b16.P1.526> for_at_that_time_the_furious_terror_of_the_people_had_
<b16.P1.527> rendered_the_central_termini_impossible.
<b16.P1.528> =
<b16.P1.529> Near_this_place_they_halted_for_the_rest_of_the_afternoon,_
<b16.P1.530> for_the_violence_of_the_day_had_already_utterly_exhausted_
<b16.P1.531> all_three_of_them._They_began_to_suffer_the_beginnings_of_
<b16.P1.532> hunger;_the_night_was_cold,_and_none_of_them_dared_to_sleep._
<b16.P1.533> And_in_the_evening_many_people_came_hurrying_along_the_road_
<b16.P1.534> nearby_their_stopping_place,_fleeing_from_unknown_dangers_
<b16.P1.535> before_them,_and_going_in_the_direction_from_which_my_
<b16.P1.536> brother_had_come.
<b16.P1.537> =
#
## <b17>
# chapter 17 SEVENTEEN
# unit C chapter_number
# unit H chapter_title
# unit P text
<b17.P1.001> Had_the_Martians_aimed_only_at_destruction,_they_might_on_
<b17.P1.002> Monday_have_annihilated_the_entire_population_of_London,_as_
<b17.P1.003> it_spread_itself_slowly_through_the_home_counties._Not_only_
<b17.P1.004> along_the_road_through_Barnet,_but_also_through_Edgware_and_
<b17.P1.005> Waltham_Abbey,_and_along_the_roads_eastward_to_Southend_and_
<b17.P1.006> Shoeburyness,_and_south_of_the_Thames_to_Deal_and_
<b17.P1.007> Broadstairs,_poured_the_same_frantic_rout._If_one_could_have_
<b17.P1.008> hung_that_June_morning_in_a_balloon_in_the_blazing_blue_
<b17.P1.009> above_London_every_northward_and_eastward_road_running_out_
<b17.P1.010> of_the_tangled_maze_of_streets_would_have_seemed_stippled_
<b17.P1.011> black_with_the_streaming_fugitives,_each_dot_a_human_agony_
<b17.P1.012> of_terror_and_physical_distress._I_have_set_forth_at_length_
<b17.P1.013> in_the_last_chapter_my_brother's_account_of_the_road_through_
<b17.P1.014> Chipping_Barnet,_in_order_that_my_readers_may_realise_how_
<b17.P1.015> that_swarming_of_black_dots_appeared_to_one_of_those_
<b17.P1.016> concerned._Never_before_in_the_history_of_the_world_had_such_
<b17.P1.017> a_mass_of_human_beings_moved_and_suffered_together._The_
<b17.P1.018> legendary_hosts_of_Goths_and_Huns,_the_hugest_armies_Asia_
<b17.P1.019> has_ever_seen,_would_have_been_but_a_drop_in_that_current._
<b17.P1.020> And_this_was_no_disciplined_march;_it_was_a_stampede--a_
<b17.P1.021> stampede_gigantic_and_terrible--without_order_and_without_a_
<b17.P1.022> goal,_six_million_people_unarmed_and_unprovisioned,_driving_
<b17.P1.023> headlong._It_was_the_beginning_of_the_rout_of_civilisation,_
<b17.P1.024> of_the_massacre_of_mankind.
<b17.P1.025> =
<b17.P1.026> Directly_below_him_the_balloonist_would_have_seen_the_
<b17.P1.027> network_of_streets_far_and_wide,_houses,_churches,_squares,_
<b17.P1.028> crescents,_gardens--already_derelict--spread_out_like_a_huge_
<b17.P1.029> map,_and_in_the_southward_BLOTTED._Over_Ealing,_Richmond,_
<b17.P1.030> Wimbledon,_it_would_have_seemed_as_if_some_monstrous_pen_had_
<b17.P1.031> flung_ink_upon_the_chart._Steadily,_incessantly,_each_black_
<b17.P1.032> splash_grew_and_spread,_shooting_out_ramifications_this_way_
<b17.P1.033> and_that,_now_banking_itself_against_rising_ground,_now_
<b17.P1.034> pouring_swiftly_over_a_crest_into_a_new-found_valley,_
<b17.P1.035> exactly_as_a_gout_of_ink_would_spread_itself_upon_blotting_
<b17.P1.036> paper.
<b17.P1.037> =
<b17.P1.038> And_beyond,_over_the_blue_hills_that_rise_southward_of_the_
<b17.P1.039> river,_the_glittering_Martians_went_to_and_fro,_calmly_and_
<b17.P1.040> methodically_spreading_their_poison_cloud_over_this_patch_of_
<b17.P1.041> country_and_then_over_that,_laying_it_again_with_their_steam_
<b17.P1.042> jets_when_it_had_served_its_purpose,_and_taking_possession_
<b17.P1.043> of_the_conquered_country._They_do_not_seem_to_have_aimed_at_
<b17.P1.044> extermination_so_much_as_at_complete_demoralisation_and_the_
<b17.P1.045> destruction_of_any_opposition._They_exploded_any_stores_of_
<b17.P1.046> powder_they_came_upon,_cut_every_telegraph,_and_wrecked_the_
<b17.P1.047> railways_here_and_there._They_were_hamstringing_mankind._
<b17.P1.048> They_seemed_in_no_hurry_to_extend_the_field_of_their_
<b17.P1.049> operations,_and_did_not_come_beyond_the_central_part_of_
<b17.P1.050> London_all_that_day._It_is_possible_that_a_very_considerable_
<b17.P1.051> number_of_people_in_London_stuck_to_their_houses_through_
<b17.P1.052> Monday_morning._Certain_it_is_that_many_died_at_home_
<b17.P1.053> suffocated_by_the_Black_Smoke.
<b17.P1.054> =
<b17.P1.055> Until_about_midday_the_Pool_of_London_was_an_astonishing_
<b17.P1.056> scene._Steamboats_and_shipping_of_all_sorts_lay_there,_
<b17.P1.057> tempted_by_the_enormous_sums_of_money_offered_by_fugitives,_
<b17.P1.058> and_it_is_said_that_many_who_swam_out_to_these_vessels_were_
<b17.P1.059> thrust_off_with_boathooks_and_drowned._About_one_o'clock_in_
<b17.P1.060> the_afternoon_the_thinning_remnant_of_a_cloud_of_the_black_
<b17.P1.061> vapour_appeared_between_the_arches_of_Blackfriars_Bridge._At_
<b17.P1.062> that_the_Pool_became_a_scene_of_mad_confusion,_fighting,_and_
<b17.P1.063> collision,_and_for_some_time_a_multitude_of_boats_and_barges_
<b17.P1.064> jammed_in_the_northern_arch_of_the_Tower_Bridge,_and_the_
<b17.P1.065> sailors_and_lightermen_had_to_fight_savagely_against_the_
<b17.P1.066> people_who_swarmed_upon_them_from_the_riverfront._People_
<b17.P1.067> were_actually_clambering_down_the_piers_of_the_bridge_from_
<b17.P1.068> above.
<b17.P1.069> =
<b17.P1.070> When,_an_hour_later,_a_Martian_appeared_beyond_the_Clock_
<b17.P1.071> Tower_and_waded_down_the_river,_nothing_but_wreckage_floated_
<b17.P1.072> above_Limehouse.
<b17.P1.073> =
<b17.P1.074> Of_the_falling_of_the_fifth_cylinder_I_have_presently_to_
<b17.P1.075> tell._The_sixth_star_fell_at_Wimbledon._My_brother,_keeping_
<b17.P1.076> watch_beside_the_women_in_the_chaise_in_a_meadow,_saw_the_
<b17.P1.077> green_flash_of_it_far_beyond_the_hills._On_Tuesday_the_
<b17.P1.078> little_party,_still_set_upon_getting_across_the_sea,_made_
<b17.P1.079> its_way_through_the_swarming_country_towards_Colchester._The_
<b17.P1.080> news_that_the_Martians_were_now_in_possession_of_the_whole_
<b17.P1.081> of_London_was_confirmed._They_had_been_seen_at_Highgate,_and_
<b17.P1.082> even,_it_was_said,_at_Neasden._But_they_did_not_come_into_my_
<b17.P1.083> brother's_view_until_the_morrow.
<b17.P1.084> =
<b17.P1.085> That_day_the_scattered_multitudes_began_to_realise_the_
<b17.P1.086> urgent_need_of_provisions._As_they_grew_hungry_the_rights_of_
<b17.P1.087> property_ceased_to_be_regarded._Farmers_were_out_to_defend_
<b17.P1.088> their_cattle-sheds,_granaries,_and_ripening_root_crops_with_
<b17.P1.089> arms_in_their_hands._A_number_of_people_now,_like_my_
<b17.P1.090> brother,_had_their_faces_eastward,_and_there_were_some_
<b17.P1.091> desperate_souls_even_going_back_towards_London_to_get_food._
<b17.P1.092> These_were_chiefly_people_from_the_northern_suburbs,_whose_
<b17.P1.093> knowledge_of_the_Black_Smoke_came_by_hearsay._He_heard_that_
<b17.P1.094> about_half_the_members_of_the_government_had_gathered_at_
<b17.P1.095> Birmingham,_and_that_enormous_quantities_of_high_explosives_
<b17.P1.096> were_being_prepared_to_be_used_in_automatic_mines_across_the_
<b17.P1.097> Midland_counties.
<b17.P1.098> =
<b17.P1.099> He_was_also_told_that_the_Midland_Railway_Company_had_
<b17.P1.100> replaced_the_desertions_of_the_first_day's_panic,_had_
<b17.P1.101> resumed_traffic,_and_was_running_northward_trains_from_St._
<b17.P1.102> Albans_to_relieve_the_congestion_of_the_home_counties._There_
<b17.P1.103> was_also_a_placard_in_Chipping_Ongar_announcing_that_large_
<b17.P1.104> stores_of_flour_were_available_in_the_northern_towns_and_
<b17.P1.105> that_within_twenty-four_hours_bread_would_be_distributed_
<b17.P1.106> among_the_starving_people_in_the_neighbourhood._But_this_
<b17.P1.107> intelligence_did_not_deter_him_from_the_plan_of_escape_he_
<b17.P1.108> had_formed,_and_the_three_pressed_eastward_all_day,_and_
<b17.P1.109> heard_no_more_of_the_bread_distribution_than_this_promise._
<b17.P1.110> Nor,_as_a_matter_of_fact,_did_anyone_else_hear_more_of_it._
<b17.P1.111> That_night_fell_the_seventh_star,_falling_upon_Primrose_
<b17.P1.112> Hill._It_fell_while_Miss_Elphinstone_was_watching,_for_she_
<b17.P1.113> took_that_duty_alternately_with_my_brother._She_saw_it.
<b17.P1.114> =
<b17.P1.115> On_Wednesday_the_three_fugitives--they_had_passed_the_night_
<b17.P1.116> in_a_field_of_unripe_wheat--reached_Chelmsford,_and_there_a_
<b17.P1.117> body_of_the_inhabitants,_calling_itself_the_Committee_of_
<b17.P1.118> Public_Supply,_seized_the_pony_as_provisions,_and_would_give_
<b17.P1.119> nothing_in_exchange_for_it_but_the_promise_of_a_share_in_it_
<b17.P1.120> the_next_day._Here_there_were_rumours_of_Martians_at_Epping,_
<b17.P1.121> and_news_of_the_destruction_of_Waltham_Abbey_Powder_Mills_in_
<b17.P1.122> a_vain_attempt_to_blow_up_one_of_the_invaders.
<b17.P1.123> =
<b17.P1.124> People_were_watching_for_Martians_here_from_the_church_
<b17.P1.125> towers._My_brother,_very_luckily_for_him_as_it_chanced,_
<b17.P1.126> preferred_to_push_on_at_once_to_the_coast_rather_than_wait_
<b17.P1.127> for_food,_although_all_three_of_them_were_very_hungry._By_
<b17.P1.128> midday_they_passed_through_Tillingham,_which,_strangely_
<b17.P1.129> enough,_seemed_to_be_quite_silent_and_deserted,_save_for_a_
<b17.P1.130> few_furtive_plunderers_hunting_for_food._Near_Tillingham_
<b17.P1.131> they_suddenly_came_in_sight_of_the_sea,_and_the_most_amazing_
<b17.P1.132> crowd_of_shipping_of_all_sorts_that_it_is_possible_to_
<b17.P1.133> imagine.
<b17.P1.134> =
<b17.P1.135> For_after_the_sailors_could_no_longer_come_up_the_Thames,_
<b17.P1.136> they_came_on_to_the_Essex_coast,_to_Harwich_and_Walton_and_
<b17.P1.137> Clacton,_and_afterwards_to_Foulness_and_Shoebury,_to_bring_
<b17.P1.138> off_the_people._They_lay_in_a_huge_sickle-shaped_curve_that_
<b17.P1.139> vanished_into_mist_at_last_towards_the_Naze._Close_inshore_
<b17.P1.140> was_a_multitude_of_fishing_smacks--English,_Scotch,_French,_
<b17.P1.141> Dutch,_and_Swedish;_steam_launches_from_the_Thames,_yachts,_
<b17.P1.142> electric_boats;_and_beyond_were_ships_of_large_burden,_a_
<b17.P1.143> multitude_of_filthy_colliers,_trim_merchantmen,_cattle_
<b17.P1.144> ships,_passenger_boats,_petroleum_tanks,_ocean_tramps,_an_
<b17.P1.145> old_white_transport_even,_neat_white_and_grey_liners_from_
<b17.P1.146> Southampton_and_Hamburg;_and_along_the_blue_coast_across_the_
<b17.P1.147> Blackwater_my_brother_could_make_out_dimly_a_dense_swarm_of_
<b17.P1.148> boats_chaffering_with_the_people_on_the_beach,_a_swarm_which_
<b17.P1.149> also_extended_up_the_Blackwater_almost_to_Maldon.
<b17.P1.150> =
<b17.P1.151> About_a_couple_of_miles_out_lay_an_ironclad,_very_low_in_the_
<b17.P1.152> water,_almost,_to_my_brother's_perception,_like_a_
<b17.P1.153> water-logged_ship._This_was_the_ram_THUNDER_CHILD._It_was_
<b17.P1.154> the_only_warship_in_sight,_but_far_away_to_the_right_over_
<b17.P1.155> the_smooth_surface_of_the_sea--for_that_day_there_was_a_dead_
<b17.P1.156> calm--lay_a_serpent_of_black_smoke_to_mark_the_next_
<b17.P1.157> iron-clads_of_the_Channel_Fleet,_which_hovered_in_an_
<b17.P1.158> extended_line,_steam_up_and_ready_for_action,_across_the_
<b17.P1.159> Thames_estuary_during_the_course_of_the_Martian_conquest,_
<b17.P1.160> vigilant_and_yet_powerless_to_prevent_it.
<b17.P1.161> =
<b17.P1.162> At_the_sight_of_the_sea,_Mrs._Elphinstone,_in_spite_of_the_
<b17.P1.163> assurances_of_her_sister-in-law,_gave_way_to_panic._She_had_
<b17.P1.164> never_been_out_of_England_before,_she_would_rather_die_than_
<b17.P1.165> trust_herself_friendless_in_a_foreign_country,_and_so_forth._
<b17.P1.166> She_seemed,_poor_woman,_to_imagine_that_the_French_and_the_
<b17.P1.167> Martians_might_prove_very_similar._She_had_been_growing_
<b17.P1.168> increasingly_hysterical,_fearful,_and_depressed_during_the_
<b17.P1.169> two_days'_journeyings._Her_great_idea_was_to_return_to_
<b17.P1.170> Stanmore._Things_had_been_always_well_and_safe_at_Stanmore._
<b17.P1.171> They_would_find_George_at_Stanmore.
<b17.P1.172> =
<b17.P1.173> It_was_with_the_greatest_difficulty_they_could_get_her_down_
<b17.P1.174> to_the_beach,_where_presently_my_brother_succeeded_in_
<b17.P1.175> attracting_the_attention_of_some_men_on_a_paddle_steamer_
<b17.P1.176> from_the_Thames._They_sent_a_boat_and_drove_a_bargain_for_
<b17.P1.177> thirty-six_pounds_for_the_three._The_steamer_was_going,_
<b17.P1.178> these_men_said,_to_Ostend.
<b17.P1.179> =
<b17.P1.180> It_was_about_two_o'clock_when_my_brother,_having_paid_their_
<b17.P1.181> fares_at_the_gangway,_found_himself_safely_aboard_the_
<b17.P1.182> steamboat_with_his_charges._There_was_food_aboard,_albeit_at_
<b17.P1.183> exorbitant_prices,_and_the_three_of_them_contrived_to_eat_a_
<b17.P1.184> meal_on_one_of_the_seats_forward.
<b17.P1.185> =
<b17.P1.186> There_were_already_a_couple_of_score_of_passengers_aboard,_
<b17.P1.187> some_of_whom_had_expended_their_last_money_in_securing_a_
<b17.P1.188> passage,_but_the_captain_lay_off_the_Blackwater_until_five_
<b17.P1.189> in_the_afternoon,_picking_up_passengers_until_the_seated_
<b17.P1.190> decks_were_even_dangerously_crowded._He_would_probably_have_
<b17.P1.191> remained_longer_had_it_not_been_for_the_sound_of_guns_that_
<b17.P1.192> began_about_that_hour_in_the_south._As_if_in_answer,_the_
<b17.P1.193> ironclad_seaward_fired_a_small_gun_and_hoisted_a_string_of_
<b17.P1.194> flags._A_jet_of_smoke_sprang_out_of_her_funnels.
<b17.P1.195> =
<b17.P1.196> Some_of_the_passengers_were_of_opinion_that_this_firing_came_
<b17.P1.197> from_Shoeburyness,_until_it_was_noticed_that_it_was_growing_
<b17.P1.198> louder._At_the_same_time,_far_away_in_the_southeast_the_
<b17.P1.199> masts_and_upperworks_of_three_ironclads_rose_one_after_the_
<b17.P1.200> other_out_of_the_sea,_beneath_clouds_of_black_smoke._But_my_
<b17.P1.201> brother's_attention_speedily_reverted_to_the_distant_firing_
<b17.P1.202> in_the_south._He_fancied_he_saw_a_column_of_smoke_rising_out_
<b17.P1.203> of_the_distant_grey_haze.
<b17.P1.204> =
<b17.P1.205> The_little_steamer_was_already_flapping_her_way_eastward_of_
<b17.P1.206> the_big_crescent_of_shipping,_and_the_low_Essex_coast_was_
<b17.P1.207> growing_blue_and_hazy,_when_a_Martian_appeared,_small_and_
<b17.P1.208> faint_in_the_remote_distance,_advancing_along_the_muddy_
<b17.P1.209> coast_from_the_direction_of_Foulness._At_that_the_captain_on_
<b17.P1.210> the_bridge_swore_at_the_top_of_his_voice_with_fear_and_anger_
<b17.P1.211> at_his_own_delay,_and_the_paddles_seemed_infected_with_his_
<b17.P1.212> terror._Every_soul_aboard_stood_at_the_bulwarks_or_on_the_
<b17.P1.213> seats_of_the_steamer_and_stared_at_that_distant_shape,_
<b17.P1.214> higher_than_the_trees_or_church_towers_inland,_and_advancing_
<b17.P1.215> with_a_leisurely_parody_of_a_human_stride.
<b17.P1.216> =
<b17.P1.217> It_was_the_first_Martian_my_brother_had_seen,_and_he_stood,_
<b17.P1.218> more_amazed_than_terrified,_watching_this_Titan_advancing_
<b17.P1.219> deliberately_towards_the_shipping,_wading_farther_and_
<b17.P1.220> farther_into_the_water_as_the_coast_fell_away._Then,_far_
<b17.P1.221> away_beyond_the_Crouch,_came_another,_striding_over_some_
<b17.P1.222> stunted_trees,_and_then_yet_another,_still_farther_off,_
<b17.P1.223> wading_deeply_through_a_shiny_mudflat_that_seemed_to_hang_
<b17.P1.224> halfway_up_between_sea_and_sky._They_were_all_stalking_
<b17.P1.225> seaward,_as_if_to_intercept_the_escape_of_the_multitudinous_
<b17.P1.226> vessels_that_were_crowded_between_Foulness_and_the_Naze._In_
<b17.P1.227> spite_of_the_throbbing_exertions_of_the_engines_of_the_
<b17.P1.228> little_paddle-boat,_and_the_pouring_foam_that_her_wheels_
<b17.P1.229> flung_behind_her,_she_receded_with_terrifying_slowness_from_
<b17.P1.230> this_ominous_advance.
<b17.P1.231> =
<b17.P1.232> Glancing_northwestward,_my_brother_saw_the_large_crescent_of_
<b17.P1.233> shipping_already_writhing_with_the_approaching_terror;_one_
<b17.P1.234> ship_passing_behind_another,_another_coming_round_from_
<b17.P1.235> broadside_to_end_on,_steamships_whistling_and_giving_off_
<b17.P1.236> volumes_of_steam,_sails_being_let_out,_launches_rushing_
<b17.P1.237> hither_and_thither._He_was_so_fascinated_by_this_and_by_the_
<b17.P1.238> creeping_danger_away_to_the_left_that_he_had_no_eyes_for_
<b17.P1.239> anything_seaward._And_then_a_swift_movement_of_the_steamboat_
<b17.P1.240> (she_had_suddenly_come_round_to_avoid_being_run_down)_flung_
<b17.P1.241> him_headlong_from_the_seat_upon_which_he_was_standing._There_
<b17.P1.242> was_a_shouting_all_about_him,_a_trampling_of_feet,_and_a_
<b17.P1.243> cheer_that_seemed_to_be_answered_faintly._The_steamboat_
<b17.P1.244> lurched_and_rolled_him_over_upon_his_hands.
<b17.P1.245> =
<b17.P1.246> He_sprang_to_his_feet_and_saw_to_starboard,_and_not_a_
<b17.P1.247> hundred_yards_from_their_heeling,_pitching_boat,_a_vast_iron_
<b17.P1.248> bulk_like_the_blade_of_a_plough_tearing_through_the_water,_
<b17.P1.249> tossing_it_on_either_side_in_huge_waves_of_foam_that_leaped_
<b17.P1.250> towards_the_steamer,_flinging_her_paddles_helplessly_in_the_
<b17.P1.251> air,_and_then_sucking_her_deck_down_almost_to_the_waterline.
<b17.P1.252> =
<b17.P1.253> A_douche_of_spray_blinded_my_brother_for_a_moment._When_his_
<b17.P1.254> eyes_were_clear_again_he_saw_the_monster_had_passed_and_was_
<b17.P1.255> rushing_landward._Big_iron_upperworks_rose_out_of_this_
<b17.P1.256> headlong_structure,_and_from_that_twin_funnels_projected_and_
<b17.P1.257> spat_a_smoking_blast_shot_with_fire._It_was_the_torpedo_ram,_
<b17.P1.258> THUNDER_CHILD,_steaming_headlong,_coming_to_the_rescue_of_
<b17.P1.259> the_threatened_shipping.
<b17.P1.260> =
<b17.P1.261> Keeping_his_footing_on_the_heaving_deck_by_clutching_the_
<b17.P1.262> bulwarks,_my_brother_looked_past_this_charging_leviathan_at_
<b17.P1.263> the_Martians_again,_and_he_saw_the_three_of_them_now_close_
<b17.P1.264> together,_and_standing_so_far_out_to_sea_that_their_tripod_
<b17.P1.265> supports_were_almost_entirely_submerged._Thus_sunken,_and_
<b17.P1.266> seen_in_remote_perspective,_they_appeared_far_less_
<b17.P1.267> formidable_than_the_huge_iron_bulk_in_whose_wake_the_steamer_
<b17.P1.268> was_pitching_so_helplessly._It_would_seem_they_were_
<b17.P1.269> regarding_this_new_antagonist_with_astonishment._To_their_
<b17.P1.270> intelligence,_it_may_be,_the_giant_was_even_such_another_as_
<b17.P1.271> themselves._The_THUNDER_CHILD_fired_no_gun,_but_simply_drove_
<b17.P1.272> full_speed_towards_them._It_was_probably_her_not_firing_that_
<b17.P1.273> enabled_her_to_get_so_near_the_enemy_as_she_did._They_did_
<b17.P1.274> not_know_what_to_make_of_her._One_shell,_and_they_would_have_
<b17.P1.275> sent_her_to_the_bottom_forthwith_with_the_Heat-Ray.
<b17.P1.276> =
<b17.P1.277> She_was_steaming_at_such_a_pace_that_in_a_minute_she_seemed_
<b17.P1.278> halfway_between_the_steamboat_and_the_Martians--a_
<b17.P1.279> diminishing_black_bulk_against_the_receding_horizontal_
<b17.P1.280> expanse_of_the_Essex_coast.
<b17.P1.281> =
<b17.P1.282> Suddenly_the_foremost_Martian_lowered_his_tube_and_
<b17.P1.283> discharged_a_canister_of_the_black_gas_at_the_ironclad._It_
<b17.P1.284> hit_her_larboard_side_and_glanced_off_in_an_inky_jet_that_
<b17.P1.285> rolled_away_to_seaward,_an_unfolding_torrent_of_Black_Smoke,_
<b17.P1.286> from_which_the_ironclad_drove_clear._To_the_watchers_from_
<b17.P1.287> the_steamer,_low_in_the_water_and_with_the_sun_in_their_
<b17.P1.288> eyes,_it_seemed_as_though_she_were_already_among_the_
<b17.P1.289> Martians.
<b17.P1.290> =
<b17.P1.291> They_saw_the_gaunt_figures_separating_and_rising_out_of_the_
<b17.P1.292> water_as_they_retreated_shoreward,_and_one_of_them_raised_
<b17.P1.293> the_camera-like_generator_of_the_Heat-Ray._He_held_it_
<b17.P1.294> pointing_obliquely_downward,_and_a_bank_of_steam_sprang_from_
<b17.P1.295> the_water_at_its_touch._It_must_have_driven_through_the_iron_
<b17.P1.296> of_the_ship's_side_like_a_white-hot_iron_rod_through_paper.
<b17.P1.297> =
<b17.P1.298> A_flicker_of_flame_went_up_through_the_rising_steam,_and_
<b17.P1.299> then_the_Martian_reeled_and_staggered._In_another_moment_he_
<b17.P1.300> was_cut_down,_and_a_great_body_of_water_and_steam_shot_high_
<b17.P1.301> in_the_air._The_guns_of_the_THUNDER_CHILD_sounded_through_
<b17.P1.302> the_reek,_going_off_one_after_the_other,_and_one_shot_
<b17.P1.303> splashed_the_water_high_close_by_the_steamer,_ricocheted_
<b17.P1.304> towards_the_other_flying_ships_to_the_north,_and_smashed_a_
<b17.P1.305> smack_to_matchwood.
<b17.P1.306> =
<b17.P1.307> But_no_one_heeded_that_very_much._At_the_sight_of_the_
<b17.P1.308> Martian's_collapse_the_captain_on_the_bridge_yelled_
<b17.P1.309> inarticulately,_and_all_the_crowding_passengers_on_the_
<b17.P1.310> steamer's_stern_shouted_together._And_then_they_yelled_
<b17.P1.311> again._For,_surging_out_beyond_the_white_tumult,_drove_
<b17.P1.312> something_long_and_black,_the_flames_streaming_from_its_
<b17.P1.313> middle_parts,_its_ventilators_and_funnels_spouting_fire.
<b17.P1.314> =
<b17.P1.315> She_was_alive_still;_the_steering_gear,_it_seems,_was_intact_
<b17.P1.316> and_her_engines_working._She_headed_straight_for_a_second_
<b17.P1.317> Martian,_and_was_within_a_hundred_yards_of_him_when_the_
<b17.P1.318> Heat-Ray_came_to_bear._Then_with_a_violent_thud,_a_blinding_
<b17.P1.319> flash,_her_decks,_her_funnels,_leaped_upward._The_Martian_
<b17.P1.320> staggered_with_the_violence_of_her_explosion,_and_in_another_
<b17.P1.321> moment_the_flaming_wreckage,_still_driving_forward_with_the_
<b17.P1.322> impetus_of_its_pace,_had_struck_him_and_crumpled_him_up_like_
<b17.P1.323> a_thing_of_cardboard._My_brother_shouted_involuntarily._A_
<b17.P1.324> boiling_tumult_of_steam_hid_everything_again.
<b17.P1.325> =
<b17.P1.326> "Two!,"_yelled_the_captain.
<b17.P1.327> =
<b17.P1.328> Everyone_was_shouting._The_whole_steamer_from_end_to_end_
<b17.P1.329> rang_with_frantic_cheering_that_was_taken_up_first_by_one_
<b17.P1.330> and_then_by_all_in_the_crowding_multitude_of_ships_and_boats_
<b17.P1.331> that_was_driving_out_to_sea.
<b17.P1.332> =
<b17.P1.333> The_steam_hung_upon_the_water_for_many_minutes,_hiding_the_
<b17.P1.334> third_Martian_and_the_coast_altogether._And_all_this_time_
<b17.P1.335> the_boat_was_paddling_steadily_out_to_sea_and_away_from_the_
<b17.P1.336> fight;_and_when_at_last_the_confusion_cleared,_the_drifting_
<b17.P1.337> bank_of_black_vapour_intervened,_and_nothing_of_the_THUNDER_
<b17.P1.338> CHILD_could_be_made_out,_nor_could_the_third_Martian_be_
<b17.P1.339> seen._But_the_ironclads_to_seaward_were_now_quite_close_and_
<b17.P1.340> standing_in_towards_shore_past_the_steamboat.
<b17.P1.341> =
<b17.P1.342> The_little_vessel_continued_to_beat_its_way_seaward,_and_the_
<b17.P1.343> ironclads_receded_slowly_towards_the_coast,_which_was_hidden_
<b17.P1.344> still_by_a_marbled_bank_of_vapour,_part_steam,_part_black_
<b17.P1.345> gas,_eddying_and_combining_in_the_strangest_way._The_fleet_
<b17.P1.346> of_refugees_was_scattering_to_the_northeast;_several_smacks_
<b17.P1.347> were_sailing_between_the_ironclads_and_the_steamboat._After_
<b17.P1.348> a_time,_and_before_they_reached_the_sinking_cloud_bank,_the_
<b17.P1.349> warships_turned_northward,_and_then_abruptly_went_about_and_
<b17.P1.350> passed_into_the_thickening_haze_of_evening_southward._The_
<b17.P1.351> coast_grew_faint,_and_at_last_indistinguishable_amid_the_low_
<b17.P1.352> banks_of_clouds_that_were_gathering_about_the_sinking_sun.
<b17.P1.353> =
<b17.P1.354> Then_suddenly_out_of_the_golden_haze_of_the_sunset_came_the_
<b17.P1.355> vibration_of_guns,_and_a_form_of_black_shadows_moving._
<b17.P1.356> Everyone_struggled_to_the_rail_of_the_steamer_and_peered_
<b17.P1.357> into_the_blinding_furnace_of_the_west,_but_nothing_was_to_be_
<b17.P1.358> distinguished_clearly._A_mass_of_smoke_rose_slanting_and_
<b17.P1.359> barred_the_face_of_the_sun._The_steamboat_throbbed_on_its_
<b17.P1.360> way_through_an_interminable_suspense.
<b17.P1.361> =
<b17.P1.362> The_sun_sank_into_grey_clouds,_the_sky_flushed_and_darkened,_
<b17.P1.363> the_evening_star_trembled_into_sight._It_was_deep_twilight_
<b17.P1.364> when_the_captain_cried_out_and_pointed._My_brother_strained_
<b17.P1.365> his_eyes._Something_rushed_up_into_the_sky_out_of_the_
<b17.P1.366> greyness--rushed_slantingly_upward_and_very_swiftly_into_the_
<b17.P1.367> luminous_clearness_above_the_clouds_in_the_western_sky;_
<b17.P1.368> something_flat_and_broad,_and_very_large,_that_swept_round_
<b17.P1.369> in_a_vast_curve,_grew_smaller,_sank_slowly,_and_vanished_
<b17.P1.370> again_into_the_grey_mystery_of_the_night._And_as_it_flew_it_
<b17.P1.371> rained_down_darkness_upon_the_land.
<b17.P1.372> =
# part c BOOK_TWO
#
## <c00>
# chapter 0 Part_title
# unit B vol_number
# unit H vol_title
#
## <c01>
# chapter 1 ONE
# unit C chapter_number
# unit H chapter_title
# unit P text
<c01.P1.001> In_the_first_book_I_have_wandered_so_much_from_my_own_
<c01.P1.002> adventures_to_tell_of_the_experiences_of_my_brother_that_all_
<c01.P1.003> through_the_last_two_chapters_I_and_the_curate_have_been_
<c01.P1.004> lurking_in_the_empty_house_at_Halliford_whither_we_fled_to_
<c01.P1.005> escape_the_Black_Smoke._There_I_will_resume._We_stopped_
<c01.P1.006> there_all_Sunday_night_and_all_the_next_day--the_day_of_the_
<c01.P1.007> panic--in_a_little_island_of_daylight,_cut_off_by_the_Black_
<c01.P1.008> Smoke_from_the_rest_of_the_world._We_could_do_nothing_but_
<c01.P1.009> wait_in_aching_inactivity_during_those_two_weary_days.
<c01.P1.010> =
<c01.P1.011> My_mind_was_occupied_by_anxiety_for_my_wife._I_figured_her_
<c01.P1.012> at_Leatherhead,_terrified,_in_danger,_mourning_me_already_as_
<c01.P1.013> a_dead_man._I_paced_the_rooms_and_cried_aloud_when_I_thought_
<c01.P1.014> of_how_I_was_cut_off_from_her,_of_all_that_might_happen_to_
<c01.P1.015> her_in_my_absence._My_cousin_I_knew_was_brave_enough_for_any_
<c01.P1.016> emergency,_but_he_was_not_the_sort_of_man_to_realise_danger_
<c01.P1.017> quickly,_to_rise_promptly._What_was_needed_now_was_not_
<c01.P1.018> bravery,_but_circumspection._My_only_consolation_was_to_
<c01.P1.019> believe_that_the_Martians_were_moving_Londonward_and_away_
<c01.P1.020> from_her._Such_vague_anxieties_keep_the_mind_sensitive_and_
<c01.P1.021> painful._I_grew_very_weary_and_irritable_with_the_curate's_
<c01.P1.022> perpetual_ejaculations;_I_tired_of_the_sight_of_his_selfish_
<c01.P1.023> despair._After_some_ineffectual_remonstrance_I_kept_away_
<c01.P1.024> from_him,_staying_in_a_room--evidently_a_children's_
<c01.P1.025> schoolroom--containing_globes,_forms,_and_copybooks._When_he_
<c01.P1.026> followed_me_thither,_I_went_to_a_box_room_at_the_top_of_the_
<c01.P1.027> house_and,_in_order_to_be_alone_with_my_aching_miseries,_
<c01.P1.028> locked_myself_in.
<c01.P1.029> =
<c01.P1.030> We_were_hopelessly_hemmed_in_by_the_Black_Smoke_all_that_day_
<c01.P1.031> and_the_morning_of_the_next._There_were_signs_of_people_in_
<c01.P1.032> the_next_house_on_Sunday_evening--a_face_at_a_window_and_
<c01.P1.033> moving_lights,_and_later_the_slamming_of_a_door._But_I_do_
<c01.P1.034> not_know_who_these_people_were,_nor_what_became_of_them._We_
<c01.P1.035> saw_nothing_of_them_next_day._The_Black_Smoke_drifted_slowly_
<c01.P1.036> riverward_all_through_Monday_morning,_creeping_nearer_and_
<c01.P1.037> nearer_to_us,_driving_at_last_along_the_roadway_outside_the_
<c01.P1.038> house_that_hid_us.
<c01.P1.039> =
<c01.P1.040> A_Martian_came_across_the_fields_about_midday,_laying_the_
<c01.P1.041> stuff_with_a_jet_of_superheated_steam_that_hissed_against_
<c01.P1.042> the_walls,_smashed_all_the_windows_it_touched,_and_scalded_
<c01.P1.043> the_curate's_hand_as_he_fled_out_of_the_front_room._When_at_
<c01.P1.044> last_we_crept_across_the_sodden_rooms_and_looked_out_again,_
<c01.P1.045> the_country_northward_was_as_though_a_black_snowstorm_had_
<c01.P1.046> passed_over_it._Looking_towards_the_river,_we_were_
<c01.P1.047> astonished_to_see_an_unaccountable_redness_mingling_with_the_
<c01.P1.048> black_of_the_scorched_meadows.
<c01.P1.049> =
<c01.P1.050> For_a_time_we_did_not_see_how_this_change_affected_our_
<c01.P1.051> position,_save_that_we_were_relieved_of_our_fear_of_the_
<c01.P1.052> Black_Smoke._But_later_I_perceived_that_we_were_no_longer_
<c01.P1.053> hemmed_in,_that_now_we_might_get_away._So_soon_as_I_realised_
<c01.P1.054> that_the_way_of_escape_was_open,_my_dream_of_action_
<c01.P1.055> returned._But_the_curate_was_lethargic,_unreasonable.
<c01.P1.056> =
<c01.P1.057> "We_are_safe_here,"_he_repeated;_"safe_here."
<c01.P1.058> =
<c01.P1.059> I_resolved_to_leave_him--would_that_I_had!_Wiser_now_for_the_
<c01.P1.060> artilleryman's_teaching,_I_sought_out_food_and_drink._I_had_
<c01.P1.061> found_oil_and_rags_for_my_burns,_and_I_also_took_a_hat_and_a_
<c01.P1.062> flannel_shirt_that_I_found_in_one_of_the_bedrooms._When_it_
<c01.P1.063> was_clear_to_him_that_I_meant_to_go_alone--had_reconciled_
<c01.P1.064> myself_to_going_alone--he_suddenly_roused_himself_to_come._
<c01.P1.065> And_all_being_quiet_throughout_the_afternoon,_we_started_
<c01.P1.066> about_five_o'clock,_as_I_should_judge,_along_the_blackened_
<c01.P1.067> road_to_Sunbury.
<c01.P1.068> =
<c01.P1.069> In_Sunbury,_and_at_intervals_along_the_road,_were_dead_
<c01.P1.070> bodies_lying_in_contorted_attitudes,_horses_as_well_as_men,_
<c01.P1.071> overturned_carts_and_luggage,_all_covered_thickly_with_black_
<c01.P1.072> dust._That_pall_of_cindery_powder_made_me_think_of_what_I_
<c01.P1.073> had_read_of_the_destruction_of_Pompeii._We_got_to_Hampton_
<c01.P1.074> Court_without_misadventure,_our_minds_full_of_strange_and_
<c01.P1.075> unfamiliar_appearances,_and_at_Hampton_Court_our_eyes_were_
<c01.P1.076> relieved_to_find_a_patch_of_green_that_had_escaped_the_
<c01.P1.077> suffocating_drift._We_went_through_Bushey_Park,_with_its_
<c01.P1.078> deer_going_to_and_fro_under_the_chestnuts,_and_some_men_and_
<c01.P1.079> women_hurrying_in_the_distance_towards_Hampton,_and_so_we_
<c01.P1.080> came_to_Twickenham._These_were_the_first_people_we_saw.
<c01.P1.081> =
<c01.P1.082> Away_across_the_road_the_woods_beyond_Ham_and_Petersham_were_
<c01.P1.083> still_afire._Twickenham_was_uninjured_by_either_Heat-Ray_or_
<c01.P1.084> Black_Smoke,_and_there_were_more_people_about_here,_though_
<c01.P1.085> none_could_give_us_news._For_the_most_part_they_were_like_
<c01.P1.086> ourselves,_taking_advantage_of_a_lull_to_shift_their_
<c01.P1.087> quarters._I_have_an_impression_that_many_of_the_houses_here_
<c01.P1.088> were_still_occupied_by_scared_inhabitants,_too_frightened_
<c01.P1.089> even_for_flight._Here_too_the_evidence_of_a_hasty_rout_was_
<c01.P1.090> abundant_along_the_road._I_remember_most_vividly_three_
<c01.P1.091> smashed_bicycles_in_a_heap,_pounded_into_the_road_by_the_
<c01.P1.092> wheels_of_subsequent_carts._We_crossed_Richmond_Bridge_about_
<c01.P1.093> half_past_eight._We_hurried_across_the_exposed_bridge,_of_
<c01.P1.094> course,_but_I_noticed_floating_down_the_stream_a_number_of_
<c01.P1.095> red_masses,_some_many_feet_across._I_did_not_know_what_these_
<c01.P1.096> were--there_was_no_time_for_scrutiny--and_I_put_a_more_
<c01.P1.097> horrible_interpretation_on_them_than_they_deserved._Here_
<c01.P1.098> again_on_the_Surrey_side_were_black_dust_that_had_once_been_
<c01.P1.099> smoke,_and_dead_bodies--a_heap_near_the_approach_to_the_
<c01.P1.100> station;_but_we_had_no_glimpse_of_the_Martians_until_we_were_
<c01.P1.101> some_way_towards_Barnes.
<c01.P1.102> =
<c01.P1.103> We_saw_in_the_blackened_distance_a_group_of_three_people_
<c01.P1.104> running_down_a_side_street_towards_the_river,_but_otherwise_
<c01.P1.105> it_seemed_deserted._Up_the_hill_Richmond_town_was_burning_
<c01.P1.106> briskly;_outside_the_town_of_Richmond_there_was_no_trace_of_
<c01.P1.107> the_Black_Smoke.
<c01.P1.108> =
<c01.P1.109> Then_suddenly,_as_we_approached_Kew,_came_a_number_of_people_
<c01.P1.110> running,_and_the_upperworks_of_a_Martian_fighting-machine_
<c01.P1.111> loomed_in_sight_over_the_housetops,_not_a_hundred_yards_away_
<c01.P1.112> from_us._We_stood_aghast_at_our_danger,_and_had_the_Martian_
<c01.P1.113> looked_down_we_must_immediately_have_perished._We_were_so_
<c01.P1.114> terrified_that_we_dared_not_go_on,_but_turned_aside_and_hid_
<c01.P1.115> in_a_shed_in_a_garden._There_the_curate_crouched,_weeping_
<c01.P1.116> silently,_and_refusing_to_stir_again.
<c01.P1.117> =
<c01.P1.118> But_my_fixed_idea_of_reaching_Leatherhead_would_not_let_me_
<c01.P1.119> rest,_and_in_the_twilight_I_ventured_out_again._I_went_
<c01.P1.120> through_a_shrubbery,_and_along_a_passage_beside_a_big_house_
<c01.P1.121> standing_in_its_own_grounds,_and_so_emerged_upon_the_road_
<c01.P1.122> towards_Kew._The_curate_I_left_in_the_shed,_but_he_came_
<c01.P1.123> hurrying_after_me.
<c01.P1.124> =
<c01.P1.125> That_second_start_was_the_most_foolhardy_thing_I_ever_did._
<c01.P1.126> For_it_was_manifest_the_Martians_were_about_us._No_sooner_
<c01.P1.127> had_the_curate_overtaken_me_than_we_saw_either_the_
<c01.P1.128> fighting-machine_we_had_seen_before_or_another,_far_away_
<c01.P1.129> across_the_meadows_in_the_direction_of_Kew_Lodge._Four_or_
<c01.P1.130> five_little_black_figures_hurried_before_it_across_the_
<c01.P1.131> green-grey_of_the_field,_and_in_a_moment_it_was_evident_this_
<c01.P1.132> Martian_pursued_them._In_three_strides_he_was_among_them,_
<c01.P1.133> and_they_ran_radiating_from_his_feet_in_all_directions._He_
<c01.P1.134> used_no_Heat-Ray_to_destroy_them,_but_picked_them_up_one_by_
<c01.P1.135> one._Apparently_he_tossed_them_into_the_great_metallic_
<c01.P1.136> carrier_which_projected_behind_him,_much_as_a_workman's_
<c01.P1.137> basket_hangs_over_his_shoulder.
<c01.P1.138> =
<c01.P1.139> It_was_the_first_time_I_realised_that_the_Martians_might_
<c01.P1.140> have_any_other_purpose_than_destruction_with_defeated_
<c01.P1.141> humanity._We_stood_for_a_moment_petrified,_then_turned_and_
<c01.P1.142> fled_through_a_gate_behind_us_into_a_walled_garden,_fell_
<c01.P1.143> into,_rather_than_found,_a_fortunate_ditch,_and_lay_there,_
<c01.P1.144> scarce_daring_to_whisper_to_each_other_until_the_stars_were_
<c01.P1.145> out.
<c01.P1.146> =
<c01.P1.147> I_suppose_it_was_nearly_eleven_o'clock_before_we_gathered_
<c01.P1.148> courage_to_start_again,_no_longer_venturing_into_the_road,_
<c01.P1.149> but_sneaking_along_hedgerows_and_through_plantations,_and_
<c01.P1.150> watching_keenly_through_the_darkness,_he_on_the_right_and_I_
<c01.P1.151> on_the_left,_for_the_Martians,_who_seemed_to_be_all_about_
<c01.P1.152> us._In_one_place_we_blundered_upon_a_scorched_and_blackened_
<c01.P1.153> area,_now_cooling_and_ashen,_and_a_number_of_scattered_dead_
<c01.P1.154> bodies_of_men,_burned_horribly_about_the_heads_and_trunks_
<c01.P1.155> but_with_their_legs_and_boots_mostly_intact;_and_of_dead_
<c01.P1.156> horses,_fifty_feet,_perhaps,_behind_a_line_of_four_ripped_
<c01.P1.157> guns_and_smashed_gun_carriages.
<c01.P1.158> =
<c01.P1.159> Sheen,_it_seemed,_had_escaped_destruction,_but_the_place_was_
<c01.P1.160> silent_and_deserted._Here_we_happened_on_no_dead,_though_the_
<c01.P1.161> night_was_too_dark_for_us_to_see_into_the_side_roads_of_the_
<c01.P1.162> place._In_Sheen_my_companion_suddenly_complained_of_
<c01.P1.163> faintness_and_thirst,_and_we_decided_to_try_one_of_the_
<c01.P1.164> houses.
<c01.P1.165> =
<c01.P1.166> The_first_house_we_entered,_after_a_little_difficulty_with_
<c01.P1.167> the_window,_was_a_small_semi-detached_villa,_and_I_found_
<c01.P1.168> nothing_eatable_left_in_the_place_but_some_mouldy_cheese._
<c01.P1.169> There_was,_however,_water_to_drink;_and_I_took_a_hatchet,_
<c01.P1.170> which_promised_to_be_useful_in_our_next_house-breaking.
<c01.P1.171> =
<c01.P1.172> We_then_crossed_to_a_place_where_the_road_turns_towards_
<c01.P1.173> Mortlake._Here_there_stood_a_white_house_within_a_walled_
<c01.P1.174> garden,_and_in_the_pantry_of_this_domicile_we_found_a_store_
<c01.P1.175> of_food--two_loaves_of_bread_in_a_pan,_an_uncooked_steak,_
<c01.P1.176> and_the_half_of_a_ham._I_give_this_catalogue_so_precisely_
<c01.P1.177> because,_as_it_happened,_we_were_destined_to_subsist_upon_
<c01.P1.178> this_store_for_the_next_fortnight._Bottled_beer_stood_under_
<c01.P1.179> a_shelf,_and_there_were_two_bags_of_haricot_beans_and_some_
<c01.P1.180> limp_lettuces._This_pantry_opened_into_a_kind_of_wash-up_
<c01.P1.181> kitchen,_and_in_this_was_firewood;_there_was_also_a_
<c01.P1.182> cupboard,_in_which_we_found_nearly_a_dozen_of_burgundy,_
<c01.P1.183> tinned_soups_and_salmon,_and_two_tins_of_biscuits.
<c01.P1.184> =
<c01.P1.185> We_sat_in_the_adjacent_kitchen_in_the_dark--for_we_dared_not_
<c01.P1.186> strike_a_light--and_ate_bread_and_ham,_and_drank_beer_out_of_
<c01.P1.187> the_same_bottle._The_curate,_who_was_still_timorous_and_
<c01.P1.188> restless,_was_now,_oddly_enough,_for_pushing_on,_and_I_was_
<c01.P1.189> urging_him_to_keep_up_his_strength_by_eating_when_the_thing_
<c01.P1.190> happened_that_was_to_imprison_us.
<c01.P1.191> =
<c01.P1.192> "It_can't_be_midnight_yet,"_I_said,_and_then_came_a_blinding_
<c01.P1.193> glare_of_vivid_green_light._Everything_in_the_kitchen_leaped_
<c01.P1.194> out,_clearly_visible_in_green_and_black,_and_vanished_again._
<c01.P1.195> And_then_followed_such_a_concussion_as_I_have_never_heard_
<c01.P1.196> before_or_since._So_close_on_the_heels_of_this_as_to_seem_
<c01.P1.197> instantaneous_came_a_thud_behind_me,_a_clash_of_glass,_a_
<c01.P1.198> crash_and_rattle_of_falling_masonry_all_about_us,_and_the_
<c01.P1.199> plaster_of_the_ceiling_came_down_upon_us,_smashing_into_a_
<c01.P1.200> multitude_of_fragments_upon_our_heads._I_was_knocked_
<c01.P1.201> headlong_across_the_floor_against_the_oven_handle_and_
<c01.P1.202> stunned._I_was_insensible_for_a_long_time,_the_curate_told_
<c01.P1.203> me,_and_when_I_came_to_we_were_in_darkness_again,_and_he,_
<c01.P1.204> with_a_face_wet,_as_I_found_afterwards,_with_blood_from_a_
<c01.P1.205> cut_forehead,_was_dabbing_water_over_me.
<c01.P1.206> =
<c01.P1.207> For_some_time_I_could_not_recollect_what_had_happened._Then_
<c01.P1.208> things_came_to_me_slowly._A_bruise_on_my_temple_asserted_
<c01.P1.209> itself.
<c01.P1.210> =
<c01.P1.211> "Are_you_better?"_asked_the_curate_in_a_whisper.
<c01.P1.212> =
<c01.P1.213> At_last_I_answered_him._I_sat_up.
<c01.P1.214> =
<c01.P1.215> "Don't_move,"_he_said._"The_floor_is_covered_with_smashed_
<c01.P1.216> crockery_from_the_dresser._You_can't_possibly_move_without_
<c01.P1.217> making_a_noise,_and_I_fancy_THEY_are_outside."
<c01.P1.218> =
<c01.P1.219> We_both_sat_quite_silent,_so_that_we_could_scarcely_hear_
<c01.P1.220> each_other_breathing._Everything_seemed_deadly_still,_but_
<c01.P1.221> once_something_near_us,_some_plaster_or_broken_brickwork,_
<c01.P1.222> slid_down_with_a_rumbling_sound._Outside_and_very_near_was_
<c01.P1.223> an_intermittent,_metallic_rattle.
<c01.P1.224> =
<c01.P1.225> "That!"_said_the_curate,_when_presently_it_happened_again.
<c01.P1.226> =
<c01.P1.227> "Yes,"_I_said._"But_what_is_it?"
<c01.P1.228> =
<c01.P1.229> "A_Martian!"_said_the_curate.
<c01.P1.230> =
<c01.P1.231> I_listened_again.
<c01.P1.232> =
<c01.P1.233> "It_was_not_like_the_Heat-Ray,"_I_said,_and_for_a_time_I_was_
<c01.P1.234> inclined_to_think_one_of_the_great_fighting-machines_had_
<c01.P1.235> stumbled_against_the_house,_as_I_had_seen_one_stumble_
<c01.P1.236> against_the_tower_of_Shepperton_Church.
<c01.P1.237> =
<c01.P1.238> Our_situation_was_so_strange_and_incomprehensible_that_for_
<c01.P1.239> three_or_four_hours,_until_the_dawn_came,_we_scarcely_moved._
<c01.P1.240> And_then_the_light_filtered_in,_not_through_the_window,_
<c01.P1.241> which_remained_black,_but_through_a_triangular_aperture_
<c01.P1.242> between_a_beam_and_a_heap_of_broken_bricks_in_the_wall_
<c01.P1.243> behind_us._The_interior_of_the_kitchen_we_now_saw_greyly_for_
<c01.P1.244> the_first_time.
<c01.P1.245> =
<c01.P1.246> The_window_had_been_burst_in_by_a_mass_of_garden_mould,_
<c01.P1.247> which_flowed_over_the_table_upon_which_we_had_been_sitting_
<c01.P1.248> and_lay_about_our_feet._Outside,_the_soil_was_banked_high_
<c01.P1.249> against_the_house._At_the_top_of_the_window_frame_we_could_
<c01.P1.250> see_an_uprooted_drainpipe._The_floor_was_littered_with_
<c01.P1.251> smashed_hardware;_the_end_of_the_kitchen_towards_the_house_
<c01.P1.252> was_broken_into,_and_since_the_daylight_shone_in_there,_it_
<c01.P1.253> was_evident_the_greater_part_of_the_house_had_collapsed._
<c01.P1.254> Contrasting_vividly_with_this_ruin_was_the_neat_dresser,_
<c01.P1.255> stained_in_the_fashion,_pale_green,_and_with_a_number_of_
<c01.P1.256> copper_and_tin_vessels_below_it,_the_wallpaper_imitating_
<c01.P1.257> blue_and_white_tiles,_and_a_couple_of_coloured_supplements_
<c01.P1.258> fluttering_from_the_walls_above_the_kitchen_range.
<c01.P1.259> =
<c01.P1.260> As_the_dawn_grew_clearer,_we_saw_through_the_gap_in_the_wall_
<c01.P1.261> the_body_of_a_Martian,_standing_sentinel,_I_suppose,_over_
<c01.P1.262> the_still_glowing_cylinder._At_the_sight_of_that_we_crawled_
<c01.P1.263> as_circumspectly_as_possible_out_of_the_twilight_of_the_
<c01.P1.264> kitchen_into_the_darkness_of_the_scullery.
<c01.P1.265> =
<c01.P1.266> Abruptly_the_right_interpretation_dawned_upon_my_mind.
<c01.P1.267> =
<c01.P1.268> "The_fifth_cylinder,"_I_whispered,_"the_fifth_shot_from_
<c01.P1.269> Mars,_has_struck_this_house_and_buried_us_under_the_ruins!"
<c01.P1.270> =
<c01.P1.271> For_a_time_the_curate_was_silent,_and_then_he_whispered:
<c01.P1.272> =
<c01.P1.273> "God_have_mercy_upon_us!"
<c01.P1.274> =
<c01.P1.275> I_heard_him_presently_whimpering_to_himself.
<c01.P1.276> =
<c01.P1.277> Save_for_that_sound_we_lay_quite_still_in_the_scullery;_I_
<c01.P1.278> for_my_part_scarce_dared_breathe,_and_sat_with_my_eyes_fixed_
<c01.P1.279> on_the_faint_light_of_the_kitchen_door._I_could_just_see_the_
<c01.P1.280> curate's_face,_a_dim,_oval_shape,_and_his_collar_and_cuffs._
<c01.P1.281> Outside_there_began_a_metallic_hammering,_then_a_violent_
<c01.P1.282> hooting,_and_then_again,_after_a_quiet_interval,_a_hissing_
<c01.P1.283> like_the_hissing_of_an_engine._These_noises,_for_the_most_
<c01.P1.284> part_problematical,_continued_intermittently,_and_seemed_if_
<c01.P1.285> anything_to_increase_in_number_as_time_wore_on._Presently_a_
<c01.P1.286> measured_thudding_and_a_vibration_that_made_everything_about_
<c01.P1.287> us_quiver_and_the_vessels_in_the_pantry_ring_and_shift,_
<c01.P1.288> began_and_continued._Once_the_light_was_eclipsed,_and_the_
<c01.P1.289> ghostly_kitchen_doorway_became_absolutely_dark._For_many_
<c01.P1.290> hours_we_must_have_crouched_there,_silent_and_shivering,_
<c01.P1.291> until_our_tired_attention_failed._._._.
<c01.P1.292> =
<c01.P1.293> At_last_I_found_myself_awake_and_very_hungry._I_am_inclined_
<c01.P1.294> to_believe_we_must_have_spent_the_greater_portion_of_a_day_
<c01.P1.295> before_that_awakening._My_hunger_was_at_a_stride_so_
<c01.P1.296> insistent_that_it_moved_me_to_action._I_told_the_curate_I_
<c01.P1.297> was_going_to_seek_food,_and_felt_my_way_towards_the_pantry._
<c01.P1.298> He_made_me_no_answer,_but_so_soon_as_I_began_eating_the_
<c01.P1.299> faint_noise_I_made_stirred_him_up_and_I_heard_him_crawling_
<c01.P1.300> after_me.
<c01.P1.301> =
#
## <c02>
# chapter 2 TWO
# unit C chapter_number
# unit P text
<c02.P1.001> After_eating_we_crept_back_to_the_scullery,_and_there_I_must_
<c02.P1.002> have_dozed_again,_for_when_presently_I_looked_round_I_was_
<c02.P1.003> alone._The_thudding_vibration_continued_with_wearisome_
<c02.P1.004> persistence._I_whispered_for_the_curate_several_times,_and_
<c02.P1.005> at_last_felt_my_way_to_the_door_of_the_kitchen._It_was_still_
<c02.P1.006> daylight,_and_I_perceived_him_across_the_room,_lying_against_
<c02.P1.007> the_triangular_hole_that_looked_out_upon_the_Martians._His_
<c02.P1.008> shoulders_were_hunched,_so_that_his_head_was_hidden_from_me.
<c02.P1.009> =
<c02.P1.010> I_could_hear_a_number_of_noises_almost_like_those_in_an_
<c02.P1.011> engine_shed;_and_the_place_rocked_with_that_beating_thud._
<c02.P1.012> Through_the_aperture_in_the_wall_I_could_see_the_top_of_a_
<c02.P1.013> tree_touched_with_gold_and_the_warm_blue_of_a_tranquil_
<c02.P1.014> evening_sky._For_a_minute_or_so_I_remained_watching_the_
<c02.P1.015> curate,_and_then_I_advanced,_crouching_and_stepping_with_
<c02.P1.016> extreme_care_amid_the_broken_crockery_that_littered_the_
<c02.P1.017> floor.
<c02.P1.018> =
<c02.P1.019> I_touched_the_curate's_leg,_and_he_started_so_violently_that_
<c02.P1.020> a_mass_of_plaster_went_sliding_down_outside_and_fell_with_a_
<c02.P1.021> loud_impact._I_gripped_his_arm,_fearing_he_might_cry_out,_
<c02.P1.022> and_for_a_long_time_we_crouched_motionless._Then_I_turned_to_
<c02.P1.023> see_how_much_of_our_rampart_remained._The_detachment_of_the_
<c02.P1.024> plaster_had_left_a_vertical_slit_open_in_the_debris,_and_by_
<c02.P1.025> raising_myself_cautiously_across_a_beam_I_was_able_to_see_
<c02.P1.026> out_of_this_gap_into_what_had_been_overnight_a_quiet_
<c02.P1.027> suburban_roadway._Vast,_indeed,_was_the_change_that_we_
<c02.P1.028> beheld.
<c02.P1.029> =
<c02.P1.030> The_fifth_cylinder_must_have_fallen_right_into_the_midst_of_
<c02.P1.031> the_house_we_had_first_visited._The_building_had_vanished,_
<c02.P1.032> completely_smashed,_pulverised,_and_dispersed_by_the_blow._
<c02.P1.033> The_cylinder_lay_now_far_beneath_the_original_
<c02.P1.034> foundations--deep_in_a_hole,_already_vastly_larger_than_the_
<c02.P1.035> pit_I_had_looked_into_at_Woking._The_earth_all_round_it_had_
<c02.P1.036> splashed_under_that_tremendous_impact--"splashed"_is_the_
<c02.P1.037> only_word--and_lay_in_heaped_piles_that_hid_the_masses_of_
<c02.P1.038> the_adjacent_houses._It_had_behaved_exactly_like_mud_under_
<c02.P1.039> the_violent_blow_of_a_hammer._Our_house_had_collapsed_
<c02.P1.040> backward;_the_front_portion,_even_on_the_ground_floor,_had_
<c02.P1.041> been_destroyed_completely;_by_a_chance_the_kitchen_and_
<c02.P1.042> scullery_had_escaped,_and_stood_buried_now_under_soil_and_
<c02.P1.043> ruins,_closed_in_by_tons_of_earth_on_every_side_save_towards_
<c02.P1.044> the_cylinder._Over_that_aspect_we_hung_now_on_the_very_edge_
<c02.P1.045> of_the_great_circular_pit_the_Martians_were_engaged_in_
<c02.P1.046> making._The_heavy_beating_sound_was_evidently_just_behind_
<c02.P1.047> us,_and_ever_and_again_a_bright_green_vapour_drove_up_like_a_
<c02.P1.048> veil_across_our_peephole.
<c02.P1.049> =
<c02.P1.050> The_cylinder_was_already_opened_in_the_centre_of_the_pit,_
<c02.P1.051> and_on_the_farther_edge_of_the_pit,_amid_the_smashed_and_
<c02.P1.052> gravel-heaped_shrubbery,_one_of_the_great_fighting-machines,_
<c02.P1.053> deserted_by_its_occupant,_stood_stiff_and_tall_against_the_
<c02.P1.054> evening_sky._At_first_I_scarcely_noticed_the_pit_and_the_
<c02.P1.055> cylinder,_although_it_has_been_convenient_to_describe_them_
<c02.P1.056> first,_on_account_of_the_extraordinary_glittering_mechanism_
<c02.P1.057> I_saw_busy_in_the_excavation,_and_on_account_of_the_strange_
<c02.P1.058> creatures_that_were_crawling_slowly_and_painfully_across_the_
<c02.P1.059> heaped_mould_near_it.
<c02.P1.060> =
<c02.P1.061> The_mechanism_it_certainly_was_that_held_my_attention_first._
<c02.P1.062> It_was_one_of_those_complicated_fabrics_that_have_since_been_
<c02.P1.063> called_handling-machines,_and_the_study_of_which_has_already_
<c02.P1.064> given_such_an_enormous_impetus_to_terrestrial_invention._As_
<c02.P1.065> it_dawned_upon_me_first,_it_presented_a_sort_of_metallic_
<c02.P1.066> spider_with_five_jointed,_agile_legs,_and_with_an_
<c02.P1.067> extraordinary_number_of_jointed_levers,_bars,_and_reaching_
<c02.P1.068> and_clutching_tentacles_about_its_body._Most_of_its_arms_
<c02.P1.069> were_retracted,_but_with_three_long_tentacles_it_was_fishing_
<c02.P1.070> out_a_number_of_rods,_plates,_and_bars_which_lined_the_
<c02.P1.071> covering_and_apparently_strengthened_the_walls_of_the_
<c02.P1.072> cylinder._These,_as_it_extracted_them,_were_lifted_out_and_
<c02.P1.073> deposited_upon_a_level_surface_of_earth_behind_it.
<c02.P1.074> =
<c02.P1.075> Its_motion_was_so_swift,_complex,_and_perfect_that_at_first_
<c02.P1.076> I_did_not_see_it_as_a_machine,_in_spite_of_its_metallic_
<c02.P1.077> glitter._The_fighting-machines_were_co-ordinated_and_
<c02.P1.078> animated_to_an_extraordinary_pitch,_but_nothing_to_compare_
<c02.P1.079> with_this._People_who_have_never_seen_these_structures,_and_
<c02.P1.080> have_only_the_ill-imagined_efforts_of_artists_or_the_
<c02.P1.081> imperfect_descriptions_of_such_eye-witnesses_as_myself_to_go_
<c02.P1.082> upon,_scarcely_realise_that_living_quality.
<c02.P1.083> =
<c02.P1.084> I_recall_particularly_the_illustration_of_one_of_the_first_
<c02.P1.085> pamphlets_to_give_a_consecutive_account_of_the_war._The_
<c02.P1.086> artist_had_evidently_made_a_hasty_study_of_one_of_the_
<c02.P1.087> fighting-machines,_and_there_his_knowledge_ended._He_
<c02.P1.088> presented_them_as_tilted,_stiff_tripods,_without_either_
<c02.P1.089> flexibility_or_subtlety,_and_with_an_altogether_misleading_
<c02.P1.090> monotony_of_effect._The_pamphlet_containing_these_renderings_
<c02.P1.091> had_a_considerable_vogue,_and_I_mention_them_here_simply_to_
<c02.P1.092> warn_the_reader_against_the_impression_they_may_have_
<c02.P1.093> created._They_were_no_more_like_the_Martians_I_saw_in_action_
<c02.P1.094> than_a_Dutch_doll_is_like_a_human_being._To_my_mind,_the_
<c02.P1.095> pamphlet_would_have_been_much_better_without_them.
<c02.P1.096> =
<c02.P1.097> At_first,_I_say,_the_handling-machine_did_not_impress_me_as_
<c02.P1.098> a_machine,_but_as_a_crablike_creature_with_a_glittering_
<c02.P1.099> integument,_the_controlling_Martian_whose_delicate_tentacles_
<c02.P1.100> actuated_its_movements_seeming_to_be_simply_the_equivalent_
<c02.P1.101> of_the_crab's_cerebral_portion._But_then_I_perceived_the_
<c02.P1.102> resemblance_of_its_grey-brown,_shiny,_leathery_integument_to_
<c02.P1.103> that_of_the_other_sprawling_bodies_beyond,_and_the_true_
<c02.P1.104> nature_of_this_dexterous_workman_dawned_upon_me._With_that_
<c02.P1.105> realisation_my_interest_shifted_to_those_other_creatures,_
<c02.P1.106> the_real_Martians._Already_I_had_had_a_transient_impression_
<c02.P1.107> of_these,_and_the_first_nausea_no_longer_obscured_my_
<c02.P1.108> observation._Moreover,_I_was_concealed_and_motionless,_and_
<c02.P1.109> under_no_urgency_of_action.
<c02.P1.110> =
<c02.P1.111> They_were,_I_now_saw,_the_most_unearthly_creatures_it_is_
<c02.P1.112> possible_to_conceive._They_were_huge_round_bodies--or,_
<c02.P1.113> rather,_heads--about_four_feet_in_diameter,_each_body_having_
<c02.P1.114> in_front_of_it_a_face._This_face_had_no_nostrils--indeed,_
<c02.P1.115> the_Martians_do_not_seem_to_have_had_any_sense_of_smell,_but_
<c02.P1.116> it_had_a_pair_of_very_large_dark-coloured_eyes,_and_just_
<c02.P1.117> beneath_this_a_kind_of_fleshy_beak._In_the_back_of_this_head_
<c02.P1.118> or_body--I_scarcely_know_how_to_speak_of_it--was_the_single_
<c02.P1.119> tight_tympanic_surface,_since_known_to_be_anatomically_an_
<c02.P1.120> ear,_though_it_must_have_been_almost_useless_in_our_dense_
<c02.P1.121> air._In_a_group_round_the_mouth_were_sixteen_slender,_almost_
<c02.P1.122> whiplike_tentacles,_arranged_in_two_bunches_of_eight_each._
<c02.P1.123> These_bunches_have_since_been_named_rather_aptly,_by_that_
<c02.P1.124> distinguished_anatomist,_Professor_Howes,_the_HANDS._Even_as_
<c02.P1.125> I_saw_these_Martians_for_the_first_time_they_seemed_to_be_
<c02.P1.126> endeavouring_to_raise_themselves_on_these_hands,_but_of_
<c02.P1.127> course,_with_the_increased_weight_of_terrestrial_conditions,_
<c02.P1.128> this_was_impossible._There_is_reason_to_suppose_that_on_Mars_
<c02.P1.129> they_may_have_progressed_upon_them_with_some_facility.
<c02.P1.130> =
<c02.P1.131> The_internal_anatomy,_I_may_remark_here,_as_dissection_has_
<c02.P1.132> since_shown,_was_almost_equally_simple._The_greater_part_of_
<c02.P1.133> the_structure_was_the_brain,_sending_enormous_nerves_to_the_
<c02.P1.134> eyes,_ear,_and_tactile_tentacles._Besides_this_were_the_
<c02.P1.135> bulky_lungs,_into_which_the_mouth_opened,_and_the_heart_and_
<c02.P1.136> its_vessels._The_pulmonary_distress_caused_by_the_denser_
<c02.P1.137> atmosphere_and_greater_gravitational_attraction_was_only_too_
<c02.P1.138> evident_in_the_convulsive_movements_of_the_outer_skin.
<c02.P1.139> =
<c02.P1.140> And_this_was_the_sum_of_the_Martian_organs._Strange_as_it_
<c02.P1.141> may_seem_to_a_human_being,_all_the_complex_apparatus_of_
<c02.P1.142> digestion,_which_makes_up_the_bulk_of_our_bodies,_did_not_
<c02.P1.143> exist_in_the_Martians._They_were_heads--merely_heads._
<c02.P1.144> Entrails_they_had_none._They_did_not_eat,_much_less_digest._
<c02.P1.145> Instead,_they_took_the_fresh,_living_blood_of_other_
<c02.P1.146> creatures,_and_INJECTED_it_into_their_own_veins._I_have_
<c02.P1.147> myself_seen_this_being_done,_as_I_shall_mention_in_its_
<c02.P1.148> place._But,_squeamish_as_I_may_seem,_I_cannot_bring_myself_
<c02.P1.149> to_describe_what_I_could_not_endure_even_to_continue_
<c02.P1.150> watching._Let_it_suffice_to_say,_blood_obtained_from_a_still_
<c02.P1.151> living_animal,_in_most_cases_from_a_human_being,_was_run_
<c02.P1.152> directly_by_means_of_a_little_pipette_into_the_recipient_
<c02.P1.153> canal._._._.
<c02.P1.154> =
<c02.P1.155> The_bare_idea_of_this_is_no_doubt_horribly_repulsive_to_us,_
<c02.P1.156> but_at_the_same_time_I_think_that_we_should_remember_how_
<c02.P1.157> repulsive_our_carnivorous_habits_would_seem_to_an_
<c02.P1.158> intelligent_rabbit.
<c02.P1.159> =
<c02.P1.160> The_physiological_advantages_of_the_practice_of_injection_
<c02.P1.161> are_undeniable,_if_one_thinks_of_the_tremendous_waste_of_
<c02.P1.162> human_time_and_energy_occasioned_by_eating_and_the_digestive_
<c02.P1.163> process._Our_bodies_are_half_made_up_of_glands_and_tubes_and_
<c02.P1.164> organs,_occupied_in_turning_heterogeneous_food_into_blood._
<c02.P1.165> The_digestive_processes_and_their_reaction_upon_the_nervous_
<c02.P1.166> system_sap_our_strength_and_colour_our_minds._Men_go_happy_
<c02.P1.167> or_miserable_as_they_have_healthy_or_unhealthy_livers,_or_
<c02.P1.168> sound_gastric_glands._But_the_Martians_were_lifted_above_all_
<c02.P1.169> these_organic_fluctuations_of_mood_and_emotion.
<c02.P1.170> =
<c02.P1.171> Their_undeniable_preference_for_men_as_their_source_of_
<c02.P1.172> nourishment_is_partly_explained_by_the_nature_of_the_remains_
<c02.P1.173> of_the_victims_they_had_brought_with_them_as_provisions_from_
<c02.P1.174> Mars._These_creatures,_to_judge_from_the_shrivelled_remains_
<c02.P1.175> that_have_fallen_into_human_hands,_were_bipeds_with_flimsy,_
<c02.P1.176> silicious_skeletons_(almost_like_those_of_the_silicious_
<c02.P1.177> sponges)_and_feeble_musculature,_standing_about_six_feet_
<c02.P1.178> high_and_having_round,_erect_heads,_and_large_eyes_in_flinty_
<c02.P1.179> sockets._Two_or_three_of_these_seem_to_have_been_brought_in_
<c02.P1.180> each_cylinder,_and_all_were_killed_before_earth_was_reached._
<c02.P1.181> It_was_just_as_well_for_them,_for_the_mere_attempt_to_stand_
<c02.P1.182> upright_upon_our_planet_would_have_broken_every_bone_in_
<c02.P1.183> their_bodies.
<c02.P1.184> =
<c02.P1.185> And_while_I_am_engaged_in_this_description,_I_may_add_in_
<c02.P1.186> this_place_certain_further_details_which,_although_they_were_
<c02.P1.187> not_all_evident_to_us_at_the_time,_will_enable_the_reader_
<c02.P1.188> who_is_unacquainted_with_them_to_form_a_clearer_picture_of_
<c02.P1.189> these_offensive_creatures.
<c02.P1.190> =
<c02.P1.191> In_three_other_points_their_physiology_differed_strangely_
<c02.P1.192> from_ours._Their_organisms_did_not_sleep,_any_more_than_the_
<c02.P1.193> heart_of_man_sleeps._Since_they_had_no_extensive_muscular_
<c02.P1.194> mechanism_to_recuperate,_that_periodical_extinction_was_
<c02.P1.195> unknown_to_them._They_had_little_or_no_sense_of_fatigue,_it_
<c02.P1.196> would_seem._On_earth_they_could_never_have_moved_without_
<c02.P1.197> effort,_yet_even_to_the_last_they_kept_in_action._In_
<c02.P1.198> twenty-four_hours_they_did_twenty-four_hours_of_work,_as_
<c02.P1.199> even_on_earth_is_perhaps_the_case_with_the_ants.
<c02.P1.200> =
<c02.P1.201> In_the_next_place,_wonderful_as_it_seems_in_a_sexual_world,_
<c02.P1.202> the_Martians_were_absolutely_without_sex,_and_therefore_
<c02.P1.203> without_any_of_the_tumultuous_emotions_that_arise_from_that_
<c02.P1.204> difference_among_men._A_young_Martian,_there_can_now_be_no_
<c02.P1.205> dispute,_was_really_born_upon_earth_during_the_war,_and_it_
<c02.P1.206> was_found_attached_to_its_parent,_partially_BUDDED_off,_just_
<c02.P1.207> as_young_lilybulbs_bud_off,_or_like_the_young_animals_in_the_
<c02.P1.208> fresh-water_polyp.
<c02.P1.209> =
<c02.P1.210> In_man,_in_all_the_higher_terrestrial_animals,_such_a_method_
<c02.P1.211> of_increase_has_disappeared;_but_even_on_this_earth_it_was_
<c02.P1.212> certainly_the_primitive_method._Among_the_lower_animals,_up_
<c02.P1.213> even_to_those_first_cousins_of_the_vertebrated_animals,_the_
<c02.P1.214> Tunicates,_the_two_processes_occur_side_by_side,_but_finally_
<c02.P1.215> the_sexual_method_superseded_its_competitor_altogether._On_
<c02.P1.216> Mars,_however,_just_the_reverse_has_apparently_been_the_
<c02.P1.217> case.
<c02.P1.218> =
<c02.P1.219> It_is_worthy_of_remark_that_a_certain_speculative_writer_of_
<c02.P1.220> quasi-scientific_repute,_writing_long_before_the_Martian_
<c02.P1.221> invasion,_did_forecast_for_man_a_final_structure_not_unlike_
<c02.P1.222> the_actual_Martian_condition._His_prophecy,_I_remember,_
<c02.P1.223> appeared_in_November_or_December,_1893,_in_a_long-defunct_
<c02.P1.224> publication,_the_PALL_MALL_BUDGET,_and_I_recall_a_caricature_
<c02.P1.225> of_it_in_a_pre-Martian_periodical_called_PUNCH._He_pointed_
<c02.P1.226> out--writing_in_a_foolish,_facetious_tone--that_the_
<c02.P1.227> perfection_of_mechanical_appliances_must_ultimately_
<c02.P1.228> supersede_limbs;_the_perfection_of_chemical_devices,_
<c02.P1.229> digestion;_that_such_organs_as_hair,_external_nose,_teeth,_
<c02.P1.230> ears,_and_chin_were_no_longer_essential_parts_of_the_human_
<c02.P1.231> being,_and_that_the_tendency_of_natural_selection_would_lie_
<c02.P1.232> in_the_direction_of_their_steady_diminution_through_the_
<c02.P1.233> coming_ages._The_brain_alone_remained_a_cardinal_necessity._
<c02.P1.234> Only_one_other_part_of_the_body_had_a_strong_case_for_
<c02.P1.235> survival,_and_that_was_the_hand,_"teacher_and_agent_of_the_
<c02.P1.236> brain."_While_the_rest_of_the_body_dwindled,_the_hands_would_
<c02.P1.237> grow_larger.
<c02.P1.238> =
<c02.P1.239> There_is_many_a_true_word_written_in_jest,_and_here_in_the_
<c02.P1.240> Martians_we_have_beyond_dispute_the_actual_accomplishment_of_
<c02.P1.241> such_a_suppression_of_the_animal_side_of_the_organism_by_the_
<c02.P1.242> intelligence._To_me_it_is_quite_credible_that_the_Martians_
<c02.P1.243> may_be_descended_from_beings_not_unlike_ourselves,_by_a_
<c02.P1.244> gradual_development_of_brain_and_hands_(the_latter_giving_
<c02.P1.245> rise_to_the_two_bunches_of_delicate_tentacles_at_last)_at_
<c02.P1.246> the_expense_of_the_rest_of_the_body._Without_the_body_the_
<c02.P1.247> brain_would,_of_course,_become_a_mere_selfish_intelligence,_
<c02.P1.248> without_any_of_the_emotional_substratum_of_the_human_being.
<c02.P1.249> =
<c02.P1.250> The_last_salient_point_in_which_the_systems_of_these_
<c02.P1.251> creatures_differed_from_ours_was_in_what_one_might_have_
<c02.P1.252> thought_a_very_trivial_particular._Micro-organisms,_which_
<c02.P1.253> cause_so_much_disease_and_pain_on_earth,_have_either_never_
<c02.P1.254> appeared_upon_Mars_or_Martian_sanitary_science_eliminated_
<c02.P1.255> them_ages_ago._A_hundred_diseases,_all_the_fevers_and_
<c02.P1.256> contagions_of_human_life,_consumption,_cancers,_tumours_and_
<c02.P1.257> such_morbidities,_never_enter_the_scheme_of_their_life._And_
<c02.P1.258> speaking_of_the_differences_between_the_life_on_Mars_and_
<c02.P1.259> terrestrial_life,_I_may_allude_here_to_the_curious_
<c02.P1.260> suggestions_of_the_red_weed.
<c02.P1.261> =
<c02.P1.262> Apparently_the_vegetable_kingdom_in_Mars,_instead_of_having_
<c02.P1.263> green_for_a_dominant_colour,_is_of_a_vivid_blood-red_tint._
<c02.P1.264> At_any_rate,_the_seeds_which_the_Martians_(intentionally_or_
<c02.P1.265> accidentally)_brought_with_them_gave_rise_in_all_cases_to_
<c02.P1.266> red-coloured_growths._Only_that_known_popularly_as_the_red_
<c02.P1.267> weed,_however,_gained_any_footing_in_competition_with_
<c02.P1.268> terrestrial_forms._The_red_creeper_was_quite_a_transitory_
<c02.P1.269> growth,_and_few_people_have_seen_it_growing._For_a_time,_
<c02.P1.270> however,_the_red_weed_grew_with_astonishing_vigour_and_
<c02.P1.271> luxuriance._It_spread_up_the_sides_of_the_pit_by_the_third_
<c02.P1.272> or_fourth_day_of_our_imprisonment,_and_its_cactus-like_
<c02.P1.273> branches_formed_a_carmine_fringe_to_the_edges_of_our_
<c02.P1.274> triangular_window._And_afterwards_I_found_it_broadcast_
<c02.P1.275> throughout_the_country,_and_especially_wherever_there_was_a_
<c02.P1.276> stream_of_water.
<c02.P1.277> =
<c02.P1.278> The_Martians_had_what_appears_to_have_been_an_auditory_
<c02.P1.279> organ,_a_single_round_drum_at_the_back_of_the_head-body,_and_
<c02.P1.280> eyes_with_a_visual_range_not_very_different_from_ours_except_
<c02.P1.281> that,_according_to_Philips,_blue_and_violet_were_as_black_to_
<c02.P1.282> them._It_is_commonly_supposed_that_they_communicated_by_
<c02.P1.283> sounds_and_tentacular_gesticulations;_this_is_asserted,_for_
<c02.P1.284> instance,_in_the_able_but_hastily_compiled_pamphlet_(written_
<c02.P1.285> evidently_by_someone_not_an_eye-witness_of_Martian_actions)_
<c02.P1.286> to_which_I_have_already_alluded,_and_which,_so_far,_has_been_
<c02.P1.287> the_chief_source_of_information_concerning_them._Now_no_
<c02.P1.288> surviving_human_being_saw_so_much_of_the_Martians_in_action_
<c02.P1.289> as_I_did._I_take_no_credit_to_myself_for_an_accident,_but_
<c02.P1.290> the_fact_is_so._And_I_assert_that_I_watched_them_closely_
<c02.P1.291> time_after_time,_and_that_I_have_seen_four,_five,_and_(once)_
<c02.P1.292> six_of_them_sluggishly_performing_the_most_elaborately_
<c02.P1.293> complicated_operations_together_without_either_sound_or_
<c02.P1.294> gesture._Their_peculiar_hooting_invariably_preceded_feeding;_
<c02.P1.295> it_had_no_modulation,_and_was,_I_believe,_in_no_sense_a_
<c02.P1.296> signal,_but_merely_the_expiration_of_air_preparatory_to_the_
<c02.P1.297> suctional_operation._I_have_a_certain_claim_to_at_least_an_
<c02.P1.298> elementary_knowledge_of_psychology,_and_in_this_matter_I_am_
<c02.P1.299> convinced--as_firmly_as_I_am_convinced_of_anything--that_the_
<c02.P1.300> Martians_interchanged_thoughts_without_any_physical_
<c02.P1.301> intermediation._And_I_have_been_convinced_of_this_in_spite_
<c02.P1.302> of_strong_preconceptions._Before_the_Martian_invasion,_as_an_
<c02.P1.303> occasional_reader_here_or_there_may_remember,_I_had_written_
<c02.P1.304> with_some_little_vehemence_against_the_telepathic_theory.
<c02.P1.305> =
<c02.P1.306> The_Martians_wore_no_clothing._Their_conceptions_of_ornament_
<c02.P1.307> and_decorum_were_necessarily_different_from_ours;_and_not_
<c02.P1.308> only_were_they_evidently_much_less_sensible_of_changes_of_
<c02.P1.309> temperature_than_we_are,_but_changes_of_pressure_do_not_seem_
<c02.P1.310> to_have_affected_their_health_at_all_seriously._Yet_though_
<c02.P1.311> they_wore_no_clothing,_it_was_in_the_other_artificial_
<c02.P1.312> additions_to_their_bodily_resources_that_their_great_
<c02.P1.313> superiority_over_man_lay._We_men,_with_our_bicycles_and_
<c02.P1.314> road-skates,_our_Lilienthal_soaring-machines,_our_guns_and_
<c02.P1.315> sticks_and_so_forth,_are_just_in_the_beginning_of_the_
<c02.P1.316> evolution_that_the_Martians_have_worked_out._They_have_
<c02.P1.317> become_practically_mere_brains,_wearing_different_bodies_
<c02.P1.318> according_to_their_needs_just_as_men_wear_suits_of_clothes_
<c02.P1.319> and_take_a_bicycle_in_a_hurry_or_an_umbrella_in_the_wet._And_
<c02.P1.320> of_their_appliances,_perhaps_nothing_is_more_wonderful_to_a_
<c02.P1.321> man_than_the_curious_fact_that_what_is_the_dominant_feature_
<c02.P1.322> of_almost_all_human_devices_in_mechanism_is_absent--the_
<c02.P1.323> WHEEL_is_absent;_among_all_the_things_they_brought_to_earth_
<c02.P1.324> there_is_no_trace_or_suggestion_of_their_use_of_wheels._One_
<c02.P1.325> would_have_at_least_expected_it_in_locomotion._And_in_this_
<c02.P1.326> connection_it_is_curious_to_remark_that_even_on_this_earth_
<c02.P1.327> Nature_has_never_hit_upon_the_wheel,_or_has_preferred_other_
<c02.P1.328> expedients_to_its_development._And_not_only_did_the_Martians_
<c02.P1.329> either_not_know_of_(which_is_incredible),_or_abstain_from,_
<c02.P1.330> the_wheel,_but_in_their_apparatus_singularly_little_use_is_
<c02.P1.331> made_of_the_fixed_pivot_or_relatively_fixed_pivot,_with_
<c02.P1.332> circular_motions_thereabout_confined_to_one_plane._Almost_
<c02.P1.333> all_the_joints_of_the_machinery_present_a_complicated_system_
<c02.P1.334> of_sliding_parts_moving_over_small_but_beautifully_curved_
<c02.P1.335> friction_bearings._And_while_upon_this_matter_of_detail,_it_
<c02.P1.336> is_remarkable_that_the_long_leverages_of_their_machines_are_
<c02.P1.337> in_most_cases_actuated_by_a_sort_of_sham_musculature_of_the_
<c02.P1.338> disks_in_an_elastic_sheath;_these_disks_become_polarised_and_
<c02.P1.339> drawn_closely_and_powerfully_together_when_traversed_by_a_
<c02.P1.340> current_of_electricity._In_this_way_the_curious_parallelism_
<c02.P1.341> to_animal_motions,_which_was_so_striking_and_disturbing_to_
<c02.P1.342> the_human_beholder,_was_attained._Such_quasi-muscles_
<c02.P1.343> abounded_in_the_crablike_handling-machine_which,_on_my_first_
<c02.P1.344> peeping_out_of_the_slit,_I_watched_unpacking_the_cylinder._
<c02.P1.345> It_seemed_infinitely_more_alive_than_the_actual_Martians_
<c02.P1.346> lying_beyond_it_in_the_sunset_light,_panting,_stirring_
<c02.P1.347> ineffectual_tentacles,_and_moving_feebly_after_their_vast_
<c02.P1.348> journey_across_space.
<c02.P1.349> =
<c02.P1.350> While_I_was_still_watching_their_sluggish_motions_in_the_
<c02.P1.351> sunlight,_and_noting_each_strange_detail_of_their_form,_the_
<c02.P1.352> curate_reminded_me_of_his_presence_by_pulling_violently_at_
<c02.P1.353> my_arm._I_turned_to_a_scowling_face,_and_silent,_eloquent_
<c02.P1.354> lips._He_wanted_the_slit,_which_permitted_only_one_of_us_to_
<c02.P1.355> peep_through;_and_so_I_had_to_forego_watching_them_for_a_
<c02.P1.356> time_while_he_enjoyed_that_privilege.
<c02.P1.357> =
<c02.P1.358> When_I_looked_again,_the_busy_handling-machine_had_already_
<c02.P1.359> put_together_several_of_the_pieces_of_apparatus_it_had_taken_
<c02.P1.360> out_of_the_cylinder_into_a_shape_having_an_unmistakable_
<c02.P1.361> likeness_to_its_own;_and_down_on_the_left_a_busy_little_
<c02.P1.362> digging_mechanism_had_come_into_view,_emitting_jets_of_green_
<c02.P1.363> vapour_and_working_its_way_round_the_pit,_excavating_and_
<c02.P1.364> embanking_in_a_methodical_and_discriminating_manner._This_it_
<c02.P1.365> was_which_had_caused_the_regular_beating_noise,_and_the_
<c02.P1.366> rhythmic_shocks_that_had_kept_our_ruinous_refuge_quivering._
<c02.P1.367> It_piped_and_whistled_as_it_worked._So_far_as_I_could_see,_
<c02.P1.368> the_thing_was_without_a_directing_Martian_at_all.
<c02.P1.369> =
#
## <c03>
# chapter 3 THREE
# unit C chapter_number
# unit H chapter_title
# unit P text
<c03.P1.001> The_arrival_of_a_second_fighting-machine_drove_us_from_our_
<c03.P1.002> peephole_into_the_scullery,_for_we_feared_that_from_his_
<c03.P1.003> elevation_the_Martian_might_see_down_upon_us_behind_our_
<c03.P1.004> barrier._At_a_later_date_we_began_to_feel_less_in_danger_of_
<c03.P1.005> their_eyes,_for_to_an_eye_in_the_dazzle_of_the_sunlight_
<c03.P1.006> outside_our_refuge_must_have_been_blank_blackness,_but_at_
<c03.P1.007> first_the_slightest_suggestion_of_approach_drove_us_into_the_
<c03.P1.008> scullery_in_heart-throbbing_retreat._Yet_terrible_as_was_the_
<c03.P1.009> danger_we_incurred,_the_attraction_of_peeping_was_for_both_
<c03.P1.010> of_us_irresistible._And_I_recall_now_with_a_sort_of_wonder_
<c03.P1.011> that,_in_spite_of_the_infinite_danger_in_which_we_were_
<c03.P1.012> between_starvation_and_a_still_more_terrible_death,_we_could_
<c03.P1.013> yet_struggle_bitterly_for_that_horrible_privilege_of_sight._
<c03.P1.014> We_would_race_across_the_kitchen_in_a_grotesque_way_between_
<c03.P1.015> eagerness_and_the_dread_of_making_a_noise,_and_strike_each_
<c03.P1.016> other,_and_thrust_add_kick,_within_a_few_inches_of_exposure.
<c03.P1.017> =
<c03.P1.018> The_fact_is_that_we_had_absolutely_incompatible_dispositions_
<c03.P1.019> and_habits_of_thought_and_action,_and_our_danger_and_
<c03.P1.020> isolation_only_accentuated_the_incompatibility._At_Halliford_
<c03.P1.021> I_had_already_come_to_hate_the_curate's_trick_of_helpless_
<c03.P1.022> exclamation,_his_stupid_rigidity_of_mind._His_endless_
<c03.P1.023> muttering_monologue_vitiated_every_effort_I_made_to_think_
<c03.P1.024> out_a_line_of_action,_and_drove_me_at_times,_thus_pent_up_
<c03.P1.025> and_intensified,_almost_to_the_verge_of_craziness._He_was_as_
<c03.P1.026> lacking_in_restraint_as_a_silly_woman._He_would_weep_for_
<c03.P1.027> hours_together,_and_I_verily_believe_that_to_the_very_end_
<c03.P1.028> this_spoiled_child_of_life_thought_his_weak_tears_in_some_
<c03.P1.029> way_efficacious._And_I_would_sit_in_the_darkness_unable_to_
<c03.P1.030> keep_my_mind_off_him_by_reason_of_his_importunities._He_ate_
<c03.P1.031> more_than_I_did,_and_it_was_in_vain_I_pointed_out_that_our_
<c03.P1.032> only_chance_of_life_was_to_stop_in_the_house_until_the_
<c03.P1.033> Martians_had_done_with_their_pit,_that_in_that_long_patience_
<c03.P1.034> a_time_might_presently_come_when_we_should_need_food._He_ate_
<c03.P1.035> and_drank_impulsively_in_heavy_meals_at_long_intervals._He_
<c03.P1.036> slept_little.
<c03.P1.037> =
<c03.P1.038> As_the_days_wore_on,_his_utter_carelessness_of_any_
<c03.P1.039> consideration_so_intensified_our_distress_and_danger_that_I_
<c03.P1.040> had,_much_as_I_loathed_doing_it,_to_resort_to_threats,_and_
<c03.P1.041> at_last_to_blows._That_brought_him_to_reason_for_a_time._But_
<c03.P1.042> he_was_one_of_those_weak_creatures,_void_of_pride,_timorous,_
<c03.P1.043> anaemic,_hateful_souls,_full_of_shifty_cunning,_who_face_
<c03.P1.044> neither_God_nor_man,_who_face_not_even_themselves.
<c03.P1.045> =
<c03.P1.046> It_is_disagreeable_for_me_to_recall_and_write_these_things,_
<c03.P1.047> but_I_set_them_down_that_my_story_may_lack_nothing._Those_
<c03.P1.048> who_have_escaped_the_dark_and_terrible_aspects_of_life_will_
<c03.P1.049> find_my_brutality,_my_flash_of_rage_in_our_final_tragedy,_
<c03.P1.050> easy_enough_to_blame;_for_they_know_what_is_wrong_as_well_as_
<c03.P1.051> any,_but_not_what_is_possible_to_tortured_men._But_those_who_
<c03.P1.052> have_been_under_the_shadow,_who_have_gone_down_at_last_to_
<c03.P1.053> elemental_things,_will_have_a_wider_charity.
<c03.P1.054> =
<c03.P1.055> And_while_within_we_fought_out_our_dark,_dim_contest_of_
<c03.P1.056> whispers,_snatched_food_and_drink,_and_gripping_hands_and_
<c03.P1.057> blows,_without,_in_the_pitiless_sunlight_of_that_terrible_
<c03.P1.058> June,_was_the_strange_wonder,_the_unfamiliar_routine_of_the_
<c03.P1.059> Martians_in_the_pit._Let_me_return_to_those_first_new_
<c03.P1.060> experiences_of_mine._After_a_long_time_I_ventured_back_to_
<c03.P1.061> the_peephole,_to_find_that_the_new-comers_had_been_
<c03.P1.062> reinforced_by_the_occupants_of_no_fewer_than_three_of_the_
<c03.P1.063> fighting-machines._These_last_had_brought_with_them_certain_
<c03.P1.064> fresh_appliances_that_stood_in_an_orderly_manner_about_the_
<c03.P1.065> cylinder._The_second_handling-machine_was_now_completed,_and_
<c03.P1.066> was_busied_in_serving_one_of_the_novel_contrivances_the_big_
<c03.P1.067> machine_had_brought._This_was_a_body_resembling_a_milk_can_
<c03.P1.068> in_its_general_form,_above_which_oscillated_a_pear-shaped_
<c03.P1.069> receptacle,_and_from_which_a_stream_of_white_powder_flowed_
<c03.P1.070> into_a_circular_basin_below.
<c03.P1.071> =
<c03.P1.072> The_oscillatory_motion_was_imparted_to_this_by_one_tentacle_
<c03.P1.073> of_the_handling-machine._With_two_spatulate_hands_the_
<c03.P1.074> handling-machine_was_digging_out_and_flinging_masses_of_clay_
<c03.P1.075> into_the_pear-shaped_receptacle_above,_while_with_another_
<c03.P1.076> arm_it_periodically_opened_a_door_and_removed_rusty_and_
<c03.P1.077> blackened_clinkers_from_the_middle_part_of_the_machine._
<c03.P1.078> Another_steely_tentacle_directed_the_powder_from_the_basin_
<c03.P1.079> along_a_ribbed_channel_towards_some_receiver_that_was_hidden_
<c03.P1.080> from_me_by_the_mound_of_bluish_dust._From_this_unseen_
<c03.P1.081> receiver_a_little_thread_of_green_smoke_rose_vertically_into_
<c03.P1.082> the_quiet_air._As_I_looked,_the_handling-machine,_with_a_
<c03.P1.083> faint_and_musical_clinking,_extended,_telescopic_fashion,_a_
<c03.P1.084> tentacle_that_had_been_a_moment_before_a_mere_blunt_
<c03.P1.085> projection,_until_its_end_was_hidden_behind_the_mound_of_
<c03.P1.086> clay._In_another_second_it_had_lifted_a_bar_of_white_
<c03.P1.087> aluminium_into_sight,_untarnished_as_yet,_and_shining_
<c03.P1.088> dazzlingly,_and_deposited_it_in_a_growing_stack_of_bars_that_
<c03.P1.089> stood_at_the_side_of_the_pit._Between_sunset_and_starlight_
<c03.P1.090> this_dexterous_machine_must_have_made_more_than_a_hundred_
<c03.P1.091> such_bars_out_of_the_crude_clay,_and_the_mound_of_bluish_
<c03.P1.092> dust_rose_steadily_until_it_topped_the_side_of_the_pit.
<c03.P1.093> =
<c03.P1.094> The_contrast_between_the_swift_and_complex_movements_of_
<c03.P1.095> these_contrivances_and_the_inert_panting_clumsiness_of_their_
<c03.P1.096> masters_was_acute,_and_for_days_I_had_to_tell_myself_
<c03.P1.097> repeatedly_that_these_latter_were_indeed_the_living_of_the_
<c03.P1.098> two_things.
<c03.P1.099> =
<c03.P1.100> The_curate_had_possession_of_the_slit_when_the_first_men_
<c03.P1.101> were_brought_to_the_pit._I_was_sitting_below,_huddled_up,_
<c03.P1.102> listening_with_all_my_ears._He_made_a_sudden_movement_
<c03.P1.103> backward,_and_I,_fearful_that_we_were_observed,_crouched_in_
<c03.P1.104> a_spasm_of_terror._He_came_sliding_down_the_rubbish_and_
<c03.P1.105> crept_beside_me_in_the_darkness,_inarticulate,_
<c03.P1.106> gesticulating,_and_for_a_moment_I_shared_his_panic._His_
<c03.P1.107> gesture_suggested_a_resignation_of_the_slit,_and_after_a_
<c03.P1.108> little_while_my_curiosity_gave_me_courage,_and_I_rose_up,_
<c03.P1.109> stepped_across_him,_and_clambered_up_to_it._At_first_I_could_
<c03.P1.110> see_no_reason_for_his_frantic_behaviour._The_twilight_had_
<c03.P1.111> now_come,_the_stars_were_little_and_faint,_but_the_pit_was_
<c03.P1.112> illuminated_by_the_flickering_green_fire_that_came_from_the_
<c03.P1.113> aluminium-making._The_whole_picture_was_a_flickering_scheme_
<c03.P1.114> of_green_gleams_and_shifting_rusty_black_shadows,_strangely_
<c03.P1.115> trying_to_the_eyes._Over_and_through_it_all_went_the_bats,_
<c03.P1.116> heeding_it_not_at_all._The_sprawling_Martians_were_no_longer_
<c03.P1.117> to_be_seen,_the_mound_of_blue-green_powder_had_risen_to_
<c03.P1.118> cover_them_from_sight,_and_a_fighting-machine,_with_its_legs_
<c03.P1.119> contracted,_crumpled,_and_abbreviated,_stood_across_the_
<c03.P1.120> corner_of_the_pit._And_then,_amid_the_clangour_of_the_
<c03.P1.121> machinery,_came_a_drifting_suspicion_of_human_voices,_that_I_
<c03.P1.122> entertained_at_first_only_to_dismiss.
<c03.P1.123> =
<c03.P1.124> I_crouched,_watching_this_fighting-machine_closely,_
<c03.P1.125> satisfying_myself_now_for_the_first_time_that_the_hood_did_
<c03.P1.126> indeed_contain_a_Martian._As_the_green_flames_lifted_I_could_
<c03.P1.127> see_the_oily_gleam_of_his_integument_and_the_brightness_of_
<c03.P1.128> his_eyes._And_suddenly_I_heard_a_yell,_and_saw_a_long_
<c03.P1.129> tentacle_reaching_over_the_shoulder_of_the_machine_to_the_
<c03.P1.130> little_cage_that_hunched_upon_its_back._Then_
<c03.P1.131> something--something_struggling_violently--was_lifted_high_
<c03.P1.132> against_the_sky,_a_black,_vague_enigma_against_the_
<c03.P1.133> starlight;_and_as_this_black_object_came_down_again,_I_saw_
<c03.P1.134> by_the_green_brightness_that_it_was_a_man._For_an_instant_he_
<c03.P1.135> was_clearly_visible._He_was_a_stout,_ruddy,_middle-aged_man,_
<c03.P1.136> well_dressed;_three_days_before,_he_must_have_been_walking_
<c03.P1.137> the_world,_a_man_of_considerable_consequence._I_could_see_
<c03.P1.138> his_staring_eyes_and_gleams_of_light_on_his_studs_and_watch_
<c03.P1.139> chain._He_vanished_behind_the_mound,_and_for_a_moment_there_
<c03.P1.140> was_silence._And_then_began_a_shrieking_and_a_sustained_and_
<c03.P1.141> cheerful_hooting_from_the_Martians.
<c03.P1.142> =
<c03.P1.143> I_slid_down_the_rubbish,_struggled_to_my_feet,_clapped_my_
<c03.P1.144> hands_over_my_ears,_and_bolted_into_the_scullery._The_
<c03.P1.145> curate,_who_had_been_crouching_silently_with_his_arms_over_
<c03.P1.146> his_head,_looked_up_as_I_passed,_cried_out_quite_loudly_at_
<c03.P1.147> my_desertion_of_him,_and_came_running_after_me.
<c03.P1.148> =
<c03.P1.149> That_night,_as_we_lurked_in_the_scullery,_balanced_between_
<c03.P1.150> our_horror_and_the_terrible_fascination_this_peeping_had,_
<c03.P1.151> although_I_felt_an_urgent_need_of_action_I_tried_in_vain_to_
<c03.P1.152> conceive_some_plan_of_escape;_but_afterwards,_during_the_
<c03.P1.153> second_day,_I_was_able_to_consider_our_position_with_great_
<c03.P1.154> clearness._The_curate,_I_found,_was_quite_incapable_of_
<c03.P1.155> discussion;_this_new_and_culminating_atrocity_had_robbed_him_
<c03.P1.156> of_all_vestiges_of_reason_or_forethought._Practically_he_had_
<c03.P1.157> already_sunk_to_the_level_of_an_animal._But_as_the_saying_
<c03.P1.158> goes,_I_gripped_myself_with_both_hands._It_grew_upon_my_
<c03.P1.159> mind,_once_I_could_face_the_facts,_that_terrible_as_our_
<c03.P1.160> position_was,_there_was_as_yet_no_justification_for_absolute_
<c03.P1.161> despair._Our_chief_chance_lay_in_the_possibility_of_the_
<c03.P1.162> Martians_making_the_pit_nothing_more_than_a_temporary_
<c03.P1.163> encampment._Or_even_if_they_kept_it_permanently,_they_might_
<c03.P1.164> not_consider_it_necessary_to_guard_it,_and_a_chance_of_
<c03.P1.165> escape_might_be_afforded_us._I_also_weighed_very_carefully_
<c03.P1.166> the_possibility_of_our_digging_a_way_out_in_a_direction_away_
<c03.P1.167> from_the_pit,_but_the_chances_of_our_emerging_within_sight_
<c03.P1.168> of_some_sentinel_fighting-machine_seemed_at_first_too_great._
<c03.P1.169> And_I_should_have_had_to_do_all_the_digging_myself._The_
<c03.P1.170> curate_would_certainly_have_failed_me.
<c03.P1.171> =
<c03.P1.172> It_was_on_the_third_day,_if_my_memory_serves_me_right,_that_
<c03.P1.173> I_saw_the_lad_killed._It_was_the_only_occasion_on_which_I_
<c03.P1.174> actually_saw_the_Martians_feed._After_that_experience_I_
<c03.P1.175> avoided_the_hole_in_the_wall_for_the_better_part_of_a_day._I_
<c03.P1.176> went_into_the_scullery,_removed_the_door,_and_spent_some_
<c03.P1.177> hours_digging_with_my_hatchet_as_silently_as_possible;_but_
<c03.P1.178> when_I_had_made_a_hole_about_a_couple_of_feet_deep_the_loose_
<c03.P1.179> earth_collapsed_noisily,_and_I_did_not_dare_continue._I_lost_
<c03.P1.180> heart,_and_lay_down_on_the_scullery_floor_for_a_long_time,_
<c03.P1.181> having_no_spirit_even_to_move._And_after_that_I_abandoned_
<c03.P1.182> altogether_the_idea_of_escaping_by_excavation.
<c03.P1.183> =
<c03.P1.184> It_says_much_for_the_impression_the_Martians_had_made_upon_
<c03.P1.185> me_that_at_first_I_entertained_little_or_no_hope_of_our_
<c03.P1.186> escape_being_brought_about_by_their_overthrow_through_any_
<c03.P1.187> human_effort._But_on_the_fourth_or_fifth_night_I_heard_a_
<c03.P1.188> sound_like_heavy_guns.
<c03.P1.189> =
<c03.P1.190> It_was_very_late_in_the_night,_and_the_moon_was_shining_
<c03.P1.191> brightly._The_Martians_had_taken_away_the_
<c03.P1.192> excavating-machine,_and,_save_for_a_fighting-machine_that_
<c03.P1.193> stood_in_the_remoter_bank_of_the_pit_and_a_handling-machine_
<c03.P1.194> that_was_buried_out_of_my_sight_in_a_corner_of_the_pit_
<c03.P1.195> immediately_beneath_my_peephole,_the_place_was_deserted_by_
<c03.P1.196> them._Except_for_the_pale_glow_from_the_handling-machine_and_
<c03.P1.197> the_bars_and_patches_of_white_moonlight_the_pit_was_in_
<c03.P1.198> darkness,_and,_except_for_the_clinking_of_the_
<c03.P1.199> handling-machine,_quite_still._That_night_was_a_beautiful_
<c03.P1.200> serenity;_save_for_one_planet,_the_moon_seemed_to_have_the_
<c03.P1.201> sky_to_herself._I_heard_a_dog_howling,_and_that_familiar_
<c03.P1.202> sound_it_was_that_made_me_listen._Then_I_heard_quite_
<c03.P1.203> distinctly_a_booming_exactly_like_the_sound_of_great_guns._
<c03.P1.204> Six_distinct_reports_I_counted,_and_after_a_long_interval_
<c03.P1.205> six_again._And_that_was_all.
<c03.P1.206> =
#
## <c04>
# chapter 4 FOUR
# unit C chapter_number
# unit H chapter_title
# unit P text
<c04.P1.001> It_was_on_the_sixth_day_of_our_imprisonment_that_I_peeped_
<c04.P1.002> for_the_last_time,_and_presently_found_myself_alone._Instead_
<c04.P1.003> of_keeping_close_to_me_and_trying_to_oust_me_from_the_slit,_
<c04.P1.004> the_curate_had_gone_back_into_the_scullery._I_was_struck_by_
<c04.P1.005> a_sudden_thought._I_went_back_quickly_and_quietly_into_the_
<c04.P1.006> scullery._In_the_darkness_I_heard_the_curate_drinking._I_
<c04.P1.007> snatched_in_the_darkness,_and_my_fingers_caught_a_bottle_of_
<c04.P1.008> burgundy.
<c04.P1.009> =
<c04.P1.010> For_a_few_minutes_there_was_a_tussle._The_bottle_struck_the_
<c04.P1.011> floor_and_broke,_and_I_desisted_and_rose._We_stood_panting_
<c04.P1.012> and_threatening_each_other._In_the_end_I_planted_myself_
<c04.P1.013> between_him_and_the_food,_and_told_him_of_my_determination_
<c04.P1.014> to_begin_a_discipline._I_divided_the_food_in_the_pantry,_
<c04.P1.015> into_rations_to_last_us_ten_days._I_would_not_let_him_eat_
<c04.P1.016> any_more_that_day._In_the_afternoon_he_made_a_feeble_effort_
<c04.P1.017> to_get_at_the_food._I_had_been_dozing,_but_in_an_instant_I_
<c04.P1.018> was_awake._All_day_and_all_night_we_sat_face_to_face,_I_
<c04.P1.019> weary_but_resolute,_and_he_weeping_and_complaining_of_his_
<c04.P1.020> immediate_hunger._It_was,_I_know,_a_night_and_a_day,_but_to_
<c04.P1.021> me_it_seemed--it_seems_now--an_interminable_length_of_time.
<c04.P1.022> =
<c04.P1.023> And_so_our_widened_incompatibility_ended_at_last_in_open_
<c04.P1.024> conflict._For_two_vast_days_we_struggled_in_undertones_and_
<c04.P1.025> wrestling_contests._There_were_times_when_I_beat_and_kicked_
<c04.P1.026> him_madly,_times_when_I_cajoled_and_persuaded_him,_and_once_
<c04.P1.027> I_tried_to_bribe_him_with_the_last_bottle_of_burgundy,_for_
<c04.P1.028> there_was_a_rain-water_pump_from_which_I_could_get_water._
<c04.P1.029> But_neither_force_nor_kindness_availed;_he_was_indeed_beyond_
<c04.P1.030> reason._He_would_neither_desist_from_his_attacks_on_the_food_
<c04.P1.031> nor_from_his_noisy_babbling_to_himself._The_rudimentary_
<c04.P1.032> precautions_to_keep_our_imprisonment_endurable_he_would_not_
<c04.P1.033> observe._Slowly_I_began_to_realise_the_complete_overthrow_of_
<c04.P1.034> his_intelligence,_to_perceive_that_my_sole_companion_in_this_
<c04.P1.035> close_and_sickly_darkness_was_a_man_insane.
<c04.P1.036> =
<c04.P1.037> From_certain_vague_memories_I_am_inclined_to_think_my_own_
<c04.P1.038> mind_wandered_at_times._I_had_strange_and_hideous_dreams_
<c04.P1.039> whenever_I_slept._It_sounds_paradoxical,_but_I_am_inclined_
<c04.P1.040> to_think_that_the_weakness_and_insanity_of_the_curate_warned_
<c04.P1.041> me,_braced_me,_and_kept_me_a_sane_man.
<c04.P1.042> =
<c04.P1.043> On_the_eighth_day_he_began_to_talk_aloud_instead_of_
<c04.P1.044> whispering,_and_nothing_I_could_do_would_moderate_his_
<c04.P1.045> speech.
<c04.P1.046> =
<c04.P1.047> "It_is_just,_O_God!"_he_would_say,_over_and_over_again._"It_
<c04.P1.048> is_just._On_me_and_mine_be_the_punishment_laid._We_have_
<c04.P1.049> sinned,_we_have_fallen_short._There_was_poverty,_sorrow;_the_
<c04.P1.050> poor_were_trodden_in_the_dust,_and_I_held_my_peace._I_
<c04.P1.051> preached_acceptable_folly--my_God,_what_folly!--when_I_
<c04.P1.052> should_have_stood_up,_though_I_died_for_it,_and_called_upon_
<c04.P1.053> them_to_repent-repent!_._._._Oppressors_of_the_poor_and_
<c04.P1.054> needy_._._._!_The_wine_press_of_God!"
<c04.P1.055> =
<c04.P1.056> Then_he_would_suddenly_revert_to_the_matter_of_the_food_I_
<c04.P1.057> withheld_from_him,_praying,_begging,_weeping,_at_last_
<c04.P1.058> threatening._He_began_to_raise_his_voice--I_prayed_him_not_
<c04.P1.059> to._He_perceived_a_hold_on_me--he_threatened_he_would_shout_
<c04.P1.060> and_bring_the_Martians_upon_us._For_a_time_that_scared_me;_
<c04.P1.061> but_any_concession_would_have_shortened_our_chance_of_escape_
<c04.P1.062> beyond_estimating._I_defied_him,_although_I_felt_no_
<c04.P1.063> assurance_that_he_might_not_do_this_thing._But_that_day,_at_
<c04.P1.064> any_rate,_he_did_not._He_talked_with_his_voice_rising_
<c04.P1.065> slowly,_through_the_greater_part_of_the_eighth_and_ninth_
<c04.P1.066> days--threats,_entreaties,_mingled_with_a_torrent_of_
<c04.P1.067> half-sane_and_always_frothy_repentance_for_his_vacant_sham_
<c04.P1.068> of_God's_service,_such_as_made_me_pity_him._Then_he_slept_
<c04.P1.069> awhile,_and_began_again_with_renewed_strength,_so_loudly_
<c04.P1.070> that_I_must_needs_make_him_desist.
<c04.P1.071> =
<c04.P1.072> "Be_still!"_I_implored.
<c04.P1.073> =
<c04.P1.074> He_rose_to_his_knees,_for_he_had_been_sitting_in_the_
<c04.P1.075> darkness_near_the_copper.
<c04.P1.076> =
<c04.P1.077> "I_have_been_still_too_long,"_he_said,_in_a_tone_that_must_
<c04.P1.078> have_reached_the_pit,_"and_now_I_must_bear_my_witness._Woe_
<c04.P1.079> unto_this_unfaithful_city!_Woe!_Woe!_Woe!_Woe!_Woe!_To_the_
<c04.P1.080> inhabitants_of_the_earth_by_reason_of_the_other_voices_of_
<c04.P1.081> the_trumpet----"
<c04.P1.082> =
<c04.P1.083> "Shut_up!"_I_said,_rising_to_my_feet,_and_in_a_terror_lest_
<c04.P1.084> the_Martians_should_hear_us._"For_God's_sake----"
<c04.P1.085> =
<c04.P1.086> "Nay,"_shouted_the_curate,_at_the_top_of_his_voice,_standing_
<c04.P1.087> likewise_and_extending_his_arms._"Speak!_The_word_of_the_
<c04.P1.088> Lord_is_upon_me!"
<c04.P1.089> =
<c04.P1.090> In_three_strides_he_was_at_the_door_leading_into_the_
<c04.P1.091> kitchen.
<c04.P1.092> =
<c04.P1.093> "I_must_bear_my_witness!_I_go!_It_has_already_been_too_long_
<c04.P1.094> delayed."
<c04.P1.095> =
<c04.P1.096> I_put_out_my_hand_and_felt_the_meat_chopper_hanging_to_the_
<c04.P1.097> wall._In_a_flash_I_was_after_him._I_was_fierce_with_fear._
<c04.P1.098> Before_he_was_halfway_across_the_kitchen_I_had_overtaken_
<c04.P1.099> him._With_one_last_touch_of_humanity_I_turned_the_blade_back_
<c04.P1.100> and_struck_him_with_the_butt._He_went_headlong_forward_and_
<c04.P1.101> lay_stretched_on_the_ground._I_stumbled_over_him_and_stood_
<c04.P1.102> panting._He_lay_still.
<c04.P1.103> =
<c04.P1.104> Suddenly_I_heard_a_noise_without,_the_run_and_smash_of_
<c04.P1.105> slipping_plaster,_and_the_triangular_aperture_in_the_wall_
<c04.P1.106> was_darkened._I_looked_up_and_saw_the_lower_surface_of_a_
<c04.P1.107> handling-machine_coming_slowly_across_the_hole._One_of_its_
<c04.P1.108> gripping_limbs_curled_amid_the_debris;_another_limb_
<c04.P1.109> appeared,_feeling_its_way_over_the_fallen_beams._I_stood_
<c04.P1.110> petrified,_staring._Then_I_saw_through_a_sort_of_glass_plate_
<c04.P1.111> near_the_edge_of_the_body_the_face,_as_we_may_call_it,_and_
<c04.P1.112> the_large_dark_eyes_of_a_Martian,_peering,_and_then_a_long_
<c04.P1.113> metallic_snake_of_tentacle_came_feeling_slowly_through_the_
<c04.P1.114> hole.
<c04.P1.115> =
<c04.P1.116> I_turned_by_an_effort,_stumbled_over_the_curate,_and_stopped_
<c04.P1.117> at_the_scullery_door._The_tentacle_was_now_some_way,_two_
<c04.P1.118> yards_or_more,_in_the_room,_and_twisting_and_turning,_with_
<c04.P1.119> queer_sudden_movements,_this_way_and_that._For_a_while_I_
<c04.P1.120> stood_fascinated_by_that_slow,_fitful_advance._Then,_with_a_
<c04.P1.121> faint,_hoarse_cry,_I_forced_myself_across_the_scullery._I_
<c04.P1.122> trembled_violently;_I_could_scarcely_stand_upright._I_opened_
<c04.P1.123> the_door_of_the_coal_cellar,_and_stood_there_in_the_darkness_
<c04.P1.124> staring_at_the_faintly_lit_doorway_into_the_kitchen,_and_
<c04.P1.125> listening._Had_the_Martian_seen_me?_What_was_it_doing_now?
<c04.P1.126> =
<c04.P1.127> Something_was_moving_to_and_fro_there,_very_quietly;_every_
<c04.P1.128> now_and_then_it_tapped_against_the_wall,_or_started_on_its_
<c04.P1.129> movements_with_a_faint_metallic_ringing,_like_the_movements_
<c04.P1.130> of_keys_on_a_split-ring._Then_a_heavy_body--I_knew_too_well_
<c04.P1.131> what--was_dragged_across_the_floor_of_the_kitchen_towards_
<c04.P1.132> the_opening._Irresistibly_attracted,_I_crept_to_the_door_and_
<c04.P1.133> peeped_into_the_kitchen._In_the_triangle_of_bright_outer_
<c04.P1.134> sunlight_I_saw_the_Martian,_in_its_Briareus_of_a_
<c04.P1.135> handling-machine,_scrutinizing_the_curate's_head._I_thought_
<c04.P1.136> at_once_that_it_would_infer_my_presence_from_the_mark_of_the_
<c04.P1.137> blow_I_had_given_him.
<c04.P1.138> =
<c04.P1.139> I_crept_back_to_the_coal_cellar,_shut_the_door,_and_began_to_
<c04.P1.140> cover_myself_up_as_much_as_I_could,_and_as_noiselessly_as_
<c04.P1.141> possible_in_the_darkness,_among_the_firewood_and_coal_
<c04.P1.142> therein._Every_now_and_then_I_paused,_rigid,_to_hear_if_the_
<c04.P1.143> Martian_had_thrust_its_tentacles_through_the_opening_again.
<c04.P1.144> =
<c04.P1.145> Then_the_faint_metallic_jingle_returned._I_traced_it_slowly_
<c04.P1.146> feeling_over_the_kitchen._Presently_I_heard_it_nearer--in_
<c04.P1.147> the_scullery,_as_I_judged._I_thought_that_its_length_might_
<c04.P1.148> be_insufficient_to_reach_me._I_prayed_copiously._It_passed,_
<c04.P1.149> scraping_faintly_across_the_cellar_door._An_age_of_almost_
<c04.P1.150> intolerable_suspense_intervened;_then_I_heard_it_fumbling_at_
<c04.P1.151> the_latch!_It_had_found_the_door!_The_Martians_understood_
<c04.P1.152> doors!
<c04.P1.153> =
<c04.P1.154> It_worried_at_the_catch_for_a_minute,_perhaps,_and_then_the_
<c04.P1.155> door_opened.
<c04.P1.156> =
<c04.P1.157> In_the_darkness_I_could_just_see_the_thing--like_an_
<c04.P1.158> elephant's_trunk_more_than_anything_else--waving_towards_me_
<c04.P1.159> and_touching_and_examining_the_wall,_coals,_wood_and_
<c04.P1.160> ceiling._It_was_like_a_black_worm_swaying_its_blind_head_to_
<c04.P1.161> and_fro.
<c04.P1.162> =
<c04.P1.163> Once,_even,_it_touched_the_heel_of_my_boot._I_was_on_the_
<c04.P1.164> verge_of_screaming;_I_bit_my_hand._For_a_time_the_tentacle_
<c04.P1.165> was_silent._I_could_have_fancied_it_had_been_withdrawn._
<c04.P1.166> Presently,_with_an_abrupt_click,_it_gripped_something--I_
<c04.P1.167> thought_it_had_me!--and_seemed_to_go_out_of_the_cellar_
<c04.P1.168> again._For_a_minute_I_was_not_sure._Apparently_it_had_taken_
<c04.P1.169> a_lump_of_coal_to_examine.
<c04.P1.170> =
<c04.P1.171> I_seized_the_opportunity_of_slightly_shifting_my_position,_
<c04.P1.172> which_had_become_cramped,_and_then_listened._I_whispered_
<c04.P1.173> passionate_prayers_for_safety.
<c04.P1.174> =
<c04.P1.175> Then_I_heard_the_slow,_deliberate_sound_creeping_towards_me_
<c04.P1.176> again._Slowly,_slowly_it_drew_near,_scratching_against_the_
<c04.P1.177> walls_and_tapping_the_furniture.
<c04.P1.178> =
<c04.P1.179> While_I_was_still_doubtful,_it_rapped_smartly_against_the_
<c04.P1.180> cellar_door_and_closed_it._I_heard_it_go_into_the_pantry,_
<c04.P1.181> and_the_biscuit-tins_rattled_and_a_bottle_smashed,_and_then_
<c04.P1.182> came_a_heavy_bump_against_the_cellar_door._Then_silence_that_
<c04.P1.183> passed_into_an_infinity_of_suspense.
<c04.P1.184> =
<c04.P1.185> Had_it_gone?
<c04.P1.186> =
<c04.P1.187> At_last_I_decided_that_it_had.
<c04.P1.188> =
<c04.P1.189> It_came_into_the_scullery_no_more;_but_I_lay_all_the_tenth_
<c04.P1.190> day_in_the_close_darkness,_buried_among_coals_and_firewood,_
<c04.P1.191> not_daring_even_to_crawl_out_for_the_drink_for_which_I_
<c04.P1.192> craved._It_was_the_eleventh_day_before_I_ventured_so_far_
<c04.P1.193> from_my_security.
<c04.P1.194> =
#
## <c05>
# chapter 5 FIVE
# unit C chapter_number
# unit H chapter_title
# unit P text
<c05.P1.001> My_first_act_before_I_went_into_the_pantry_was_to_fasten_the_
<c05.P1.002> door_between_the_kitchen_and_the_scullery._But_the_pantry_
<c05.P1.003> was_empty;_every_scrap_of_food_had_gone._Apparently,_the_
<c05.P1.004> Martian_had_taken_it_all_on_the_previous_day._At_that_
<c05.P1.005> discovery_I_despaired_for_the_first_time._I_took_no_food,_or_
<c05.P1.006> no_drink_either,_on_the_eleventh_or_the_twelfth_day.
<c05.P1.007> =
<c05.P1.008> At_first_my_mouth_and_throat_were_parched,_and_my_strength_
<c05.P1.009> ebbed_sensibly._I_sat_about_in_the_darkness_of_the_scullery,_
<c05.P1.010> in_a_state_of_despondent_wretchedness._My_mind_ran_on_
<c05.P1.011> eating._I_thought_I_had_become_deaf,_for_the_noises_of_
<c05.P1.012> movement_I_had_been_accustomed_to_hear_from_the_pit_had_
<c05.P1.013> ceased_absolutely._I_did_not_feel_strong_enough_to_crawl_
<c05.P1.014> noiselessly_to_the_peephole,_or_I_would_have_gone_there.
<c05.P1.015> =
<c05.P1.016> On_the_twelfth_day_my_throat_was_so_painful_that,_taking_the_
<c05.P1.017> chance_of_alarming_the_Martians,_I_attacked_the_creaking_
<c05.P1.018> rain-water_pump_that_stood_by_the_sink,_and_got_a_couple_of_
<c05.P1.019> glassfuls_of_blackened_and_tainted_rain_water._I_was_greatly_
<c05.P1.020> refreshed_by_this,_and_emboldened_by_the_fact_that_no_
<c05.P1.021> enquiring_tentacle_followed_the_noise_of_my_pumping.
<c05.P1.022> =
<c05.P1.023> During_these_days,_in_a_rambling,_inconclusive_way,_I_
<c05.P1.024> thought_much_of_the_curate_and_of_the_manner_of_his_death.
<c05.P1.025> =
<c05.P1.026> On_the_thirteenth_day_I_drank_some_more_water,_and_dozed_and_
<c05.P1.027> thought_disjointedly_of_eating_and_of_vague_impossible_plans_
<c05.P1.028> of_escape._Whenever_I_dozed_I_dreamt_of_horrible_phantasms,_
<c05.P1.029> of_the_death_of_the_curate,_or_of_sumptuous_dinners;_but,_
<c05.P1.030> asleep_or_awake,_I_felt_a_keen_pain_that_urged_me_to_drink_
<c05.P1.031> again_and_again._The_light_that_came_into_the_scullery_was_
<c05.P1.032> no_longer_grey,_but_red._To_my_disordered_imagination_it_
<c05.P1.033> seemed_the_colour_of_blood.
<c05.P1.034> =
<c05.P1.035> On_the_fourteenth_day_I_went_into_the_kitchen,_and_I_was_
<c05.P1.036> surprised_to_find_that_the_fronds_of_the_red_weed_had_grown_
<c05.P1.037> right_across_the_hole_in_the_wall,_turning_the_half-light_of_
<c05.P1.038> the_place_into_a_crimson-coloured_obscurity.
<c05.P1.039> =
<c05.P1.040> It_was_early_on_the_fifteenth_day_that_I_heard_a_curious,_
<c05.P1.041> familiar_sequence_of_sounds_in_the_kitchen,_and,_listening,_
<c05.P1.042> identified_it_as_the_snuffing_and_scratching_of_a_dog._Going_
<c05.P1.043> into_the_kitchen,_I_saw_a_dog's_nose_peering_in_through_a_
<c05.P1.044> break_among_the_ruddy_fronds._This_greatly_surprised_me._At_
<c05.P1.045> the_scent_of_me_he_barked_shortly.
<c05.P1.046> =
<c05.P1.047> I_thought_if_I_could_induce_him_to_come_into_the_place_
<c05.P1.048> quietly_I_should_be_able,_perhaps,_to_kill_and_eat_him;_and_
<c05.P1.049> in_any_case,_it_would_be_advisable_to_kill_him,_lest_his_
<c05.P1.050> actions_attracted_the_attention_of_the_Martians.
<c05.P1.051> =
<c05.P1.052> I_crept_forward,_saying_"Good_dog!"_very_softly;_but_he_
<c05.P1.053> suddenly_withdrew_his_head_and_disappeared.
<c05.P1.054> =
<c05.P1.055> I_listened--I_was_not_deaf--but_certainly_the_pit_was_still._
<c05.P1.056> I_heard_a_sound_like_the_flutter_of_a_bird's_wings,_and_a_
<c05.P1.057> hoarse_croaking,_but_that_was_all.
<c05.P1.058> =
<c05.P1.059> For_a_long_while_I_lay_close_to_the_peephole,_but_not_daring_
<c05.P1.060> to_move_aside_the_red_plants_that_obscured_it._Once_or_twice_
<c05.P1.061> I_heard_a_faint_pitter-patter_like_the_feet_of_the_dog_going_
<c05.P1.062> hither_and_thither_on_the_sand_far_below_me,_and_there_were_
<c05.P1.063> more_birdlike_sounds,_but_that_was_all._At_length,_
<c05.P1.064> encouraged_by_the_silence,_I_looked_out.
<c05.P1.065> =
<c05.P1.066> Except_in_the_corner,_where_a_multitude_of_crows_hopped_and_
<c05.P1.067> fought_over_the_skeletons_of_the_dead_the_Martians_had_
<c05.P1.068> consumed,_there_was_not_a_living_thing_in_the_pit.
<c05.P1.069> =
<c05.P1.070> I_stared_about_me,_scarcely_believing_my_eyes._All_the_
<c05.P1.071> machinery_had_gone._Save_for_the_big_mound_of_greyish-blue_
<c05.P1.072> powder_in_one_corner,_certain_bars_of_aluminium_in_another,_
<c05.P1.073> the_black_birds,_and_the_skeletons_of_the_killed,_the_place_
<c05.P1.074> was_merely_an_empty_circular_pit_in_the_sand.
<c05.P1.075> =
<c05.P1.076> Slowly_I_thrust_myself_out_through_the_red_weed,_and_stood_
<c05.P1.077> upon_the_mound_of_rubble._I_could_see_in_any_direction_save_
<c05.P1.078> behind_me,_to_the_north,_and_neither_Martians_nor_sign_of_
<c05.P1.079> Martians_were_to_be_seen._The_pit_dropped_sheerly_from_my_
<c05.P1.080> feet,_but_a_little_way_along_the_rubbish_afforded_a_
<c05.P1.081> practicable_slope_to_the_summit_of_the_ruins._My_chance_of_
<c05.P1.082> escape_had_come._I_began_to_tremble.
<c05.P1.083> =
<c05.P1.084> I_hesitated_for_some_time,_and_then,_in_a_gust_of_desperate_
<c05.P1.085> resolution,_and_with_a_heart_that_throbbed_violently,_I_
<c05.P1.086> scrambled_to_the_top_of_the_mound_in_which_I_had_been_buried_
<c05.P1.087> so_long.
<c05.P1.088> =
<c05.P1.089> I_looked_about_again._To_the_northward,_too,_no_Martian_was_
<c05.P1.090> visible.
<c05.P1.091> =
<c05.P1.092> When_I_had_last_seen_this_part_of_Sheen_in_the_daylight_it_
<c05.P1.093> had_been_a_straggling_street_of_comfortable_white_and_red_
<c05.P1.094> houses,_interspersed_with_abundant_shady_trees._Now_I_stood_
<c05.P1.095> on_a_mound_of_smashed_brickwork,_clay,_and_gravel,_over_
<c05.P1.096> which_spread_a_multitude_of_red_cactus-shaped_plants,_
<c05.P1.097> knee-high,_without_a_solitary_terrestrial_growth_to_dispute_
<c05.P1.098> their_footing._The_trees_near_me_were_dead_and_brown,_but_
<c05.P1.099> further_a_network_of_red_thread_scaled_the_still_living_
<c05.P1.100> stems.
<c05.P1.101> =
<c05.P1.102> The_neighbouring_houses_had_all_been_wrecked,_but_none_had_
<c05.P1.103> been_burned;_their_walls_stood,_sometimes_to_the_second_
<c05.P1.104> story,_with_smashed_windows_and_shattered_doors._The_red_
<c05.P1.105> weed_grew_tumultuously_in_their_roofless_rooms._Below_me_was_
<c05.P1.106> the_great_pit,_with_the_crows_struggling_for_its_refuse._A_
<c05.P1.107> number_of_other_birds_hopped_about_among_the_ruins._Far_away_
<c05.P1.108> I_saw_a_gaunt_cat_slink_crouchingly_along_a_wall,_but_traces_
<c05.P1.109> of_men_there_were_none.
<c05.P1.110> =
<c05.P1.111> The_day_seemed,_by_contrast_with_my_recent_confinement,_
<c05.P1.112> dazzlingly_bright,_the_sky_a_glowing_blue._A_gentle_breeze_
<c05.P1.113> kept_the_red_weed_that_covered_every_scrap_of_unoccupied_
<c05.P1.114> ground_gently_swaying._And_oh!_the_sweetness_of_the_air!
<c05.P1.115> =
#
## <c06>
# chapter 6 SIX
# unit C chapter_number
# unit H chapter_title
# unit P text
<c06.P1.001> For_some_time_I_stood_tottering_on_the_mound_regardless_of_
<c06.P1.002> my_safety._Within_that_noisome_den_from_which_I_had_emerged_
<c06.P1.003> I_had_thought_with_a_narrow_intensity_only_of_our_immediate_
<c06.P1.004> security._I_had_not_realised_what_had_been_happening_to_the_
<c06.P1.005> world,_had_not_anticipated_this_startling_vision_of_
<c06.P1.006> unfamiliar_things._I_had_expected_to_see_Sheen_in_ruins--I_
<c06.P1.007> found_about_me_the_landscape,_weird_and_lurid,_of_another_
<c06.P1.008> planet.
<c06.P1.009> =
<c06.P1.010> For_that_moment_I_touched_an_emotion_beyond_the_common_range_
<c06.P1.011> of_men,_yet_one_that_the_poor_brutes_we_dominate_know_only_
<c06.P1.012> too_well._I_felt_as_a_rabbit_might_feel_returning_to_his_
<c06.P1.013> burrow_and_suddenly_confronted_by_the_work_of_a_dozen_busy_
<c06.P1.014> navvies_digging_the_foundations_of_a_house._I_felt_the_first_
<c06.P1.015> inkling_of_a_thing_that_presently_grew_quite_clear_in_my_
<c06.P1.016> mind,_that_oppressed_me_for_many_days,_a_sense_of_
<c06.P1.017> dethronement,_a_persuasion_that_I_was_no_longer_a_master,_
<c06.P1.018> but_an_animal_among_the_animals,_under_the_Martian_heel._
<c06.P1.019> With_us_it_would_be_as_with_them,_to_lurk_and_watch,_to_run_
<c06.P1.020> and_hide;_the_fear_and_empire_of_man_had_passed_away.
<c06.P1.021> =
<c06.P1.022> But_so_soon_as_this_strangeness_had_been_realised_it_passed,_
<c06.P1.023> and_my_dominant_motive_became_the_hunger_of_my_long_and_
<c06.P1.024> dismal_fast._In_the_direction_away_from_the_pit_I_saw,_
<c06.P1.025> beyond_a_red-covered_wall,_a_patch_of_garden_ground_
<c06.P1.026> unburied._This_gave_me_a_hint,_and_I_went_knee-deep,_and_
<c06.P1.027> sometimes_neck-deep,_in_the_red_weed._The_density_of_the_
<c06.P1.028> weed_gave_me_a_reassuring_sense_of_hiding._The_wall_was_some_
<c06.P1.029> six_feet_high,_and_when_I_attempted_to_clamber_it_I_found_I_
<c06.P1.030> could_not_lift_my_feet_to_the_crest._So_I_went_along_by_the_
<c06.P1.031> side_of_it,_and_came_to_a_corner_and_a_rockwork_that_enabled_
<c06.P1.032> me_to_get_to_the_top,_and_tumble_into_the_garden_I_coveted._
<c06.P1.033> Here_I_found_some_young_onions,_a_couple_of_gladiolus_bulbs,_
<c06.P1.034> and_a_quantity_of_immature_carrots,_all_of_which_I_secured,_
<c06.P1.035> and,_scrambling_over_a_ruined_wall,_went_on_my_way_through_
<c06.P1.036> scarlet_and_crimson_trees_towards_Kew--it_was_like_walking_
<c06.P1.037> through_an_avenue_of_gigantic_blood_drops--possessed_with_
<c06.P1.038> two_ideas:_to_get_more_food,_and_to_limp,_as_soon_and_as_far_
<c06.P1.039> as_my_strength_permitted,_out_of_this_accursed_unearthly_
<c06.P1.040> region_of_the_pit.
<c06.P1.041> =
<c06.P1.042> Some_way_farther,_in_a_grassy_place,_was_a_group_of_
<c06.P1.043> mushrooms_which_also_I_devoured,_and_then_I_came_upon_a_
<c06.P1.044> brown_sheet_of_flowing_shallow_water,_where_meadows_used_to_
<c06.P1.045> be._These_fragments_of_nourishment_served_only_to_whet_my_
<c06.P1.046> hunger._At_first_I_was_surprised_at_this_flood_in_a_hot,_dry_
<c06.P1.047> summer,_but_afterwards_I_discovered_that_it_was_caused_by_
<c06.P1.048> the_tropical_exuberance_of_the_red_weed._Directly_this_
<c06.P1.049> extraordinary_growth_encountered_water_it_straightway_became_
<c06.P1.050> gigantic_and_of_unparalleled_fecundity._Its_seeds_were_
<c06.P1.051> simply_poured_down_into_the_water_of_the_Wey_and_Thames,_and_
<c06.P1.052> its_swiftly_growing_and_Titanic_water_fronds_speedily_choked_
<c06.P1.053> both_those_rivers.
<c06.P1.054> =
<c06.P1.055> At_Putney,_as_I_afterwards_saw,_the_bridge_was_almost_lost_
<c06.P1.056> in_a_tangle_of_this_weed,_and_at_Richmond,_too,_the_Thames_
<c06.P1.057> water_poured_in_a_broad_and_shallow_stream_across_the_
<c06.P1.058> meadows_of_Hampton_and_Twickenham._As_the_water_spread_the_
<c06.P1.059> weed_followed_them,_until_the_ruined_villas_of_the_Thames_
<c06.P1.060> valley_were_for_a_time_lost_in_this_red_swamp,_whose_margin_
<c06.P1.061> I_explored,_and_much_of_the_desolation_the_Martians_had_
<c06.P1.062> caused_was_concealed.
<c06.P1.063> =
<c06.P1.064> In_the_end_the_red_weed_succumbed_almost_as_quickly_as_it_
<c06.P1.065> had_spread._A_cankering_disease,_due,_it_is_believed,_to_the_
<c06.P1.066> action_of_certain_bacteria,_presently_seized_upon_it._Now_by_
<c06.P1.067> the_action_of_natural_selection,_all_terrestrial_plants_have_
<c06.P1.068> acquired_a_resisting_power_against_bacterial_diseases--they_
<c06.P1.069> never_succumb_without_a_severe_struggle,_but_the_red_weed_
<c06.P1.070> rotted_like_a_thing_already_dead._The_fronds_became_
<c06.P1.071> bleached,_and_then_shrivelled_and_brittle._They_broke_off_at_
<c06.P1.072> the_least_touch,_and_the_waters_that_had_stimulated_their_
<c06.P1.073> early_growth_carried_their_last_vestiges_out_to_sea.
<c06.P1.074> =
<c06.P1.075> My_first_act_on_coming_to_this_water_was,_of_course,_to_
<c06.P1.076> slake_my_thirst._I_drank_a_great_deal_of_it_and,_moved_by_an_
<c06.P1.077> impulse,_gnawed_some_fronds_of_red_weed;_but_they_were_
<c06.P1.078> watery,_and_had_a_sickly,_metallic_taste._I_found_the_water_
<c06.P1.079> was_sufficiently_shallow_for_me_to_wade_securely,_although_
<c06.P1.080> the_red_weed_impeded_my_feet_a_little;_but_the_flood_
<c06.P1.081> evidently_got_deeper_towards_the_river,_and_I_turned_back_to_
<c06.P1.082> Mortlake._I_managed_to_make_out_the_road_by_means_of_
<c06.P1.083> occasional_ruins_of_its_villas_and_fences_and_lamps,_and_so_
<c06.P1.084> presently_I_got_out_of_this_spate_and_made_my_way_to_the_
<c06.P1.085> hill_going_up_towards_Roehampton_and_came_out_on_Putney_
<c06.P1.086> Common.
<c06.P1.087> =
<c06.P1.088> Here_the_scenery_changed_from_the_strange_and_unfamiliar_to_
<c06.P1.089> the_wreckage_of_the_familiar:_patches_of_ground_exhibited_
<c06.P1.090> the_devastation_of_a_cyclone,_and_in_a_few_score_yards_I_
<c06.P1.091> would_come_upon_perfectly_undisturbed_spaces,_houses_with_
<c06.P1.092> their_blinds_trimly_drawn_and_doors_closed,_as_if_they_had_
<c06.P1.093> been_left_for_a_day_by_the_owners,_or_as_if_their_
<c06.P1.094> inhabitants_slept_within._The_red_weed_was_less_abundant;_
<c06.P1.095> the_tall_trees_along_the_lane_were_free_from_the_red_
<c06.P1.096> creeper._I_hunted_for_food_among_the_trees,_finding_nothing,_
<c06.P1.097> and_I_also_raided_a_couple_of_silent_houses,_but_they_had_
<c06.P1.098> already_been_broken_into_and_ransacked._I_rested_for_the_
<c06.P1.099> remainder_of_the_daylight_in_a_shrubbery,_being,_in_my_
<c06.P1.100> enfeebled_condition,_too_fatigued_to_push_on.
<c06.P1.101> =
<c06.P1.102> All_this_time_I_saw_no_human_beings,_and_no_signs_of_the_
<c06.P1.103> Martians._I_encountered_a_couple_of_hungry-looking_dogs,_but_
<c06.P1.104> both_hurried_circuitously_away_from_the_advances_I_made_
<c06.P1.105> them._Near_Roehampton_I_had_seen_two_human_skeletons--not_
<c06.P1.106> bodies,_but_skeletons,_picked_clean--and_in_the_wood_by_me_I_
<c06.P1.107> found_the_crushed_and_scattered_bones_of_several_cats_and_
<c06.P1.108> rabbits_and_the_skull_of_a_sheep._But_though_I_gnawed_parts_
<c06.P1.109> of_these_in_my_mouth,_there_was_nothing_to_be_got_from_them.
<c06.P1.110> =
<c06.P1.111> After_sunset_I_struggled_on_along_the_road_towards_Putney,_
<c06.P1.112> where_I_think_the_Heat-Ray_must_have_been_used_for_some_
<c06.P1.113> reason._And_in_the_garden_beyond_Roehampton_I_got_a_quantity_
<c06.P1.114> of_immature_potatoes,_sufficient_to_stay_my_hunger._From_
<c06.P1.115> this_garden_one_looked_down_upon_Putney_and_the_river._The_
<c06.P1.116> aspect_of_the_place_in_the_dusk_was_singularly_desolate:_
<c06.P1.117> blackened_trees,_blackened,_desolate_ruins,_and_down_the_
<c06.P1.118> hill_the_sheets_of_the_flooded_river,_red-tinged_with_the_
<c06.P1.119> weed._And_over_all--silence._It_filled_me_with_indescribable_
<c06.P1.120> terror_to_think_how_swiftly_that_desolating_change_had_come.
<c06.P1.121> =
<c06.P1.122> For_a_time_I_believed_that_mankind_had_been_swept_out_of_
<c06.P1.123> existence,_and_that_I_stood_there_alone,_the_last_man_left_
<c06.P1.124> alive._Hard_by_the_top_of_Putney_Hill_I_came_upon_another_
<c06.P1.125> skeleton,_with_the_arms_dislocated_and_removed_several_yards_
<c06.P1.126> from_the_rest_of_the_body._As_I_proceeded_I_became_more_and_
<c06.P1.127> more_convinced_that_the_extermination_of_mankind_was,_save_
<c06.P1.128> for_such_stragglers_as_myself,_already_accomplished_in_this_
<c06.P1.129> part_of_the_world._The_Martians,_I_thought,_had_gone_on_and_
<c06.P1.130> left_the_country_desolated,_seeking_food_elsewhere._Perhaps_
<c06.P1.131> even_now_they_were_destroying_Berlin_or_Paris,_or_it_might_
<c06.P1.132> be_they_had_gone_northward.
<c06.P1.133> =
#
## <c07>
# chapter 7 SEVEN
# unit C chapter_number
# unit H chapter_title
# unit P text
<c07.P1.001> I_spent_that_night_in_the_inn_that_stands_at_the_top_of_
<c07.P1.002> Putney_Hill,_sleeping_in_a_made_bed_for_the_first_time_since_
<c07.P1.003> my_flight_to_Leatherhead._I_will_not_tell_the_needless_
<c07.P1.004> trouble_I_had_breaking_into_that_house--afterwards_I_found_
<c07.P1.005> the_front_door_was_on_the_latch--nor_how_I_ransacked_every_
<c07.P1.006> room_for_food,_until_just_on_the_verge_of_despair,_in_what_
<c07.P1.007> seemed_to_me_to_be_a_servant's_bedroom,_I_found_a_rat-gnawed_
<c07.P1.008> crust_and_two_tins_of_pineapple._The_place_had_been_already_
<c07.P1.009> searched_and_emptied._In_the_bar_I_afterwards_found_some_
<c07.P1.010> biscuits_and_sandwiches_that_had_been_overlooked._The_latter_
<c07.P1.011> I_could_not_eat,_they_were_too_rotten,_but_the_former_not_
<c07.P1.012> only_stayed_my_hunger,_but_filled_my_pockets._I_lit_no_
<c07.P1.013> lamps,_fearing_some_Martian_might_come_beating_that_part_of_
<c07.P1.014> London_for_food_in_the_night._Before_I_went_to_bed_I_had_an_
<c07.P1.015> interval_of_restlessness,_and_prowled_from_window_to_window,_
<c07.P1.016> peering_out_for_some_sign_of_these_monsters._I_slept_little._
<c07.P1.017> As_I_lay_in_bed_I_found_myself_thinking_consecutively--a_
<c07.P1.018> thing_I_do_not_remember_to_have_done_since_my_last_argument_
<c07.P1.019> with_the_curate._During_all_the_intervening_time_my_mental_
<c07.P1.020> condition_had_been_a_hurrying_succession_of_vague_emotional_
<c07.P1.021> states_or_a_sort_of_stupid_receptivity._But_in_the_night_my_
<c07.P1.022> brain,_reinforced,_I_suppose,_by_the_food_I_had_eaten,_grew_
<c07.P1.023> clear_again,_and_I_thought.
<c07.P1.024> =
<c07.P1.025> Three_things_struggled_for_possession_of_my_mind:_the_
<c07.P1.026> killing_of_the_curate,_the_whereabouts_of_the_Martians,_and_
<c07.P1.027> the_possible_fate_of_my_wife._The_former_gave_me_no_
<c07.P1.028> sensation_of_horror_or_remorse_to_recall;_I_saw_it_simply_as_
<c07.P1.029> a_thing_done,_a_memory_infinitely_disagreeable_but_quite_
<c07.P1.030> without_the_quality_of_remorse._I_saw_myself_then_as_I_see_
<c07.P1.031> myself_now,_driven_step_by_step_towards_that_hasty_blow,_the_
<c07.P1.032> creature_of_a_sequence_of_accidents_leading_inevitably_to_
<c07.P1.033> that._I_felt_no_condemnation;_yet_the_memory,_static,_
<c07.P1.034> unprogressive,_haunted_me._In_the_silence_of_the_night,_with_
<c07.P1.035> that_sense_of_the_nearness_of_God_that_sometimes_comes_into_
<c07.P1.036> the_stillness_and_the_darkness,_I_stood_my_trial,_my_only_
<c07.P1.037> trial,_for_that_moment_of_wrath_and_fear._I_retraced_every_
<c07.P1.038> step_of_our_conversation_from_the_moment_when_I_had_found_
<c07.P1.039> him_crouching_beside_me,_heedless_of_my_thirst,_and_pointing_
<c07.P1.040> to_the_fire_and_smoke_that_streamed_up_from_the_ruins_of_
<c07.P1.041> Weybridge._We_had_been_incapable_of_co-operation--grim_
<c07.P1.042> chance_had_taken_no_heed_of_that._Had_I_foreseen,_I_should_
<c07.P1.043> have_left_him_at_Halliford._But_I_did_not_foresee;_and_crime_
<c07.P1.044> is_to_foresee_and_do._And_I_set_this_down_as_I_have_set_all_
<c07.P1.045> this_story_down,_as_it_was._There_were_no_witnesses--all_
<c07.P1.046> these_things_I_might_have_concealed._But_I_set_it_down,_and_
<c07.P1.047> the_reader_must_form_his_judgment_as_he_will.
<c07.P1.048> =
<c07.P1.049> And_when,_by_an_effort,_I_had_set_aside_that_picture_of_a_
<c07.P1.050> prostrate_body,_I_faced_the_problem_of_the_Martians_and_the_
<c07.P1.051> fate_of_my_wife._For_the_former_I_had_no_data;_I_could_
<c07.P1.052> imagine_a_hundred_things,_and_so,_unhappily,_I_could_for_the_
<c07.P1.053> latter._And_suddenly_that_night_became_terrible._I_found_
<c07.P1.054> myself_sitting_up_in_bed,_staring_at_the_dark._I_found_
<c07.P1.055> myself_praying_that_the_Heat-Ray_might_have_suddenly_and_
<c07.P1.056> painlessly_struck_her_out_of_being._Since_the_night_of_my_
<c07.P1.057> return_from_Leatherhead_I_had_not_prayed._I_had_uttered_
<c07.P1.058> prayers,_fetish_prayers,_had_prayed_as_heathens_mutter_
<c07.P1.059> charms_when_I_was_in_extremity;_but_now_I_prayed_indeed,_
<c07.P1.060> pleading_steadfastly_and_sanely,_face_to_face_with_the_
<c07.P1.061> darkness_of_God._Strange_night!_Strangest_in_this,_that_so_
<c07.P1.062> soon_as_dawn_had_come,_I,_who_had_talked_with_God,_crept_out_
<c07.P1.063> of_the_house_like_a_rat_leaving_its_hiding_place--a_creature_
<c07.P1.064> scarcely_larger,_an_inferior_animal,_a_thing_that_for_any_
<c07.P1.065> passing_whim_of_our_masters_might_be_hunted_and_killed._
<c07.P1.066> Perhaps_they_also_prayed_confidently_to_God._Surely,_if_we_
<c07.P1.067> have_learned_nothing_else,_this_war_has_taught_us_pity--pity_
<c07.P1.068> for_those_witless_souls_that_suffer_our_dominion.
<c07.P1.069> =
<c07.P1.070> The_morning_was_bright_and_fine,_and_the_eastern_sky_glowed_
<c07.P1.071> pink,_and_was_fretted_with_little_golden_clouds._In_the_road_
<c07.P1.072> that_runs_from_the_top_of_Putney_Hill_to_Wimbledon_was_a_
<c07.P1.073> number_of_poor_vestiges_of_the_panic_torrent_that_must_have_
<c07.P1.074> poured_Londonward_on_the_Sunday_night_after_the_fighting_
<c07.P1.075> began._There_was_a_little_two-wheeled_cart_inscribed_with_
<c07.P1.076> the_name_of_Thomas_Lobb,_Greengrocer,_New_Malden,_with_a_
<c07.P1.077> smashed_wheel_and_an_abandoned_tin_trunk;_there_was_a_straw_
<c07.P1.078> hat_trampled_into_the_now_hardened_mud,_and_at_the_top_of_
<c07.P1.079> West_Hill_a_lot_of_blood-stained_glass_about_the_overturned_
<c07.P1.080> water_trough._My_movements_were_languid,_my_plans_of_the_
<c07.P1.081> vaguest._I_had_an_idea_of_going_to_Leatherhead,_though_I_
<c07.P1.082> knew_that_there_I_had_the_poorest_chance_of_finding_my_wife._
<c07.P1.083> Certainly,_unless_death_had_overtaken_them_suddenly,_my_
<c07.P1.084> cousins_and_she_would_have_fled_thence;_but_it_seemed_to_me_
<c07.P1.085> I_might_find_or_learn_there_whither_the_Surrey_people_had_
<c07.P1.086> fled._I_knew_I_wanted_to_find_my_wife,_that_my_heart_ached_
<c07.P1.087> for_her_and_the_world_of_men,_but_I_had_no_clear_idea_how_
<c07.P1.088> the_finding_might_be_done._I_was_also_sharply_aware_now_of_
<c07.P1.089> my_intense_loneliness._From_the_corner_I_went,_under_cover_
<c07.P1.090> of_a_thicket_of_trees_and_bushes,_to_the_edge_of_Wimbledon_
<c07.P1.091> Common,_stretching_wide_and_far.
<c07.P1.092> =
<c07.P1.093> That_dark_expanse_was_lit_in_patches_by_yellow_gorse_and_
<c07.P1.094> broom;_there_was_no_red_weed_to_be_seen,_and_as_I_prowled,_
<c07.P1.095> hesitating,_on_the_verge_of_the_open,_the_sun_rose,_flooding_
<c07.P1.096> it_all_with_light_and_vitality._I_came_upon_a_busy_swarm_of_
<c07.P1.097> little_frogs_in_a_swampy_place_among_the_trees._I_stopped_to_
<c07.P1.098> look_at_them,_drawing_a_lesson_from_their_stout_resolve_to_
<c07.P1.099> live._And_presently,_turning_suddenly,_with_an_odd_feeling_
<c07.P1.100> of_being_watched,_I_beheld_something_crouching_amid_a_clump_
<c07.P1.101> of_bushes._I_stood_regarding_this._I_made_a_step_towards_it,_
<c07.P1.102> and_it_rose_up_and_became_a_man_armed_with_a_cutlass._I_
<c07.P1.103> approached_him_slowly._He_stood_silent_and_motionless,_
<c07.P1.104> regarding_me.
<c07.P1.105> =
<c07.P1.106> As_I_drew_nearer_I_perceived_he_was_dressed_in_clothes_as_
<c07.P1.107> dusty_and_filthy_as_my_own;_he_looked,_indeed,_as_though_he_
<c07.P1.108> had_been_dragged_through_a_culvert._Nearer,_I_distinguished_
<c07.P1.109> the_green_slime_of_ditches_mixing_with_the_pale_drab_of_
<c07.P1.110> dried_clay_and_shiny,_coaly_patches._His_black_hair_fell_
<c07.P1.111> over_his_eyes,_and_his_face_was_dark_and_dirty_and_sunken,_
<c07.P1.112> so_that_at_first_I_did_not_recognise_him._There_was_a_red_
<c07.P1.113> cut_across_the_lower_part_of_his_face.
<c07.P1.114> =
<c07.P1.115> "Stop!"_he_cried,_when_I_was_within_ten_yards_of_him,_and_I_
<c07.P1.116> stopped._His_voice_was_hoarse._"Where_do_you_come_from?"_he_
<c07.P1.117> said.
<c07.P1.118> =
<c07.P1.119> I_thought,_surveying_him.
<c07.P1.120> =
<c07.P1.121> "I_come_from_Mortlake,"_I_said._"I_was_buried_near_the_pit_
<c07.P1.122> the_Martians_made_about_their_cylinder._I_have_worked_my_way_
<c07.P1.123> out_and_escaped."
<c07.P1.124> =
<c07.P1.125> "There_is_no_food_about_here,"_he_said._"This_is_my_country._
<c07.P1.126> All_this_hill_down_to_the_river,_and_back_to_Clapham,_and_up_
<c07.P1.127> to_the_edge_of_the_common._There_is_only_food_for_one._Which_
<c07.P1.128> way_are_you_going?"
<c07.P1.129> =
<c07.P1.130> I_answered_slowly.
<c07.P1.131> =
<c07.P1.132> "I_don't_know,"_I_said._"I_have_been_buried_in_the_ruins_of_
<c07.P1.133> a_house_thirteen_or_fourteen_days._I_don't_know_what_has_
<c07.P1.134> happened."
<c07.P1.135> =
<c07.P1.136> He_looked_at_me_doubtfully,_then_started,_and_looked_with_a_
<c07.P1.137> changed_expression.
<c07.P1.138> =
<c07.P1.139> "I've_no_wish_to_stop_about_here,"_said_I._"I_think_I_shall_
<c07.P1.140> go_to_Leatherhead,_for_my_wife_was_there."
<c07.P1.141> =
<c07.P1.142> He_shot_out_a_pointing_finger.
<c07.P1.143> =
<c07.P1.144> "It_is_you,"_said_he;_"the_man_from_Woking._And_you_weren't_
<c07.P1.145> killed_at_Weybridge?"
<c07.P1.146> =
<c07.P1.147> I_recognised_him_at_the_same_moment.
<c07.P1.148> =
<c07.P1.149> "You_are_the_artilleryman_who_came_into_my_garden."
<c07.P1.150> =
<c07.P1.151> "Good_luck!"_he_said._"We_are_lucky_ones!_Fancy_YOU!"_He_put_
<c07.P1.152> out_a_hand,_and_I_took_it._"I_crawled_up_a_drain,"_he_said._
<c07.P1.153> "But_they_didn't_kill_everyone._And_after_they_went_away_I_
<c07.P1.154> got_off_towards_Walton_across_the_fields._But----It's_not_
<c07.P1.155> sixteen_days_altogether--and_your_hair_is_grey."_He_looked_
<c07.P1.156> over_his_shoulder_suddenly._"Only_a_rook,"_he_said._"One_
<c07.P1.157> gets_to_know_that_birds_have_shadows_these_days._This_is_a_
<c07.P1.158> bit_open._Let_us_crawl_under_those_bushes_and_talk."
<c07.P1.159> =
<c07.P1.160> "Have_you_seen_any_Martians?"_I_said._"Since_I_crawled_
<c07.P1.161> out----"
<c07.P1.162> =
<c07.P1.163> "They've_gone_away_across_London,"_he_said._"I_guess_they've_
<c07.P1.164> got_a_bigger_camp_there._Of_a_night,_all_over_there,_
<c07.P1.165> Hampstead_way,_the_sky_is_alive_with_their_lights._It's_like_
<c07.P1.166> a_great_city,_and_in_the_glare_you_can_just_see_them_moving._
<c07.P1.167> By_daylight_you_can't._But_nearer--I_haven't_seen_them--"_
<c07.P1.168> (he_counted_on_his_fingers)_"five_days._Then_I_saw_a_couple_
<c07.P1.169> across_Hammersmith_way_carrying_something_big._And_the_night_
<c07.P1.170> before_last"--he_stopped_and_spoke_impressively--"it_was_
<c07.P1.171> just_a_matter_of_lights,_but_it_was_something_up_in_the_air._
<c07.P1.172> I_believe_they've_built_a_flying-machine,_and_are_learning_
<c07.P1.173> to_fly."
<c07.P1.174> =
<c07.P1.175> I_stopped,_on_hands_and_knees,_for_we_had_come_to_the_
<c07.P1.176> bushes.
<c07.P1.177> =
<c07.P1.178> "Fly!"
<c07.P1.179> =
<c07.P1.180> "Yes,"_he_said,_"fly."
<c07.P1.181> =
<c07.P1.182> I_went_on_into_a_little_bower,_and_sat_down.
<c07.P1.183> =
<c07.P1.184> "It_is_all_over_with_humanity,"_I_said._"If_they_can_do_that_
<c07.P1.185> they_will_simply_go_round_the_world."
<c07.P1.186> =
<c07.P1.187> He_nodded.
<c07.P1.188> =
<c07.P1.189> "They_will._But----It_will_relieve_things_over_here_a_bit._
<c07.P1.190> And_besides----"_He_looked_at_me._"Aren't_you_satisfied_it_
<c07.P1.191> IS_up_with_humanity?_I_am._We're_down;_we're_beat."
<c07.P1.192> =
<c07.P1.193> I_stared._Strange_as_it_may_seem,_I_had_not_arrived_at_this_
<c07.P1.194> fact--a_fact_perfectly_obvious_so_soon_as_he_spoke._I_had_
<c07.P1.195> still_held_a_vague_hope;_rather,_I_had_kept_a_lifelong_habit_
<c07.P1.196> of_mind._He_repeated_his_words,_"We're_beat."_They_carried_
<c07.P1.197> absolute_conviction.
<c07.P1.198> =
<c07.P1.199> "It's_all_over,"_he_said._"They've_lost_ONE--just_ONE._And_
<c07.P1.200> they've_made_their_footing_good_and_crippled_the_greatest_
<c07.P1.201> power_in_the_world._They've_walked_over_us._The_death_of_
<c07.P1.202> that_one_at_Weybridge_was_an_accident._And_these_are_only_
<c07.P1.203> pioneers._They_kept_on_coming._These_green_stars--I've_seen_
<c07.P1.204> none_these_five_or_six_days,_but_I've_no_doubt_they're_
<c07.P1.205> falling_somewhere_every_night._Nothing's_to_be_done._We're_
<c07.P1.206> under!_We're_beat!"
<c07.P1.207> =
<c07.P1.208> I_made_him_no_answer._I_sat_staring_before_me,_trying_in_
<c07.P1.209> vain_to_devise_some_countervailing_thought.
<c07.P1.210> =
<c07.P1.211> "This_isn't_a_war,"_said_the_artilleryman._"It_never_was_a_
<c07.P1.212> war,_any_more_than_there's_war_between_man_and_ants."
<c07.P1.213> =
<c07.P1.214> Suddenly_I_recalled_the_night_in_the_observatory.
<c07.P1.215> =
<c07.P1.216> "After_the_tenth_shot_they_fired_no_more--at_least,_until_
<c07.P1.217> the_first_cylinder_came."
<c07.P1.218> =
<c07.P1.219> "How_do_you_know?"_said_the_artilleryman._I_explained._He_
<c07.P1.220> thought._"Something_wrong_with_the_gun,"_he_said._"But_what_
<c07.P1.221> if_there_is?_They'll_get_it_right_again._And_even_if_there's_
<c07.P1.222> a_delay,_how_can_it_alter_the_end?_It's_just_men_and_ants._
<c07.P1.223> There's_the_ants_builds_their_cities,_live_their_lives,_have_
<c07.P1.224> wars,_revolutions,_until_the_men_want_them_out_of_the_way,_
<c07.P1.225> and_then_they_go_out_of_the_way._That's_what_we_are_
<c07.P1.226> now--just_ants._Only----"
<c07.P1.227> =
<c07.P1.228> "Yes,"_I_said.
<c07.P1.229> =
<c07.P1.230> "We're_eatable_ants."
<c07.P1.231> =
<c07.P1.232> We_sat_looking_at_each_other.
<c07.P1.233> =
<c07.P1.234> "And_what_will_they_do_with_us?"_I_said.
<c07.P1.235> =
<c07.P1.236> "That's_what_I've_been_thinking,"_he_said;_"that's_what_I've_
<c07.P1.237> been_thinking._After_Weybridge_I_went_south--thinking._I_saw_
<c07.P1.238> what_was_up._Most_of_the_people_were_hard_at_it_squealing_
<c07.P1.239> and_exciting_themselves._But_I'm_not_so_fond_of_squealing._
<c07.P1.240> I've_been_in_sight_of_death_once_or_twice;_I'm_not_an_
<c07.P1.241> ornamental_soldier,_and_at_the_best_and_worst,_death--it's_
<c07.P1.242> just_death._And_it's_the_man_that_keeps_on_thinking_comes_
<c07.P1.243> through._I_saw_everyone_tracking_away_south._Says_I,_"Food_
<c07.P1.244> won't_last_this_way,"_and_I_turned_right_back._I_went_for_
<c07.P1.245> the_Martians_like_a_sparrow_goes_for_man._All_round"--he_
<c07.P1.246> waved_a_hand_to_the_horizon--"they're_starving_in_heaps,_
<c07.P1.247> bolting,_treading_on_each_other._._._."
<c07.P1.248> =
<c07.P1.249> He_saw_my_face,_and_halted_awkwardly.
<c07.P1.250> =
<c07.P1.251> "No_doubt_lots_who_had_money_have_gone_away_to_France,"_he_
<c07.P1.252> said._He_seemed_to_hesitate_whether_to_apologise,_met_my_
<c07.P1.253> eyes,_and_went_on:_"There's_food_all_about_here._Canned_
<c07.P1.254> things_in_shops;_wines,_spirits,_mineral_waters;_and_the_
<c07.P1.255> water_mains_and_drains_are_empty._Well,_I_was_telling_you_
<c07.P1.256> what_I_was_thinking._"Here's_intelligent_things,"_I_said,_
<c07.P1.257> "and_it_seems_they_want_us_for_food._First,_they'll_smash_us_
<c07.P1.258> up--ships,_machines,_guns,_cities,_all_the_order_and_
<c07.P1.259> organisation._All_that_will_go._If_we_were_the_size_of_ants_
<c07.P1.260> we_might_pull_through._But_we're_not._It's_all_too_bulky_to_
<c07.P1.261> stop._That's_the_first_certainty."_Eh?"
<c07.P1.262> =
<c07.P1.263> I_assented.
<c07.P1.264> =
<c07.P1.265> "It_is;_I've_thought_it_out._Very_well,_then--next;_at_
<c07.P1.266> present_we're_caught_as_we're_wanted._A_Martian_has_only_to_
<c07.P1.267> go_a_few_miles_to_get_a_crowd_on_the_run._And_I_saw_one,_one_
<c07.P1.268> day,_out_by_Wandsworth,_picking_houses_to_pieces_and_routing_
<c07.P1.269> among_the_wreckage._But_they_won't_keep_on_doing_that._So_
<c07.P1.270> soon_as_they've_settled_all_our_guns_and_ships,_and_smashed_
<c07.P1.271> our_railways,_and_done_all_the_things_they_are_doing_over_
<c07.P1.272> there,_they_will_begin_catching_us_systematic,_picking_the_
<c07.P1.273> best_and_storing_us_in_cages_and_things._That's_what_they_
<c07.P1.274> will_start_doing_in_a_bit._Lord!_They_haven't_begun_on_us_
<c07.P1.275> yet._Don't_you_see_that?"
<c07.P1.276> =
<c07.P1.277> "Not_begun!"_I_exclaimed.
<c07.P1.278> =
<c07.P1.279> "Not_begun._All_that's_happened_so_far_is_through_our_not_
<c07.P1.280> having_the_sense_to_keep_quiet--worrying_them_with_guns_and_
<c07.P1.281> such_foolery._And_losing_our_heads,_and_rushing_off_in_
<c07.P1.282> crowds_to_where_there_wasn't_any_more_safety_than_where_we_
<c07.P1.283> were._They_don't_want_to_bother_us_yet._They're_making_their_
<c07.P1.284> things--making_all_the_things_they_couldn't_bring_with_them,_
<c07.P1.285> getting_things_ready_for_the_rest_of_their_people._Very_
<c07.P1.286> likely_that's_why_the_cylinders_have_stopped_for_a_bit,_for_
<c07.P1.287> fear_of_hitting_those_who_are_here._And_instead_of_our_
<c07.P1.288> rushing_about_blind,_on_the_howl,_or_getting_dynamite_on_the_
<c07.P1.289> chance_of_busting_them_up,_we've_got_to_fix_ourselves_up_
<c07.P1.290> according_to_the_new_state_of_affairs._That's_how_I_figure_
<c07.P1.291> it_out._It_isn't_quite_according_to_what_a_man_wants_for_his_
<c07.P1.292> species,_but_it's_about_what_the_facts_point_to._And_that's_
<c07.P1.293> the_principle_I_acted_upon._Cities,_nations,_civilisation,_
<c07.P1.294> progress--it's_all_over._That_game's_up._We're_beat."
<c07.P1.295> =
<c07.P1.296> "But_if_that_is_so,_what_is_there_to_live_for?"
<c07.P1.297> =
<c07.P1.298> The_artilleryman_looked_at_me_for_a_moment.
<c07.P1.299> =
<c07.P1.300> "There_won't_be_any_more_blessed_concerts_for_a_million_
<c07.P1.301> years_or_so;_there_won't_be_any_Royal_Academy_of_Arts,_and_
<c07.P1.302> no_nice_little_feeds_at_restaurants._If_it's_amusement_
<c07.P1.303> you're_after,_I_reckon_the_game_is_up._If_you've_got_any_
<c07.P1.304> drawing-room_manners_or_a_dislike_to_eating_peas_with_a_
<c07.P1.305> knife_or_dropping_aitches,_you'd_better_chuck_'em_away._They_
<c07.P1.306> ain't_no_further_use."
<c07.P1.307> =
<c07.P1.308> "You_mean----"
<c07.P1.309> =
<c07.P1.310> "I_mean_that_men_like_me_are_going_on_living--for_the_sake_
<c07.P1.311> of_the_breed._I_tell_you,_I'm_grim_set_on_living._And_if_I'm_
<c07.P1.312> not_mistaken,_you'll_show_what_insides_YOU'VE_got,_too,_
<c07.P1.313> before_long._We_aren't_going_to_be_exterminated._And_I_don't_
<c07.P1.314> mean_to_be_caught_either,_and_tamed_and_fattened_and_bred_
<c07.P1.315> like_a_thundering_ox._Ugh!_Fancy_those_brown_creepers!"
<c07.P1.316> =
<c07.P1.317> "You_don't_mean_to_say----"
<c07.P1.318> =
<c07.P1.319> "I_do._I'm_going_on,_under_their_feet._I've_got_it_planned;_
<c07.P1.320> I've_thought_it_out._We_men_are_beat._We_don't_know_enough._
<c07.P1.321> We've_got_to_learn_before_we've_got_a_chance._And_we've_got_
<c07.P1.322> to_live_and_keep_independent_while_we_learn._See!_That's_
<c07.P1.323> what_has_to_be_done."
<c07.P1.324> =
<c07.P1.325> I_stared,_astonished,_and_stirred_profoundly_by_the_man's_
<c07.P1.326> resolution.
<c07.P1.327> =
<c07.P1.328> "Great_God!,"_cried_I._"But_you_are_a_man_indeed!"_And_
<c07.P1.329> suddenly_I_gripped_his_hand.
<c07.P1.330> =
<c07.P1.331> "Eh!"_he_said,_with_his_eyes_shining._"I've_thought_it_out,_
<c07.P1.332> eh?"
<c07.P1.333> =
<c07.P1.334> "Go_on,"_I_said.
<c07.P1.335> =
<c07.P1.336> "Well,_those_who_mean_to_escape_their_catching_must_get_
<c07.P1.337> ready._I'm_getting_ready._Mind_you,_it_isn't_all_of_us_that_
<c07.P1.338> are_made_for_wild_beasts;_and_that's_what_it's_got_to_be._
<c07.P1.339> That's_why_I_watched_you._I_had_my_doubts._You're_slender._I_
<c07.P1.340> didn't_know_that_it_was_you,_you_see,_or_just_how_you'd_been_
<c07.P1.341> buried._All_these--the_sort_of_people_that_lived_in_these_
<c07.P1.342> houses,_and_all_those_damn_little_clerks_that_used_to_live_
<c07.P1.343> down_that_way--they'd_be_no_good._They_haven't_any_spirit_in_
<c07.P1.344> them--no_proud_dreams_and_no_proud_lusts;_and_a_man_who_
<c07.P1.345> hasn't_one_or_the_other--Lord!_What_is_he_but_funk_and_
<c07.P1.346> precautions?_They_just_used_to_skedaddle_off_to_work--I've_
<c07.P1.347> seen_hundreds_of_'em,_bit_of_breakfast_in_hand,_running_wild_
<c07.P1.348> and_shining_to_catch_their_little_season-ticket_train,_for_
<c07.P1.349> fear_they'd_get_dismissed_if_they_didn't;_working_at_
<c07.P1.350> businesses_they_were_afraid_to_take_the_trouble_to_
<c07.P1.351> understand;_skedaddling_back_for_fear_they_wouldn't_be_in_
<c07.P1.352> time_for_dinner;_keeping_indoors_after_dinner_for_fear_of_
<c07.P1.353> the_back_streets,_and_sleeping_with_the_wives_they_married,_
<c07.P1.354> not_because_they_wanted_them,_but_because_they_had_a_bit_of_
<c07.P1.355> money_that_would_make_for_safety_in_their_one_little_
<c07.P1.356> miserable_skedaddle_through_the_world._Lives_insured_and_a_
<c07.P1.357> bit_invested_for_fear_of_accidents._And_on_Sundays--fear_of_
<c07.P1.358> the_hereafter._As_if_hell_was_built_for_rabbits!_Well,_the_
<c07.P1.359> Martians_will_just_be_a_godsend_to_these._Nice_roomy_cages,_
<c07.P1.360> fattening_food,_careful_breeding,_no_worry._After_a_week_or_
<c07.P1.361> so_chasing_about_the_fields_and_lands_on_empty_stomachs,_
<c07.P1.362> they'll_come_and_be_caught_cheerful._They'll_be_quite_glad_
<c07.P1.363> after_a_bit._They'll_wonder_what_people_did_before_there_
<c07.P1.364> were_Martians_to_take_care_of_them._And_the_bar_loafers,_and_
<c07.P1.365> mashers,_and_singers--I_can_imagine_them._I_can_imagine_
<c07.P1.366> them,"_he_said,_with_a_sort_of_sombre_gratification._
<c07.P1.367> "There'll_be_any_amount_of_sentiment_and_religion_loose_
<c07.P1.368> among_them._There's_hundreds_of_things_I_saw_with_my_eyes_
<c07.P1.369> that_I've_only_begun_to_see_clearly_these_last_few_days._
<c07.P1.370> There's_lots_will_take_things_as_they_are--fat_and_stupid;_
<c07.P1.371> and_lots_will_be_worried_by_a_sort_of_feeling_that_it's_all_
<c07.P1.372> wrong,_and_that_they_ought_to_be_doing_something._Now_
<c07.P1.373> whenever_things_are_so_that_a_lot_of_people_feel_they_ought_
<c07.P1.374> to_be_doing_something,_the_weak,_and_those_who_go_weak_with_
<c07.P1.375> a_lot_of_complicated_thinking,_always_make_for_a_sort_of_
<c07.P1.376> do-nothing_religion,_very_pious_and_superior,_and_submit_to_
<c07.P1.377> persecution_and_the_will_of_the_Lord._Very_likely_you've_
<c07.P1.378> seen_the_same_thing._It's_energy_in_a_gale_of_funk,_and_
<c07.P1.379> turned_clean_inside_out._These_cages_will_be_full_of_psalms_
<c07.P1.380> and_hymns_and_piety._And_those_of_a_less_simple_sort_will_
<c07.P1.381> work_in_a_bit_of--what_is_it?--eroticism."
<c07.P1.382> =
<c07.P1.383> He_paused.
<c07.P1.384> =
<c07.P1.385> "Very_likely_these_Martians_will_make_pets_of_some_of_them;_
<c07.P1.386> train_them_to_do_tricks--who_knows?--get_sentimental_over_
<c07.P1.387> the_pet_boy_who_grew_up_and_had_to_be_killed._And_some,_
<c07.P1.388> maybe,_they_will_train_to_hunt_us."
<c07.P1.389> =
<c07.P1.390> "No,"_I_cried,_"that's_impossible!_No_human_being----"
<c07.P1.391> =
<c07.P1.392> "What's_the_good_of_going_on_with_such_lies?"_said_the_
<c07.P1.393> artilleryman._"There's_men_who'd_do_it_cheerful._What_
<c07.P1.394> nonsense_to_pretend_there_isn't!"
<c07.P1.395> =
<c07.P1.396> And_I_succumbed_to_his_conviction.
<c07.P1.397> =
<c07.P1.398> "If_they_come_after_me,"_he_said;_"Lord,_if_they_come_after_
<c07.P1.399> me!"_and_subsided_into_a_grim_meditation.
<c07.P1.400> =
<c07.P1.401> I_sat_contemplating_these_things._I_could_find_nothing_to_
<c07.P1.402> bring_against_this_man's_reasoning._In_the_days_before_the_
<c07.P1.403> invasion_no_one_would_have_questioned_my_intellectual_
<c07.P1.404> superiority_to_his--I,_a_professed_and_recognised_writer_on_
<c07.P1.405> philosophical_themes,_and_he,_a_common_soldier;_and_yet_he_
<c07.P1.406> had_already_formulated_a_situation_that_I_had_scarcely_
<c07.P1.407> realised.
<c07.P1.408> =
<c07.P1.409> "What_are_you_doing?"_I_said_presently._"What_plans_have_you_
<c07.P1.410> made?"
<c07.P1.411> =
<c07.P1.412> He_hesitated.
<c07.P1.413> =
<c07.P1.414> "Well,_it's_like_this,"_he_said._"What_have_we_to_do?_We_
<c07.P1.415> have_to_invent_a_sort_of_life_where_men_can_live_and_breed,_
<c07.P1.416> and_be_sufficiently_secure_to_bring_the_children_up._
<c07.P1.417> Yes--wait_a_bit,_and_I'll_make_it_clearer_what_I_think_ought_
<c07.P1.418> to_be_done._The_tame_ones_will_go_like_all_tame_beasts;_in_a_
<c07.P1.419> few_generations_they'll_be_big,_beautiful,_rich-blooded,_
<c07.P1.420> stupid--rubbish!_The_risk_is_that_we_who_keep_wild_will_go_
<c07.P1.421> savage--degenerate_into_a_sort_of_big,_savage_rat._._._._You_
<c07.P1.422> see,_how_I_mean_to_live_is_underground._I've_been_thinking_
<c07.P1.423> about_the_drains._Of_course_those_who_don't_know_drains_
<c07.P1.424> think_horrible_things;_but_under_this_London_are_miles_and_
<c07.P1.425> miles--hundreds_of_miles--and_a_few_days"_rain_and_London_
<c07.P1.426> empty_will_leave_them_sweet_and_clean._The_main_drains_are_
<c07.P1.427> big_enough_and_airy_enough_for_anyone._Then_there's_cellars,_
<c07.P1.428> vaults,_stores,_from_which_bolting_passages_may_be_made_to_
<c07.P1.429> the_drains._And_the_railway_tunnels_and_subways._Eh?_You_
<c07.P1.430> begin_to_see?_And_we_form_a_band--able-bodied,_clean-minded_
<c07.P1.431> men._We're_not_going_to_pick_up_any_rubbish_that_drifts_in._
<c07.P1.432> Weaklings_go_out_again."
<c07.P1.433> =
<c07.P1.434> "As_you_meant_me_to_go?"
<c07.P1.435> =
<c07.P1.436> "Well--l_parleyed,_didn't_I?"
<c07.P1.437> =
<c07.P1.438> "We_won't_quarrel_about_that._Go_on."
<c07.P1.439> =
<c07.P1.440> "Those_who_stop_obey_orders._Able-bodied,_clean-minded_women_
<c07.P1.441> we_want_also--mothers_and_teachers._No_lackadaisical_
<c07.P1.442> ladies--no_blasted_rolling_eyes._We_can't_have_any_weak_or_
<c07.P1.443> silly._Life_is_real_again,_and_the_useless_and_cumbersome_
<c07.P1.444> and_mischievous_have_to_die._They_ought_to_die._They_ought_
<c07.P1.445> to_be_willing_to_die._It's_a_sort_of_disloyalty,_after_all,_
<c07.P1.446> to_live_and_taint_the_race._And_they_can't_be_happy._
<c07.P1.447> Moreover,_dying's_none_so_dreadful;_it's_the_funking_makes_
<c07.P1.448> it_bad._And_in_all_those_places_we_shall_gather._Our_
<c07.P1.449> district_will_be_London._And_we_may_even_be_able_to_keep_a_
<c07.P1.450> watch,_and_run_about_in_the_open_when_the_Martians_keep_
<c07.P1.451> away._Play_cricket,_perhaps._That's_how_we_shall_save_the_
<c07.P1.452> race._Eh?_It's_a_possible_thing?_But_saving_the_race_is_
<c07.P1.453> nothing_in_itself._As_I_say,_that's_only_being_rats._It's_
<c07.P1.454> saving_our_knowledge_and_adding_to_it_is_the_thing._There_
<c07.P1.455> men_like_you_come_in._There's_books,_there's_models._We_must_
<c07.P1.456> make_great_safe_places_down_deep,_and_get_all_the_books_we_
<c07.P1.457> can;_not_novels_and_poetry_swipes,_but_ideas,_science_books._
<c07.P1.458> That's_where_men_like_you_come_in._We_must_go_to_the_British_
<c07.P1.459> Museum_and_pick_all_those_books_through._Especially_we_must_
<c07.P1.460> keep_up_our_science--learn_more._We_must_watch_these_
<c07.P1.461> Martians._Some_of_us_must_go_as_spies._When_it's_all_
<c07.P1.462> working,_perhaps_I_will._Get_caught,_I_mean._And_the_great_
<c07.P1.463> thing_is,_we_must_leave_the_Martians_alone._We_mustn't_even_
<c07.P1.464> steal._If_we_get_in_their_way,_we_clear_out._We_must_show_
<c07.P1.465> them_we_mean_no_harm._Yes,_I_know._But_they're_intelligent_
<c07.P1.466> things,_and_they_won't_hunt_us_down_if_they_have_all_they_
<c07.P1.467> want,_and_think_we're_just_harmless_vermin."
<c07.P1.468> =
<c07.P1.469> The_artilleryman_paused_and_laid_a_brown_hand_upon_my_arm.
<c07.P1.470> =
<c07.P1.471> "After_all,_it_may_not_be_so_much_we_may_have_to_learn_
<c07.P1.472> before--Just_imagine_this:_four_or_five_of_their_fighting_
<c07.P1.473> machines_suddenly_starting_off--Heat-Rays_right_and_left,_
<c07.P1.474> and_not_a_Martian_in_'em._Not_a_Martian_in_'em,_but_men--men_
<c07.P1.475> who_have_learned_the_way_how._It_may_be_in_my_time,_
<c07.P1.476> even--those_men._Fancy_having_one_of_them_lovely_things,_
<c07.P1.477> with_its_Heat-Ray_wide_and_free!_Fancy_having_it_in_control!_
<c07.P1.478> What_would_it_matter_if_you_smashed_to_smithereens_at_the_
<c07.P1.479> end_of_the_run,_after_a_bust_like_that?_I_reckon_the_
<c07.P1.480> Martians'll_open_their_beautiful_eyes!_Can't_you_see_them,_
<c07.P1.481> man?_Can't_you_see_them_hurrying,_hurrying--puffing_and_
<c07.P1.482> blowing_and_hooting_to_their_other_mechanical_affairs?_
<c07.P1.483> Something_out_of_gear_in_every_case._And_swish,_bang,_
<c07.P1.484> rattle,_swish!_Just_as_they_are_fumbling_over_it,_SWISH_
<c07.P1.485> comes_the_Heat-Ray,_and,_behold!_man_has_come_back_to_his_
<c07.P1.486> own."
<c07.P1.487> =
<c07.P1.488> For_a_while_the_imaginative_daring_of_the_artilleryman,_and_
<c07.P1.489> the_tone_of_assurance_and_courage_he_assumed,_completely_
<c07.P1.490> dominated_my_mind._I_believed_unhesitatingly_both_in_his_
<c07.P1.491> forecast_of_human_destiny_and_in_the_practicability_of_his_
<c07.P1.492> astonishing_scheme,_and_the_reader_who_thinks_me_susceptible_
<c07.P1.493> and_foolish_must_contrast_his_position,_reading_steadily_
<c07.P1.494> with_all_his_thoughts_about_his_subject,_and_mine,_crouching_
<c07.P1.495> fearfully_in_the_bushes_and_listening,_distracted_by_
<c07.P1.496> apprehension._We_talked_in_this_manner_through_the_early_
<c07.P1.497> morning_time,_and_later_crept_out_of_the_bushes,_and,_after_
<c07.P1.498> scanning_the_sky_for_Martians,_hurried_precipitately_to_the_
<c07.P1.499> house_on_Putney_Hill_where_he_had_made_his_lair._It_was_the_
<c07.P1.500> coal_cellar_of_the_place,_and_when_I_saw_the_work_he_had_
<c07.P1.501> spent_a_week_upon--it_was_a_burrow_scarcely_ten_yards_long,_
<c07.P1.502> which_he_designed_to_reach_to_the_main_drain_on_Putney_
<c07.P1.503> Hill--I_had_my_first_inkling_of_the_gulf_between_his_dreams_
<c07.P1.504> and_his_powers._Such_a_hole_I_could_have_dug_in_a_day._But_I_
<c07.P1.505> believed_in_him_sufficiently_to_work_with_him_all_that_
<c07.P1.506> morning_until_past_midday_at_his_digging._We_had_a_garden_
<c07.P1.507> barrow_and_shot_the_earth_we_removed_against_the_kitchen_
<c07.P1.508> range._We_refreshed_ourselves_with_a_tin_of_mock-turtle_soup_
<c07.P1.509> and_wine_from_the_neighbouring_pantry._I_found_a_curious_
<c07.P1.510> relief_from_the_aching_strangeness_of_the_world_in_this_
<c07.P1.511> steady_labour._As_we_worked,_I_turned_his_project_over_in_my_
<c07.P1.512> mind,_and_presently_objections_and_doubts_began_to_arise;_
<c07.P1.513> but_I_worked_there_all_the_morning,_so_glad_was_I_to_find_
<c07.P1.514> myself_with_a_purpose_again._After_working_an_hour_I_began_
<c07.P1.515> to_speculate_on_the_distance_one_had_to_go_before_the_cloaca_
<c07.P1.516> was_reached,_the_chances_we_had_of_missing_it_altogether._My_
<c07.P1.517> immediate_trouble_was_why_we_should_dig_this_long_tunnel,_
<c07.P1.518> when_it_was_possible_to_get_into_the_drain_at_once_down_one_
<c07.P1.519> of_the_manholes,_and_work_back_to_the_house._It_seemed_to_
<c07.P1.520> me,_too,_that_the_house_was_inconveniently_chosen,_and_
<c07.P1.521> required_a_needless_length_of_tunnel._And_just_as_I_was_
<c07.P1.522> beginning_to_face_these_things,_the_artilleryman_stopped_
<c07.P1.523> digging,_and_looked_at_me.
<c07.P1.524> =
<c07.P1.525> "We're_working_well,"_he_said._He_put_down_his_spade._"Let_
<c07.P1.526> us_knock_off_a_bit"_he_said._"I_think_it's_time_we_
<c07.P1.527> reconnoitred_from_the_roof_of_the_house."
<c07.P1.528> =
<c07.P1.529> I_was_for_going_on,_and_after_a_little_hesitation_he_resumed_
<c07.P1.530> his_spade;_and_then_suddenly_I_was_struck_by_a_thought._I_
<c07.P1.531> stopped,_and_so_did_he_at_once.
<c07.P1.532> =
<c07.P1.533> "Why_were_you_walking_about_the_common,"_I_said,_"instead_of_
<c07.P1.534> being_here?"
<c07.P1.535> =
<c07.P1.536> "Taking_the_air,"_he_said._"I_was_coming_back._It's_safer_by_
<c07.P1.537> night."
<c07.P1.538> =
<c07.P1.539> "But_the_work?"
<c07.P1.540> =
<c07.P1.541> "Oh,_one_can't_always_work,"_he_said,_and_in_a_flash_I_saw_
<c07.P1.542> the_man_plain._He_hesitated,_holding_his_spade._"We_ought_to_
<c07.P1.543> reconnoitre_now,"_he_said,_"because_if_any_come_near_they_
<c07.P1.544> may_hear_the_spades_and_drop_upon_us_unawares."
<c07.P1.545> =
<c07.P1.546> I_was_no_longer_disposed_to_object._We_went_together_to_the_
<c07.P1.547> roof_and_stood_on_a_ladder_peeping_out_of_the_roof_door._No_
<c07.P1.548> Martians_were_to_be_seen,_and_we_ventured_out_on_the_tiles,_
<c07.P1.549> and_slipped_down_under_shelter_of_the_parapet.
<c07.P1.550> =
<c07.P1.551> From_this_position_a_shrubbery_hid_the_greater_portion_of_
<c07.P1.552> Putney,_but_we_could_see_the_river_below,_a_bubbly_mass_of_
<c07.P1.553> red_weed,_and_the_low_parts_of_Lambeth_flooded_and_red._The_
<c07.P1.554> red_creeper_swarmed_up_the_trees_about_the_old_palace,_and_
<c07.P1.555> their_branches_stretched_gaunt_and_dead,_and_set_with_
<c07.P1.556> shrivelled_leaves,_from_amid_its_clusters._It_was_strange_
<c07.P1.557> how_entirely_dependent_both_these_things_were_upon_flowing_
<c07.P1.558> water_for_their_propagation._About_us_neither_had_gained_a_
<c07.P1.559> footing;_laburnums,_pink_mays,_snowballs,_and_trees_of_
<c07.P1.560> arborvitae,_rose_out_of_laurels_and_hydrangeas,_green_and_
<c07.P1.561> brilliant_into_the_sunlight._Beyond_Kensington_dense_smoke_
<c07.P1.562> was_rising,_and_that_and_a_blue_haze_hid_the_northward_
<c07.P1.563> hills.
<c07.P1.564> =
<c07.P1.565> The_artilleryman_began_to_tell_me_of_the_sort_of_people_who_
<c07.P1.566> still_remained_in_London.
<c07.P1.567> =
<c07.P1.568> "One_night_last_week,"_he_said,_"some_fools_got_the_electric_
<c07.P1.569> light_in_order,_and_there_was_all_Regent_Street_and_the_
<c07.P1.570> Circus_ablaze,_crowded_with_painted_and_ragged_drunkards,_
<c07.P1.571> men_and_women,_dancing_and_shouting_till_dawn._A_man_who_was_
<c07.P1.572> there_told_me._And_as_the_day_came_they_became_aware_of_a_
<c07.P1.573> fighting-machine_standing_near_by_the_Langham_and_looking_
<c07.P1.574> down_at_them._Heaven_knows_how_long_he_had_been_there._It_
<c07.P1.575> must_have_given_some_of_them_a_nasty_turn._He_came_down_the_
<c07.P1.576> road_towards_them,_and_picked_up_nearly_a_hundred_too_drunk_
<c07.P1.577> or_frightened_to_run_away."
<c07.P1.578> =
<c07.P1.579> Grotesque_gleam_of_a_time_no_history_will_ever_fully_
<c07.P1.580> describe!
<c07.P1.581> =
<c07.P1.582> From_that,_in_answer_to_my_questions,_he_came_round_to_his_
<c07.P1.583> grandiose_plans_again._He_grew_enthusiastic._He_talked_so_
<c07.P1.584> eloquently_of_the_possibility_of_capturing_a_
<c07.P1.585> fighting-machine_that_I_more_than_half_believed_in_him_again._But_now_
<c07.P1.586> that_I_was_beginning_to_understand_something_of_his_quality,_
<c07.P1.587> I_could_divine_the_stress_he_laid_on_doing_nothing_
<c07.P1.588> precipitately._And_I_noted_that_now_there_was_no_question_
<c07.P1.589> that_he_personally_was_to_capture_and_fight_the_great_
<c07.P1.590> machine.
<c07.P1.591> =
<c07.P1.592> After_a_time_we_went_down_to_the_cellar._Neither_of_us_
<c07.P1.593> seemed_disposed_to_resume_digging,_and_when_he_suggested_a_
<c07.P1.594> meal,_I_was_nothing_loath._He_became_suddenly_very_generous,_
<c07.P1.595> and_when_we_had_eaten_he_went_away_and_returned_with_some_
<c07.P1.596> excellent_cigars._We_lit_these,_and_his_optimism_glowed._He_
<c07.P1.597> was_inclined_to_regard_my_coming_as_a_great_occasion.
<c07.P1.598> =
<c07.P1.599> "There's_some_champagne_in_the_cellar,"_he_said.
<c07.P1.600> =
<c07.P1.601> "We_can_dig_better_on_this_Thames-side_burgundy,"_said_I.
<c07.P1.602> =
<c07.P1.603> "No,"_said_he;_"I_am_host_today._Champagne!_Great_God!_We've_
<c07.P1.604> a_heavy_enough_task_before_us!_Let_us_take_a_rest_and_gather_
<c07.P1.605> strength_while_we_may._Look_at_these_blistered_hands!"
<c07.P1.606> =
<c07.P1.607> And_pursuant_to_this_idea_of_a_holiday,_he_insisted_upon_
<c07.P1.608> playing_cards_after_we_had_eaten._He_taught_me_euchre,_and_
<c07.P1.609> after_dividing_London_between_us,_I_taking_the_northern_side_
<c07.P1.610> and_he_the_southern,_we_played_for_parish_points._Grotesque_
<c07.P1.611> and_foolish_as_this_will_seem_to_the_sober_reader,_it_is_
<c07.P1.612> absolutely_true,_and_what_is_more_remarkable,_I_found_the_
<c07.P1.613> card_game_and_several_others_we_played_extremely_
<c07.P1.614> interesting.
<c07.P1.615> =
<c07.P1.616> Strange_mind_of_man!_that,_with_our_species_upon_the_edge_of_
<c07.P1.617> extermination_or_appalling_degradation,_with_no_clear_
<c07.P1.618> prospect_before_us_but_the_chance_of_a_horrible_death,_we_
<c07.P1.619> could_sit_following_the_chance_of_this_painted_pasteboard,_
<c07.P1.620> and_playing_the_"joker"_with_vivid_delight._Afterwards_he_
<c07.P1.621> taught_me_poker,_and_I_beat_him_at_three_tough_chess_games._
<c07.P1.622> When_dark_came_we_decided_to_take_the_risk,_and_lit_a_lamp.
<c07.P1.623> =
<c07.P1.624> After_an_interminable_string_of_games,_we_supped,_and_the_
<c07.P1.625> artilleryman_finished_the_champagne._We_went_on_smoking_the_
<c07.P1.626> cigars._He_was_no_longer_the_energetic_regenerator_of_his_
<c07.P1.627> species_I_had_encountered_in_the_morning._He_was_still_
<c07.P1.628> optimistic,_but_it_was_a_less_kinetic,_a_more_thoughtful_
<c07.P1.629> optimism._I_remember_he_wound_up_with_my_health,_proposed_in_
<c07.P1.630> a_speech_of_small_variety_and_considerable_intermittence._I_
<c07.P1.631> took_a_cigar,_and_went_upstairs_to_look_at_the_lights_of_
<c07.P1.632> which_he_had_spoken_that_blazed_so_greenly_along_the_
<c07.P1.633> Highgate_hills.
<c07.P1.634> =
<c07.P1.635> At_first_I_stared_unintelligently_across_the_London_valley._
<c07.P1.636> The_northern_hills_were_shrouded_in_darkness;_the_fires_near_
<c07.P1.637> Kensington_glowed_redly,_and_now_and_then_an_orange-red_
<c07.P1.638> tongue_of_flame_flashed_up_and_vanished_in_the_deep_blue_
<c07.P1.639> night._All_the_rest_of_London_was_black._Then,_nearer,_I_
<c07.P1.640> perceived_a_strange_light,_a_pale,_violet-purple_fluorescent_
<c07.P1.641> glow,_quivering_under_the_night_breeze._For_a_space_I_could_
<c07.P1.642> not_understand_it,_and_then_I_knew_that_it_must_be_the_red_
<c07.P1.643> weed_from_which_this_faint_irradiation_proceeded._With_that_
<c07.P1.644> realisation_my_dormant_sense_of_wonder,_my_sense_of_the_
<c07.P1.645> proportion_of_things,_awoke_again._I_glanced_from_that_to_
<c07.P1.646> Mars,_red_and_clear,_glowing_high_in_the_west,_and_then_
<c07.P1.647> gazed_long_and_earnestly_at_the_darkness_of_Hampstead_and_
<c07.P1.648> Highgate.
<c07.P1.649> =
<c07.P1.650> I_remained_a_very_long_time_upon_the_roof,_wondering_at_the_
<c07.P1.651> grotesque_changes_of_the_day._I_recalled_my_mental_states_
<c07.P1.652> from_the_midnight_prayer_to_the_foolish_card-playing._I_had_
<c07.P1.653> a_violent_revulsion_of_feeling._I_remember_I_flung_away_the_
<c07.P1.654> cigar_with_a_certain_wasteful_symbolism._My_folly_came_to_me_
<c07.P1.655> with_glaring_exaggeration._I_seemed_a_traitor_to_my_wife_and_
<c07.P1.656> to_my_kind;_I_was_filled_with_remorse._I_resolved_to_leave_
<c07.P1.657> this_strange_undisciplined_dreamer_of_great_things_to_his_
<c07.P1.658> drink_and_gluttony,_and_to_go_on_into_London._There,_it_
<c07.P1.659> seemed_to_me,_I_had_the_best_chance_of_learning_what_the_
<c07.P1.660> Martians_and_my_fellowmen_were_doing._I_was_still_upon_the_
<c07.P1.661> roof_when_the_late_moon_rose.
<c07.P1.662> =
#
## <c08>
# chapter 8 EIGHT
# unit C chapter_number
# unit H chapter_title
# unit P text
<c08.P1.001> After_I_had_parted_from_the_artilleryman,_I_went_down_the_
<c08.P1.002> hill,_and_by_the_High_Street_across_the_bridge_to_Fulham._
<c08.P1.003> The_red_weed_was_tumultuous_at_that_time,_and_nearly_choked_
<c08.P1.004> the_bridge_roadway;_but_its_fronds_were_already_whitened_in_
<c08.P1.005> patches_by_the_spreading_disease_that_presently_removed_it_
<c08.P1.006> so_swiftly.
<c08.P1.007> =
<c08.P1.008> At_the_corner_of_the_lane_that_runs_to_Putney_Bridge_station_
<c08.P1.009> I_found_a_man_lying._He_was_as_black_as_a_sweep_with_the_
<c08.P1.010> black_dust,_alive,_but_helplessly_and_speechlessly_drunk._I_
<c08.P1.011> could_get_nothing_from_him_but_curses_and_furious_lunges_at_
<c08.P1.012> my_head._I_think_I_should_have_stayed_by_him_but_for_the_
<c08.P1.013> brutal_expression_of_his_face.
<c08.P1.014> =
<c08.P1.015> There_was_black_dust_along_the_roadway_from_the_bridge_
<c08.P1.016> onwards,_and_it_grew_thicker_in_Fulham._The_streets_were_
<c08.P1.017> horribly_quiet._I_got_food--sour,_hard,_and_mouldy,_but_
<c08.P1.018> quite_eatable--in_a_baker's_shop_here._Some_way_towards_
<c08.P1.019> Walham_Green_the_streets_became_clear_of_powder,_and_I_
<c08.P1.020> passed_a_white_terrace_of_houses_on_fire;_the_noise_of_the_
<c08.P1.021> burning_was_an_absolute_relief._Going_on_towards_Brompton,_
<c08.P1.022> the_streets_were_quiet_again.
<c08.P1.023> =
<c08.P1.024> Here_I_came_once_more_upon_the_black_powder_in_the_streets_
<c08.P1.025> and_upon_dead_bodies._I_saw_altogether_about_a_dozen_in_the_
<c08.P1.026> length_of_the_Fulham_Road._They_had_been_dead_many_days,_so_
<c08.P1.027> that_I_hurried_quickly_past_them._The_black_powder_covered_
<c08.P1.028> them_over,_and_softened_their_outlines._One_or_two_had_been_
<c08.P1.029> disturbed_by_dogs.
<c08.P1.030> =
<c08.P1.031> Where_there_was_no_black_powder,_it_was_curiously_like_a_
<c08.P1.032> Sunday_in_the_City,_with_the_closed_shops,_the_houses_locked_
<c08.P1.033> up_and_the_blinds_drawn,_the_desertion,_and_the_stillness._
<c08.P1.034> In_some_places_plunderers_had_been_at_work,_but_rarely_at_
<c08.P1.035> other_than_the_provision_and_wine_shops._A_jeweller's_window_
<c08.P1.036> had_been_broken_open_in_one_place,_but_apparently_the_thief_
<c08.P1.037> had_been_disturbed,_and_a_number_of_gold_chains_and_a_watch_
<c08.P1.038> lay_scattered_on_the_pavement._I_did_not_trouble_to_touch_
<c08.P1.039> them._Farther_on_was_a_tattered_woman_in_a_heap_on_a_
<c08.P1.040> doorstep;_the_hand_that_hung_over_her_knee_was_gashed_and_
<c08.P1.041> bled_down_her_rusty_brown_dress,_and_a_smashed_magnum_of_
<c08.P1.042> champagne_formed_a_pool_across_the_pavement._She_seemed_
<c08.P1.043> asleep,_but_she_was_dead.
<c08.P1.044> =
<c08.P1.045> The_farther_I_penetrated_into_London,_the_profounder_grew_
<c08.P1.046> the_stillness._But_it_was_not_so_much_the_stillness_of_
<c08.P1.047> death--it_was_the_stillness_of_suspense,_of_expectation._At_
<c08.P1.048> any_time_the_destruction_that_had_already_singed_the_
<c08.P1.049> northwestern_borders_of_the_metropolis,_and_had_annihilated_
<c08.P1.050> Ealing_and_Kilburn,_might_strike_among_these_houses_and_
<c08.P1.051> leave_them_smoking_ruins._It_was_a_city_condemned_and_
<c08.P1.052> derelict._._._.
<c08.P1.053> =
<c08.P1.054> In_South_Kensington_the_streets_were_clear_of_dead_and_of_
<c08.P1.055> black_powder._It_was_near_South_Kensington_that_I_first_
<c08.P1.056> heard_the_howling._It_crept_almost_imperceptibly_upon_my_
<c08.P1.057> senses._It_was_a_sobbing_alternation_of_two_notes,_"Ulla,_
<c08.P1.058> ulla,_ulla,_ulla,"_keeping_on_perpetually._When_I_passed_
<c08.P1.059> streets_that_ran_northward_it_grew_in_volume,_and_houses_and_
<c08.P1.060> buildings_seemed_to_deaden_and_cut_it_off_again._It_came_in_
<c08.P1.061> a_full_tide_down_Exhibition_Road._I_stopped,_staring_towards_
<c08.P1.062> Kensington_Gardens,_wondering_at_this_strange,_remote_
<c08.P1.063> wailing._It_was_as_if_that_mighty_desert_of_houses_had_found_
<c08.P1.064> a_voice_for_its_fear_and_solitude.
<c08.P1.065> =
<c08.P1.066> "Ulla,_ulla,_ulla,_ulla,"_wailed_that_superhuman_
<c08.P1.067> note--great_waves_of_sound_sweeping_down_the_broad,_sunlit_
<c08.P1.068> roadway,_between_the_tall_buildings_on_each_side._I_turned_
<c08.P1.069> northwards,_marvelling,_towards_the_iron_gates_of_Hyde_Park._
<c08.P1.070> I_had_half_a_mind_to_break_into_the_Natural_History_Museum_
<c08.P1.071> and_find_my_way_up_to_the_summits_of_the_towers,_in_order_to_
<c08.P1.072> see_across_the_park._But_I_decided_to_keep_to_the_ground,_
<c08.P1.073> where_quick_hiding_was_possible,_and_so_went_on_up_the_
<c08.P1.074> Exhibition_Road._All_the_large_mansions_on_each_side_of_the_
<c08.P1.075> road_were_empty_and_still,_and_my_footsteps_echoed_against_
<c08.P1.076> the_sides_of_the_houses._At_the_top,_near_the_park_gate,_I_
<c08.P1.077> came_upon_a_strange_sight--a_bus_overturned,_and_the_
<c08.P1.078> skeleton_of_a_horse_picked_clean._I_puzzled_over_this_for_a_
<c08.P1.079> time,_and_then_went_on_to_the_bridge_over_the_Serpentine._
<c08.P1.080> The_voice_grew_stronger_and_stronger,_though_I_could_see_
<c08.P1.081> nothing_above_the_housetops_on_the_north_side_of_the_park,_
<c08.P1.082> save_a_haze_of_smoke_to_the_northwest.
<c08.P1.083> =
<c08.P1.084> "Ulla,_ulla,_ulla,_ulla,"_cried_the_voice,_coming,_as_it_
<c08.P1.085> seemed_to_me,_from_the_district_about_Regent's_Park._The_
<c08.P1.086> desolating_cry_worked_upon_my_mind._The_mood_that_had_
<c08.P1.087> sustained_me_passed._The_wailing_took_possession_of_me._I_
<c08.P1.088> found_I_was_intensely_weary,_footsore,_and_now_again_hungry_
<c08.P1.089> and_thirsty.
<c08.P1.090> =
<c08.P1.091> It_was_already_past_noon._Why_was_I_wandering_alone_in_this_
<c08.P1.092> city_of_the_dead?_Why_was_I_alone_when_all_London_was_lying_
<c08.P1.093> in_state,_and_in_its_black_shroud?_I_felt_intolerably_
<c08.P1.094> lonely._My_mind_ran_on_old_friends_that_I_had_forgotten_for_
<c08.P1.095> years._I_thought_of_the_poisons_in_the_chemists"_shops,_of_
<c08.P1.096> the_liquors_the_wine_merchants_stored;_I_recalled_the_two_
<c08.P1.097> sodden_creatures_of_despair,_who_so_far_as_I_knew,_shared_
<c08.P1.098> the_city_with_myself._._._.
<c08.P1.099> =
<c08.P1.100> I_came_into_Oxford_Street_by_the_Marble_Arch,_and_here_again_
<c08.P1.101> were_black_powder_and_several_bodies,_and_an_evil,_ominous_
<c08.P1.102> smell_from_the_gratings_of_the_cellars_of_some_of_the_
<c08.P1.103> houses._I_grew_very_thirsty_after_the_heat_of_my_long_walk._
<c08.P1.104> With_infinite_trouble_I_managed_to_break_into_a_public-house_
<c08.P1.105> and_get_food_and_drink._I_was_weary_after_eating,_and_went_
<c08.P1.106> into_the_parlour_behind_the_bar,_and_slept_on_a_black_
<c08.P1.107> horse-hair_sofa_I_found_there.
<c08.P1.108> =
<c08.P1.109> I_awoke_to_find_that_dismal_howling_still_in_my_ears,_"Ulla,_
<c08.P1.110> ulla,_ulla,_ulla."_It_was_now_dusk,_and_after_I_had_routed_
<c08.P1.111> out_some_biscuits_and_a_cheese_in_the_bar--there_was_a_meat_
<c08.P1.112> safe,_but_it_contained_nothing_but_maggots--I_wandered_on_
<c08.P1.113> through_the_silent_residential_squares_to_Baker_Street_
<c08.P1.114> --Portman_Square_is_the_only_one_I_can_name--and_so_came_out_
<c08.P1.115> at_last_upon_Regent's_Park._And_as_I_emerged_from_the_top_of_
<c08.P1.116> Baker_Street,_I_saw_far_away_over_the_trees_in_the_clearness_
<c08.P1.117> of_the_sunset_the_hood_of_the_Martian_giant_from_which_this_
<c08.P1.118> howling_proceeded._I_was_not_terrified._I_came_upon_him_as_
<c08.P1.119> if_it_were_a_matter_of_course._I_watched_him_for_some_time,_
<c08.P1.120> but_he_did_not_move._He_appeared_to_be_standing_and_yelling,_
<c08.P1.121> for_no_reason_that_I_could_discover.
<c08.P1.122> =
<c08.P1.123> I_tried_to_formulate_a_plan_of_action._That_perpetual_sound_
<c08.P1.124> of_"Ulla,_ulla,_ulla,_ulla,"_confused_my_mind._Perhaps_I_was_
<c08.P1.125> too_tired_to_be_very_fearful._Certainly_I_was_more_curious_
<c08.P1.126> to_know_the_reason_of_this_monotonous_crying_than_afraid._I_
<c08.P1.127> turned_back_away_from_the_park_and_struck_into_Park_Road,_
<c08.P1.128> intending_to_skirt_the_park,_went_along_under_the_shelter_of_
<c08.P1.129> the_terraces,_and_got_a_view_of_this_stationary,_howling_
<c08.P1.130> Martian_from_the_direction_of_St._John's_Wood._A_couple_of_
<c08.P1.131> hundred_yards_out_of_Baker_Street_I_heard_a_yelping_chorus,_
<c08.P1.132> and_saw,_first_a_dog_with_a_piece_of_putrescent_red_meat_in_
<c08.P1.133> his_jaws_coming_headlong_towards_me,_and_then_a_pack_of_
<c08.P1.134> starving_mongrels_in_pursuit_of_him._He_made_a_wide_curve_to_
<c08.P1.135> avoid_me,_as_though_he_feared_I_might_prove_a_fresh_
<c08.P1.136> competitor._As_the_yelping_died_away_down_the_silent_road,_
<c08.P1.137> the_wailing_sound_of_"Ulla,_ulla,_ulla,_ulla,"_reasserted_
<c08.P1.138> itself.
<c08.P1.139> =
<c08.P1.140> I_came_upon_the_wrecked_handling-machine_halfway_to_St._
<c08.P1.141> John's_Wood_station._At_first_I_thought_a_house_had_fallen_
<c08.P1.142> across_the_road._It_was_only_as_I_clambered_among_the_ruins_
<c08.P1.143> that_I_saw,_with_a_start,_this_mechanical_Samson_lying,_with_
<c08.P1.144> its_tentacles_bent_and_smashed_and_twisted,_among_the_ruins_
<c08.P1.145> it_had_made._The_forepart_was_shattered._It_seemed_as_if_it_
<c08.P1.146> had_driven_blindly_straight_at_the_house,_and_had_been_
<c08.P1.147> overwhelmed_in_its_overthrow._It_seemed_to_me_then_that_this_
<c08.P1.148> might_have_happened_by_a_handling-machine_escaping_from_the_
<c08.P1.149> guidance_of_its_Martian._I_could_not_clamber_among_the_ruins_
<c08.P1.150> to_see_it,_and_the_twilight_was_now_so_far_advanced_that_the_
<c08.P1.151> blood_with_which_its_seat_was_smeared,_and_the_gnawed_
<c08.P1.152> gristle_of_the_Martian_that_the_dogs_had_left,_were_
<c08.P1.153> invisible_to_me.
<c08.P1.154> =
<c08.P1.155> Wondering_still_more_at_all_that_I_had_seen,_I_pushed_on_
<c08.P1.156> towards_Primrose_Hill._Far_away,_through_a_gap_in_the_trees,_
<c08.P1.157> I_saw_a_second_Martian,_as_motionless_as_the_first,_standing_
<c08.P1.158> in_the_park_towards_the_Zoological_Gardens,_and_silent._A_
<c08.P1.159> little_beyond_the_ruins_about_the_smashed_handling-machine_I_
<c08.P1.160> came_upon_the_red_weed_again,_and_found_the_Regent's_Canal,_
<c08.P1.161> a_spongy_mass_of_dark-red_vegetation.
<c08.P1.162> =
<c08.P1.163> As_I_crossed_the_bridge,_the_sound_of_"Ulla,_ulla,_ulla,_
<c08.P1.164> ulla,"_ceased._It_was,_as_it_were,_cut_off._The_silence_came_
<c08.P1.165> like_a_thunderclap.
<c08.P1.166> =
<c08.P1.167> The_dusky_houses_about_me_stood_faint_and_tall_and_dim;_the_
<c08.P1.168> trees_towards_the_park_were_growing_black._All_about_me_the_
<c08.P1.169> red_weed_clambered_among_the_ruins,_writhing_to_get_above_me_
<c08.P1.170> in_the_dimness._Night,_the_mother_of_fear_and_mystery,_was_
<c08.P1.171> coming_upon_me._But_while_that_voice_sounded_the_solitude,_
<c08.P1.172> the_desolation,_had_been_endurable;_by_virtue_of_it_London_
<c08.P1.173> had_still_seemed_alive,_and_the_sense_of_life_about_me_had_
<c08.P1.174> upheld_me._Then_suddenly_a_change,_the_passing_of_
<c08.P1.175> something--I_knew_not_what--and_then_a_stillness_that_could_
<c08.P1.176> be_felt._Nothing_but_this_gaunt_quiet.
<c08.P1.177> =
<c08.P1.178> London_about_me_gazed_at_me_spectrally._The_windows_in_the_
<c08.P1.179> white_houses_were_like_the_eye_sockets_of_skulls._About_me_
<c08.P1.180> my_imagination_found_a_thousand_noiseless_enemies_moving._
<c08.P1.181> Terror_seized_me,_a_horror_of_my_temerity._In_front_of_me_
<c08.P1.182> the_road_became_pitchy_black_as_though_it_was_tarred,_and_I_
<c08.P1.183> saw_a_contorted_shape_lying_across_the_pathway._I_could_not_
<c08.P1.184> bring_myself_to_go_on._I_turned_down_St._John's_Wood_Road,_
<c08.P1.185> and_ran_headlong_from_this_unendurable_stillness_towards_
<c08.P1.186> Kilburn._I_hid_from_the_night_and_the_silence,_until_long_
<c08.P1.187> after_midnight,_in_a_cabmen's_shelter_in_Harrow_Road._But_
<c08.P1.188> before_the_dawn_my_courage_returned,_and_while_the_stars_
<c08.P1.189> were_still_in_the_sky_I_turned_once_more_towards_Regent's_
<c08.P1.190> Park._I_missed_my_way_among_the_streets,_and_presently_saw_
<c08.P1.191> down_a_long_avenue,_in_the_half-light_of_the_early_dawn,_the_
<c08.P1.192> curve_of_Primrose_Hill._On_the_summit,_towering_up_to_the_
<c08.P1.193> fading_stars,_was_a_third_Martian,_erect_and_motionless_like_
<c08.P1.194> the_others.
<c08.P1.195> =
<c08.P1.196> An_insane_resolve_possessed_me._I_would_die_and_end_it._And_
<c08.P1.197> I_would_save_myself_even_the_trouble_of_killing_myself._I_
<c08.P1.198> marched_on_recklessly_towards_this_Titan,_and_then,_as_I_
<c08.P1.199> drew_nearer_and_the_light_grew,_I_saw_that_a_multitude_of_
<c08.P1.200> black_birds_was_circling_and_clustering_about_the_hood._At_
<c08.P1.201> that_my_heart_gave_a_bound,_and_I_began_running_along_the_
<c08.P1.202> road.
<c08.P1.203> =
<c08.P1.204> I_hurried_through_the_red_weed_that_choked_St._Edmund's_
<c08.P1.205> Terrace_(I_waded_breast-high_across_a_torrent_of_water_that_
<c08.P1.206> was_rushing_down_from_the_waterworks_towards_the_Albert_
<c08.P1.207> Road),_and_emerged_upon_the_grass_before_the_rising_of_the_
<c08.P1.208> sun._Great_mounds_had_been_heaped_about_the_crest_of_the_
<c08.P1.209> hill,_making_a_huge_redoubt_of_it--it_was_the_final_and_
<c08.P1.210> largest_place_the_Martians_had_made--and_from_behind_these_
<c08.P1.211> heaps_there_rose_a_thin_smoke_against_the_sky._Against_the_
<c08.P1.212> sky_line_an_eager_dog_ran_and_disappeared._The_thought_that_
<c08.P1.213> had_flashed_into_my_mind_grew_real,_grew_credible._I_felt_no_
<c08.P1.214> fear,_only_a_wild,_trembling_exultation,_as_I_ran_up_the_
<c08.P1.215> hill_towards_the_motionless_monster._Out_of_the_hood_hung_
<c08.P1.216> lank_shreds_of_brown,_at_which_the_hungry_birds_pecked_and_
<c08.P1.217> tore.
<c08.P1.218> =
<c08.P1.219> In_another_moment_I_had_scrambled_up_the_earthen_rampart_and_
<c08.P1.220> stood_upon_its_crest,_and_the_interior_of_the_redoubt_was_
<c08.P1.221> below_me._A_mighty_space_it_was,_with_gigantic_machines_here_
<c08.P1.222> and_there_within_it,_huge_mounds_of_material_and_strange_
<c08.P1.223> shelter_places._And_scattered_about_it,_some_in_their_
<c08.P1.224> overturned_war-machines,_some_in_the_now_rigid_
<c08.P1.225> handling-machines,_and_a_dozen_of_them_stark_and_silent_and_
<c08.P1.226> laid_in_a_row,_were_the_Martians--DEAD!--slain_by_the_
<c08.P1.227> putrefactive_and_disease_bacteria_against_which_their_
<c08.P1.228> systems_were_unprepared;_slain_as_the_red_weed_was_being_
<c08.P1.229> slain;_slain,_after_all_man's_devices_had_failed,_by_the_
<c08.P1.230> humblest_things_that_God,_in_his_wisdom,_has_put_upon_this_
<c08.P1.231> earth.
<c08.P1.232> =
<c08.P1.233> For_so_it_had_come_about,_as_indeed_I_and_many_men_might_
<c08.P1.234> have_foreseen_had_not_terror_and_disaster_blinded_our_minds._
<c08.P1.235> These_germs_of_disease_have_taken_toll_of_humanity_since_the_
<c08.P1.236> beginning_of_things--taken_toll_of_our_prehuman_ancestors_
<c08.P1.237> since_life_began_here._But_by_virtue_of_this_natural_
<c08.P1.238> selection_of_our_kind_we_have_developed_resisting_power;_to_
<c08.P1.239> no_germs_do_we_succumb_without_a_struggle,_and_to_
<c08.P1.240> many--those_that_cause_putrefaction_in_dead_matter,_for_
<c08.P1.241> instance--our_living_frames_are_altogether_immune._But_there_
<c08.P1.242> are_no_bacteria_in_Mars,_and_directly_these_invaders_
<c08.P1.243> arrived,_directly_they_drank_and_fed,_our_microscopic_allies_
<c08.P1.244> began_to_work_their_overthrow._Already_when_I_watched_them_
<c08.P1.245> they_were_irrevocably_doomed,_dying_and_rotting_even_as_they_
<c08.P1.246> went_to_and_fro._It_was_inevitable._By_the_toll_of_a_billion_
<c08.P1.247> deaths_man_has_bought_his_birthright_of_the_earth,_and_it_is_
<c08.P1.248> his_against_all_comers;_it_would_still_be_his_were_the_
<c08.P1.249> Martians_ten_times_as_mighty_as_they_are._For_neither_do_men_
<c08.P1.250> live_nor_die_in_vain.
<c08.P1.251> =
<c08.P1.252> Here_and_there_they_were_scattered,_nearly_fifty_altogether,_
<c08.P1.253> in_that_great_gulf_they_had_made,_overtaken_by_a_death_that_
<c08.P1.254> must_have_seemed_to_them_as_incomprehensible_as_any_death_
<c08.P1.255> could_be._To_me_also_at_that_time_this_death_was_
<c08.P1.256> incomprehensible._All_I_knew_was_that_these_things_that_had_
<c08.P1.257> been_alive_and_so_terrible_to_men_were_dead._For_a_moment_I_
<c08.P1.258> believed_that_the_destruction_of_Sennacherib_had_been_
<c08.P1.259> repeated,_that_God_had_repented,_that_the_Angel_of_Death_had_
<c08.P1.260> slain_them_in_the_night.
<c08.P1.261> =
<c08.P1.262> I_stood_staring_into_the_pit,_and_my_heart_lightened_
<c08.P1.263> gloriously,_even_as_the_rising_sun_struck_the_world_to_fire_
<c08.P1.264> about_me_with_his_rays._The_pit_was_still_in_darkness;_the_
<c08.P1.265> mighty_engines,_so_great_and_wonderful_in_their_power_and_
<c08.P1.266> complexity,_so_unearthly_in_their_tortuous_forms,_rose_weird_
<c08.P1.267> and_vague_and_strange_out_of_the_shadows_towards_the_light._
<c08.P1.268> A_multitude_of_dogs,_I_could_hear,_fought_over_the_bodies_
<c08.P1.269> that_lay_darkly_in_the_depth_of_the_pit,_far_below_me._
<c08.P1.270> Across_the_pit_on_its_farther_lip,_flat_and_vast_and_
<c08.P1.271> strange,_lay_the_great_flying-machine_with_which_they_had_
<c08.P1.272> been_experimenting_upon_our_denser_atmosphere_when_decay_and_
<c08.P1.273> death_arrested_them._Death_had_come_not_a_day_too_soon._At_
<c08.P1.274> the_sound_of_a_cawing_overhead_I_looked_up_at_the_huge_
<c08.P1.275> fighting-machine_that_would_fight_no_more_for_ever,_at_the_
<c08.P1.276> tattered_red_shreds_of_flesh_that_dripped_down_upon_the_
<c08.P1.277> overturned_seats_on_the_summit_of_Primrose_Hill.
<c08.P1.278> =
<c08.P1.279> I_turned_and_looked_down_the_slope_of_the_hill_to_where,_
<c08.P1.280> enhaloed_now_in_birds,_stood_those_other_two_Martians_that_I_
<c08.P1.281> had_seen_overnight,_just_as_death_had_overtaken_them._The_
<c08.P1.282> one_had_died,_even_as_it_had_been_crying_to_its_companions;_
<c08.P1.283> perhaps_it_was_the_last_to_die,_and_its_voice_had_gone_on_
<c08.P1.284> perpetually_until_the_force_of_its_machinery_was_exhausted._
<c08.P1.285> They_glittered_now,_harmless_tripod_towers_of_shining_metal,_
<c08.P1.286> in_the_brightness_of_the_rising_sun.
<c08.P1.287> =
<c08.P1.288> All_about_the_pit,_and_saved_as_by_a_miracle_from_
<c08.P1.289> everlasting_destruction,_stretched_the_great_Mother_of_
<c08.P1.290> Cities._Those_who_have_only_seen_London_veiled_in_her_sombre_
<c08.P1.291> robes_of_smoke_can_scarcely_imagine_the_naked_clearness_and_
<c08.P1.292> beauty_of_the_silent_wilderness_of_houses.
<c08.P1.293> =
<c08.P1.294> Eastward,_over_the_blackened_ruins_of_the_Albert_Terrace_and_
<c08.P1.295> the_splintered_spire_of_the_church,_the_sun_blazed_dazzling_
<c08.P1.296> in_a_clear_sky,_and_here_and_there_some_facet_in_the_great_
<c08.P1.297> wilderness_of_roofs_caught_the_light_and_glared_with_a_white_
<c08.P1.298> intensity.
<c08.P1.299> =
<c08.P1.300> Northward_were_Kilburn_and_Hampsted,_blue_and_crowded_with_
<c08.P1.301> houses;_westward_the_great_city_was_dimmed;_and_southward,_
<c08.P1.302> beyond_the_Martians,_the_green_waves_of_Regent's_Park,_the_
<c08.P1.303> Langham_Hotel,_the_dome_of_the_Albert_Hall,_the_Imperial_
<c08.P1.304> Institute,_and_the_giant_mansions_of_the_Brompton_Road_came_
<c08.P1.305> out_clear_and_little_in_the_sunrise,_the_jagged_ruins_of_
<c08.P1.306> Westminster_rising_hazily_beyond._Far_away_and_blue_were_the_
<c08.P1.307> Surrey_hills,_and_the_towers_of_the_Crystal_Palace_glittered_
<c08.P1.308> like_two_silver_rods._The_dome_of_St._Paul's_was_dark_
<c08.P1.309> against_the_sunrise,_and_injured,_I_saw_for_the_first_time,_
<c08.P1.310> by_a_huge_gaping_cavity_on_its_western_side.
<c08.P1.311> =
<c08.P1.312> And_as_I_looked_at_this_wide_expanse_of_houses_and_factories_
<c08.P1.313> and_churches,_silent_and_abandoned;_as_I_thought_of_the_
<c08.P1.314> multitudinous_hopes_and_efforts,_the_innumerable_hosts_of_
<c08.P1.315> lives_that_had_gone_to_build_this_human_reef,_and_of_the_
<c08.P1.316> swift_and_ruthless_destruction_that_had_hung_over_it_all;_
<c08.P1.317> when_I_realised_that_the_shadow_had_been_rolled_back,_and_
<c08.P1.318> that_men_might_still_live_in_the_streets,_and_this_dear_vast_
<c08.P1.319> dead_city_of_mine_be_once_more_alive_and_powerful,_I_felt_a_
<c08.P1.320> wave_of_emotion_that_was_near_akin_to_tears.
<c08.P1.321> =
<c08.P1.322> The_torment_was_over._Even_that_day_the_healing_would_begin._
<c08.P1.323> The_survivors_of_the_people_scattered_over_the_
<c08.P1.324> country--leaderless,_lawless,_foodless,_like_sheep_without_a_
<c08.P1.325> shepherd--the_thousands_who_had_fled_by_sea,_would_begin_to_
<c08.P1.326> return;_the_pulse_of_life,_growing_stronger_and_stronger,_
<c08.P1.327> would_beat_again_in_the_empty_streets_and_pour_across_the_
<c08.P1.328> vacant_squares._Whatever_destruction_was_done,_the_hand_of_
<c08.P1.329> the_destroyer_was_stayed._All_the_gaunt_wrecks,_the_
<c08.P1.330> blackened_skeletons_of_houses_that_stared_so_dismally_at_the_
<c08.P1.331> sunlit_grass_of_the_hill,_would_presently_be_echoing_with_
<c08.P1.332> the_hammers_of_the_restorers_and_ringing_with_the_tapping_of_
<c08.P1.333> their_trowels._At_the_thought_I_extended_my_hands_towards_
<c08.P1.334> the_sky_and_began_thanking_God._In_a_year,_thought_I--in_a_
<c08.P1.335> year._._.
<c08.P1.336> =
<c08.P1.337> With_overwhelming_force_came_the_thought_of_myself,_of_my_
<c08.P1.338> wife,_and_the_old_life_of_hope_and_tender_helpfulness_that_
<c08.P1.339> had_ceased_for_ever.
<c08.P1.340> =
#
## <c09>
# chapter 9 NINE
# unit C chapter_number
# unit H chapter_title
# unit P text
<c09.P1.001> And_now_comes_the_strangest_thing_in_my_story._Yet,_perhaps,_
<c09.P1.002> it_is_not_altogether_strange._I_remember,_clearly_and_coldly_
<c09.P1.003> and_vividly,_all_that_I_did_that_day_until_the_time_that_I_
<c09.P1.004> stood_weeping_and_praising_God_upon_the_summit_of_Primrose_
<c09.P1.005> Hill._And_then_I_forget.
<c09.P1.006> =
<c09.P1.007> Of_the_next_three_days_I_know_nothing._I_have_learned_since_
<c09.P1.008> that,_so_far_from_my_being_the_first_discoverer_of_the_
<c09.P1.009> Martian_overthrow,_several_such_wanderers_as_myself_had_
<c09.P1.010> already_discovered_this_on_the_previous_night._One_man--the_
<c09.P1.011> first--had_gone_to_St._Martin's-le-Grand,_and,_while_I_
<c09.P1.012> sheltered_in_the_cabmen's_hut,_had_contrived_to_telegraph_to_
<c09.P1.013> Paris._Thence_the_joyful_news_had_flashed_all_over_the_
<c09.P1.014> world;_a_thousand_cities,_chilled_by_ghastly_apprehensions,_
<c09.P1.015> suddenly_flashed_into_frantic_illuminations;_they_knew_of_it_
<c09.P1.016> in_Dublin,_Edinburgh,_Manchester,_Birmingham,_at_the_time_
<c09.P1.017> when_I_stood_upon_the_verge_of_the_pit._Already_men,_weeping_
<c09.P1.018> with_joy,_as_I_have_heard,_shouting_and_staying_their_work_
<c09.P1.019> to_shake_hands_and_shout,_were_making_up_trains,_even_as_
<c09.P1.020> near_as_Crewe,_to_descend_upon_London._The_church_bells_that_
<c09.P1.021> had_ceased_a_fortnight_since_suddenly_caught_the_news,_until_
<c09.P1.022> all_England_was_bell-ringing._Men_on_cycles,_lean-faced,_
<c09.P1.023> unkempt,_scorched_along_every_country_lane_shouting_of_
<c09.P1.024> unhoped_deliverance,_shouting_to_gaunt,_staring_figures_of_
<c09.P1.025> despair._And_for_the_food!_Across_the_Channel,_across_the_
<c09.P1.026> Irish_Sea,_across_the_Atlantic,_corn,_bread,_and_meat_were_
<c09.P1.027> tearing_to_our_relief._All_the_shipping_in_the_world_seemed_
<c09.P1.028> going_Londonward_in_those_days._But_of_all_this_I_have_no_
<c09.P1.029> memory._I_drifted--a_demented_man._I_found_myself_in_a_house_
<c09.P1.030> of_kindly_people,_who_had_found_me_on_the_third_day_
<c09.P1.031> wandering,_weeping,_and_raving_through_the_streets_of_St._
<c09.P1.032> John's_Wood._They_have_told_me_since_that_I_was_singing_some_
<c09.P1.033> insane_doggerel_about_"The_Last_Man_Left_Alive!_Hurrah!_The_
<c09.P1.034> Last_Man_Left_Alive!"_Troubled_as_they_were_with_their_own_
<c09.P1.035> affairs,_these_people,_whose_name,_much_as_I_would_like_to_
<c09.P1.036> express_my_gratitude_to_them,_I_may_not_even_give_here,_
<c09.P1.037> nevertheless_cumbered_themselves_with_me,_sheltered_me,_and_
<c09.P1.038> protected_me_from_myself._Apparently_they_had_learned_
<c09.P1.039> something_of_my_story_from_me_during_the_days_of_my_lapse.
<c09.P1.040> =
<c09.P1.041> Very_gently,_when_my_mind_was_assured_again,_did_they_break_
<c09.P1.042> to_me_what_they_had_learned_of_the_fate_of_Leatherhead._Two_
<c09.P1.043> days_after_I_was_imprisoned_it_had_been_destroyed,_with_
<c09.P1.044> every_soul_in_it,_by_a_Martian._He_had_swept_it_out_of_
<c09.P1.045> existence,_as_it_seemed,_without_any_provocation,_as_a_boy_
<c09.P1.046> might_crush_an_ant_hill,_in_the_mere_wantonness_of_power.
<c09.P1.047> =
<c09.P1.048> I_was_a_lonely_man,_and_they_were_very_kind_to_me._I_was_a_
<c09.P1.049> lonely_man_and_a_sad_one,_and_they_bore_with_me._I_remained_
<c09.P1.050> with_them_four_days_after_my_recovery._All_that_time_I_felt_
<c09.P1.051> a_vague,_a_growing_craving_to_look_once_more_on_whatever_
<c09.P1.052> remained_of_the_little_life_that_seemed_so_happy_and_bright_
<c09.P1.053> in_my_past._It_was_a_mere_hopeless_desire_to_feast_upon_my_
<c09.P1.054> misery._They_dissuaded_me._They_did_all_they_could_to_divert_
<c09.P1.055> me_from_this_morbidity._But_at_last_I_could_resist_the_
<c09.P1.056> impulse_no_longer,_and,_promising_faithfully_to_return_to_
<c09.P1.057> them,_and_parting,_as_I_will_confess,_from_these_four-day_
<c09.P1.058> friends_with_tears,_I_went_out_again_into_the_streets_that_
<c09.P1.059> had_lately_been_so_dark_and_strange_and_empty.
<c09.P1.060> =
<c09.P1.061> Already_they_were_busy_with_returning_people;_in_places_even_
<c09.P1.062> there_were_shops_open,_and_I_saw_a_drinking_fountain_running_
<c09.P1.063> water.
<c09.P1.064> =
<c09.P1.065> I_remember_how_mockingly_bright_the_day_seemed_as_I_went_
<c09.P1.066> back_on_my_melancholy_pilgrimage_to_the_little_house_at_
<c09.P1.067> Woking,_how_busy_the_streets_and_vivid_the_moving_life_about_
<c09.P1.068> me._So_many_people_were_abroad_everywhere,_busied_in_a_
<c09.P1.069> thousand_activities,_that_it_seemed_incredible_that_any_
<c09.P1.070> great_proportion_of_the_population_could_have_been_slain._
<c09.P1.071> But_then_I_noticed_how_yellow_were_the_skins_of_the_people_I_
<c09.P1.072> met,_how_shaggy_the_hair_of_the_men,_how_large_and_bright_
<c09.P1.073> their_eyes,_and_that_every_other_man_still_wore_his_dirty_
<c09.P1.074> rags._Their_faces_seemed_all_with_one_of_two_expressions--a_
<c09.P1.075> leaping_exultation_and_energy_or_a_grim_resolution._Save_for_
<c09.P1.076> the_expression_of_the_faces,_London_seemed_a_city_of_tramps._
<c09.P1.077> The_vestries_were_indiscriminately_distributing_bread_sent_
<c09.P1.078> us_by_the_French_government._The_ribs_of_the_few_horses_
<c09.P1.079> showed_dismally._Haggard_special_constables_with_white_
<c09.P1.080> badges_stood_at_the_corners_of_every_street._I_saw_little_of_
<c09.P1.081> the_mischief_wrought_by_the_Martians_until_I_reached_
<c09.P1.082> Wellington_Street,_and_there_I_saw_the_red_weed_clambering_
<c09.P1.083> over_the_buttresses_of_Waterloo_Bridge.
<c09.P1.084> =
<c09.P1.085> At_the_corner_of_the_bridge,_too,_I_saw_one_of_the_common_
<c09.P1.086> contrasts_of_that_grotesque_time--a_sheet_of_paper_flaunting_
<c09.P1.087> against_a_thicket_of_the_red_weed,_transfixed_by_a_stick_
<c09.P1.088> that_kept_it_in_place._It_was_the_placard_of_the_first_
<c09.P1.089> newspaper_to_resume_publication--the_DAILY_MAIL._I_bought_a_
<c09.P1.090> copy_for_a_blackened_shilling_I_found_in_my_pocket._Most_of_
<c09.P1.091> it_was_in_blank,_but_the_solitary_compositor_who_did_the_
<c09.P1.092> thing_had_amused_himself_by_making_a_grotesque_scheme_of_
<c09.P1.093> advertisement_stereo_on_the_back_page._The_matter_he_printed_
<c09.P1.094> was_emotional;_the_news_organisation_had_not_as_yet_found_
<c09.P1.095> its_way_back._I_learned_nothing_fresh_except_that_already_in_
<c09.P1.096> one_week_the_examination_of_the_Martian_mechanisms_had_
<c09.P1.097> yielded_astonishing_results._Among_other_things,_the_article_
<c09.P1.098> assured_me_what_I_did_not_believe_at_the_time,_that_the_
<c09.P1.099> "Secret_of_Flying,"_was_discovered._At_Waterloo_I_found_the_
<c09.P1.100> free_trains_that_were_taking_people_to_their_homes._The_
<c09.P1.101> first_rush_was_already_over._There_were_few_people_in_the_
<c09.P1.102> train,_and_I_was_in_no_mood_for_casual_conversation._I_got_a_
<c09.P1.103> compartment_to_myself,_and_sat_with_folded_arms,_looking_
<c09.P1.104> greyly_at_the_sunlit_devastation_that_flowed_past_the_
<c09.P1.105> windows._And_just_outside_the_terminus_the_train_jolted_over_
<c09.P1.106> temporary_rails,_and_on_either_side_of_the_railway_the_
<c09.P1.107> houses_were_blackened_ruins._To_Clapham_Junction_the_face_of_
<c09.P1.108> London_was_grimy_with_powder_of_the_Black_Smoke,_in_spite_of_
<c09.P1.109> two_days_of_thunderstorms_and_rain,_and_at_Clapham_Junction_
<c09.P1.110> the_line_had_been_wrecked_again;_there_were_hundreds_of_
<c09.P1.111> out-of-work_clerks_and_shopmen_working_side_by_side_with_the_
<c09.P1.112> customary_navvies,_and_we_were_jolted_over_a_hasty_relaying.
<c09.P1.113> =
<c09.P1.114> All_down_the_line_from_there_the_aspect_of_the_country_was_
<c09.P1.115> gaunt_and_unfamiliar;_Wimbledon_particularly_had_suffered._
<c09.P1.116> Walton,_by_virtue_of_its_unburned_pine_woods,_seemed_the_
<c09.P1.117> least_hurt_of_any_place_along_the_line._The_Wandle,_the_
<c09.P1.118> Mole,_every_little_stream,_was_a_heaped_mass_of_red_weed,_in_
<c09.P1.119> appearance_between_butcher's_meat_and_pickled_cabbage._The_
<c09.P1.120> Surrey_pine_woods_were_too_dry,_however,_for_the_festoons_of_
<c09.P1.121> the_red_climber._Beyond_Wimbledon,_within_sight_of_the_line,_
<c09.P1.122> in_certain_nursery_grounds,_were_the_heaped_masses_of_earth_
<c09.P1.123> about_the_sixth_cylinder._A_number_of_people_were_standing_
<c09.P1.124> about_it,_and_some_sappers_were_busy_in_the_midst_of_it._
<c09.P1.125> Over_it_flaunted_a_Union_Jack,_flapping_cheerfully_in_the_
<c09.P1.126> morning_breeze._The_nursery_grounds_were_everywhere_crimson_
<c09.P1.127> with_the_weed,_a_wide_expanse_of_livid_colour_cut_with_
<c09.P1.128> purple_shadows,_and_very_painful_to_the_eye._One's_gaze_went_
<c09.P1.129> with_infinite_relief_from_the_scorched_greys_and_sullen_reds_
<c09.P1.130> of_the_foreground_to_the_blue-green_softness_of_the_eastward_
<c09.P1.131> hills.
<c09.P1.132> =
<c09.P1.133> The_line_on_the_London_side_of_Woking_station_was_still_
<c09.P1.134> undergoing_repair,_so_I_descended_at_Byfleet_station_and_
<c09.P1.135> took_the_road_to_Maybury,_past_the_place_where_I_and_the_
<c09.P1.136> artilleryman_had_talked_to_the_hussars,_and_on_by_the_spot_
<c09.P1.137> where_the_Martian_had_appeared_to_me_in_the_thunderstorm._
<c09.P1.138> Here,_moved_by_curiosity,_I_turned_aside_to_find,_among_a_
<c09.P1.139> tangle_of_red_fronds,_the_warped_and_broken_dog_cart_with_
<c09.P1.140> the_whitened_bones_of_the_horse_scattered_and_gnawed._For_a_
<c09.P1.141> time_I_stood_regarding_these_vestiges._._._.
<c09.P1.142> =
<c09.P1.143> Then_I_returned_through_the_pine_wood,_neck-high_with_red_
<c09.P1.144> weed_here_and_there,_to_find_the_landlord_of_the_Spotted_Dog_
<c09.P1.145> had_already_found_burial,_and_so_came_home_past_the_College_
<c09.P1.146> Arms._A_man_standing_at_an_open_cottage_door_greeted_me_by_
<c09.P1.147> name_as_I_passed.
<c09.P1.148> =
<c09.P1.149> I_looked_at_my_house_with_a_quick_flash_of_hope_that_faded_
<c09.P1.150> immediately._The_door_had_been_forced;_it_was_unfast_and_was_
<c09.P1.151> opening_slowly_as_I_approached.
<c09.P1.152> =
<c09.P1.153> It_slammed_again._The_curtains_of_my_study_fluttered_out_of_
<c09.P1.154> the_open_window_from_which_I_and_the_artilleryman_had_
<c09.P1.155> watched_the_dawn._No_one_had_closed_it_since._The_smashed_
<c09.P1.156> bushes_were_just_as_I_had_left_them_nearly_four_weeks_ago._I_
<c09.P1.157> stumbled_into_the_hall,_and_the_house_felt_empty._The_stair_
<c09.P1.158> carpet_was_ruffled_and_discoloured_where_I_had_crouched,_
<c09.P1.159> soaked_to_the_skin_from_the_thunderstorm_the_night_of_the_
<c09.P1.160> catastrophe._Our_muddy_footsteps_I_saw_still_went_up_the_
<c09.P1.161> stairs.
<c09.P1.162> =
<c09.P1.163> I_followed_them_to_my_study,_and_found_lying_on_my_
<c09.P1.164> writing-table_still,_with_the_selenite_paper_weight_upon_it,_
<c09.P1.165> the_sheet_of_work_I_had_left_on_the_afternoon_of_the_opening_
<c09.P1.166> of_the_cylinder._For_a_space_I_stood_reading_over_my_
<c09.P1.167> abandoned_arguments._It_was_a_paper_on_the_probable_
<c09.P1.168> development_of_Moral_Ideas_with_the_development_of_the_
<c09.P1.169> civilising_process;_and_the_last_sentence_was_the_opening_of_
<c09.P1.170> a_prophecy:_"In_about_two_hundred_years,"_I_had_written,_"we_
<c09.P1.171> may_expect----"_The_sentence_ended_abruptly._I_remembered_my_
<c09.P1.172> inability_to_fix_my_mind_that_morning,_scarcely_a_month_gone_
<c09.P1.173> by,_and_how_I_had_broken_off_to_get_my_DAILY_CHRONICLE_from_
<c09.P1.174> the_newsboy._I_remembered_how_I_went_down_to_the_garden_gate_
<c09.P1.175> as_he_came_along,_and_how_I_had_listened_to_his_odd_story_of_
<c09.P1.176> "Men_from_Mars."
<c09.P1.177> =
<c09.P1.178> I_came_down_and_went_into_the_dining_room._There_were_the_
<c09.P1.179> mutton_and_the_bread,_both_far_gone_now_in_decay,_and_a_beer_
<c09.P1.180> bottle_overturned,_just_as_I_and_the_artilleryman_had_left_
<c09.P1.181> them._My_home_was_desolate._I_perceived_the_folly_of_the_
<c09.P1.182> faint_hope_I_had_cherished_so_long._And_then_a_strange_thing_
<c09.P1.183> occurred._"It_is_no_use,"_said_a_voice._"The_house_is_
<c09.P1.184> deserted._No_one_has_been_here_these_ten_days._Do_not_stay_
<c09.P1.185> here_to_torment_yourself._No_one_escaped_but_you."
<c09.P1.186> =
<c09.P1.187> I_was_startled._Had_I_spoken_my_thought_aloud?_I_turned,_and_
<c09.P1.188> the_French_window_was_open_behind_me._I_made_a_step_to_it,_
<c09.P1.189> and_stood_looking_out.
<c09.P1.190> =
<c09.P1.191> And_there,_amazed_and_afraid,_even_as_I_stood_amazed_and_
<c09.P1.192> afraid,_were_my_cousin_and_my_wife--my_wife_white_and_
<c09.P1.193> tearless._She_gave_a_faint_cry.
<c09.P1.194> =
<c09.P1.195> "I_came,"_she_said._"I_knew--knew----"
<c09.P1.196> =
<c09.P1.197> She_put_her_hand_to_her_throat--swayed._I_made_a_step_
<c09.P1.198> forward,_and_caught_her_in_my_arms.
<c09.P1.199> =
#
## <c10>
# chapter 10 TEN
# unit C chapter_number
# unit H chapter_title
# unit P text
<c10.P1.001> I_cannot_but_regret,_now_that_I_am_concluding_my_story,_how_
<c10.P1.002> little_I_am_able_to_contribute_to_the_discussion_of_the_many_
<c10.P1.003> debatable_questions_which_are_still_unsettled._In_one_
<c10.P1.004> respect_I_shall_certainly_provoke_criticism._My_particular_
<c10.P1.005> province_is_speculative_philosophy._My_knowledge_of_
<c10.P1.006> comparative_physiology_is_confined_to_a_book_or_two,_but_it_
<c10.P1.007> seems_to_me_that_Carver's_suggestions_as_to_the_reason_of_
<c10.P1.008> the_rapid_death_of_the_Martians_is_so_probable_as_to_be_
<c10.P1.009> regarded_almost_as_a_proven_conclusion._I_have_assumed_that_
<c10.P1.010> in_the_body_of_my_narrative.
<c10.P1.011> =
<c10.P1.012> At_any_rate,_in_all_the_bodies_of_the_Martians_that_were_
<c10.P1.013> examined_after_the_war,_no_bacteria_except_those_already_
<c10.P1.014> known_as_terrestrial_species_were_found._That_they_did_not_
<c10.P1.015> bury_any_of_their_dead,_and_the_reckless_slaughter_they_
<c10.P1.016> perpetrated,_point_also_to_an_entire_ignorance_of_the_
<c10.P1.017> putrefactive_process._But_probable_as_this_seems,_it_is_by_
<c10.P1.018> no_means_a_proven_conclusion.
<c10.P1.019> =
<c10.P1.020> Neither_is_the_composition_of_the_Black_Smoke_known,_which_
<c10.P1.021> the_Martians_used_with_such_deadly_effect,_and_the_generator_
<c10.P1.022> of_the_Heat-Rays_remains_a_puzzle._The_terrible_disasters_at_
<c10.P1.023> the_Ealing_and_South_Kensington_laboratories_have_
<c10.P1.024> disinclined_analysts_for_further_investigations_upon_the_
<c10.P1.025> latter._Spectrum_analysis_of_the_black_powder_points_
<c10.P1.026> unmistakably_to_the_presence_of_an_unknown_element_with_a_
<c10.P1.027> brilliant_group_of_three_lines_in_the_green,_and_it_is_
<c10.P1.028> possible_that_it_combines_with_argon_to_form_a_compound_
<c10.P1.029> which_acts_at_once_with_deadly_effect_upon_some_constituent_
<c10.P1.030> in_the_blood._But_such_unproven_speculations_will_scarcely_
<c10.P1.031> be_of_interest_to_the_general_reader,_to_whom_this_story_is_
<c10.P1.032> addressed._None_of_the_brown_scum_that_drifted_down_the_
<c10.P1.033> Thames_after_the_destruction_of_Shepperton_was_examined_at_
<c10.P1.034> the_time,_and_now_none_is_forthcoming.
<c10.P1.035> =
<c10.P1.036> The_results_of_an_anatomical_examination_of_the_Martians,_so_
<c10.P1.037> far_as_the_prowling_dogs_had_left_such_an_examination_
<c10.P1.038> possible,_I_have_already_given._But_everyone_is_familiar_
<c10.P1.039> with_the_magnificent_and_almost_complete_specimen_in_spirits_
<c10.P1.040> at_the_Natural_History_Museum,_and_the_countless_drawings_
<c10.P1.041> that_have_been_made_from_it;_and_beyond_that_the_interest_of_
<c10.P1.042> their_physiology_and_structure_is_purely_scientific.
<c10.P1.043> =
<c10.P1.044> A_question_of_graver_and_universal_interest_is_the_
<c10.P1.045> possibility_of_another_attack_from_the_Martians._I_do_not_
<c10.P1.046> think_that_nearly_enough_attention_is_being_given_to_this_
<c10.P1.047> aspect_of_the_matter._At_present_the_planet_Mars_is_in_
<c10.P1.048> conjunction,_but_with_every_return_to_opposition_I,_for_one,_
<c10.P1.049> anticipate_a_renewal_of_their_adventure._In_any_case,_we_
<c10.P1.050> should_be_prepared._It_seems_to_me_that_it_should_be_
<c10.P1.051> possible_to_define_the_position_of_the_gun_from_which_the_
<c10.P1.052> shots_are_discharged,_to_keep_a_sustained_watch_upon_this_
<c10.P1.053> part_of_the_planet,_and_to_anticipate_the_arrival_of_the_
<c10.P1.054> next_attack.
<c10.P1.055> =
<c10.P1.056> In_that_case_the_cylinder_might_be_destroyed_with_dynamite_
<c10.P1.057> or_artillery_before_it_was_sufficiently_cool_for_the_
<c10.P1.058> Martians_to_emerge,_or_they_might_be_butchered_by_means_of_
<c10.P1.059> guns_so_soon_as_the_screw_opened._It_seems_to_me_that_they_
<c10.P1.060> have_lost_a_vast_advantage_in_the_failure_of_their_first_
<c10.P1.061> surprise._Possibly_they_see_it_in_the_same_light.
<c10.P1.062> =
<c10.P1.063> Lessing_has_advanced_excellent_reasons_for_supposing_that_
<c10.P1.064> the_Martians_have_actually_succeeded_in_effecting_a_landing_
<c10.P1.065> on_the_planet_Venus._Seven_months_ago_now,_Venus_and_Mars_
<c10.P1.066> were_in_alignment_with_the_sun;_that_is_to_say,_Mars_was_in_
<c10.P1.067> opposition_from_the_point_of_view_of_an_observer_on_Venus._
<c10.P1.068> Subsequently_a_peculiar_luminous_and_sinuous_marking_
<c10.P1.069> appeared_on_the_unillumined_half_of_the_inner_planet,_and_
<c10.P1.070> almost_simultaneously_a_faint_dark_mark_of_a_similar_sinuous_
<c10.P1.071> character_was_detected_upon_a_photograph_of_the_Martian_
<c10.P1.072> disk._One_needs_to_see_the_drawings_of_these_appearances_in_
<c10.P1.073> order_to_appreciate_fully_their_remarkable_resemblance_in_
<c10.P1.074> character.
<c10.P1.075> =
<c10.P1.076> At_any_rate,_whether_we_expect_another_invasion_or_not,_our_
<c10.P1.077> views_of_the_human_future_must_be_greatly_modified_by_these_
<c10.P1.078> events._We_have_learned_now_that_we_cannot_regard_this_
<c10.P1.079> planet_as_being_fenced_in_and_a_secure_abiding_place_for_
<c10.P1.080> Man;_we_can_never_anticipate_the_unseen_good_or_evil_that_
<c10.P1.081> may_come_upon_us_suddenly_out_of_space._It_may_be_that_in_
<c10.P1.082> the_larger_design_of_the_universe_this_invasion_from_Mars_is_
<c10.P1.083> not_without_its_ultimate_benefit_for_men;_it_has_robbed_us_
<c10.P1.084> of_that_serene_confidence_in_the_future_which_is_the_most_
<c10.P1.085> fruitful_source_of_decadence,_the_gifts_to_human_science_it_
<c10.P1.086> has_brought_are_enormous,_and_it_has_done_much_to_promote_
<c10.P1.087> the_conception_of_the_commonweal_of_mankind._It_may_be_that_
<c10.P1.088> across_the_immensity_of_space_the_Martians_have_watched_the_
<c10.P1.089> fate_of_these_pioneers_of_theirs_and_learned_their_lesson,_
<c10.P1.090> and_that_on_the_planet_Venus_they_have_found_a_securer_
<c10.P1.091> settlement._Be_that_as_it_may,_for_many_years_yet_there_will_
<c10.P1.092> certainly_be_no_relaxation_of_the_eager_scrutiny_of_the_
<c10.P1.093> Martian_disk,_and_those_fiery_darts_of_the_sky,_the_shooting_
<c10.P1.094> stars,_will_bring_with_them_as_they_fall_an_unavoidable_
<c10.P1.095> apprehension_to_all_the_sons_of_men.
<c10.P1.096> =
<c10.P1.097> The_broadening_of_men's_views_that_has_resulted_can_scarcely_
<c10.P1.098> be_exaggerated._Before_the_cylinder_fell_there_was_a_general_
<c10.P1.099> persuasion_that_through_all_the_deep_of_space_no_life_
<c10.P1.100> existed_beyond_the_petty_surface_of_our_minute_sphere._Now_
<c10.P1.101> we_see_further._If_the_Martians_can_reach_Venus,_there_is_no_
<c10.P1.102> reason_to_suppose_that_the_thing_is_impossible_for_men,_and_
<c10.P1.103> when_the_slow_cooling_of_the_sun_makes_this_earth_
<c10.P1.104> uninhabitable,_as_at_last_it_must_do,_it_may_be_that_the_
<c10.P1.105> thread_of_life_that_has_begun_here_will_have_streamed_out_
<c10.P1.106> and_caught_our_sister_planet_within_its_toils.
<c10.P1.107> =
<c10.P1.108> Dim_and_wonderful_is_the_vision_I_have_conjured_up_in_my_
<c10.P1.109> mind_of_life_spreading_slowly_from_this_little_seed_bed_of_
<c10.P1.110> the_solar_system_throughout_the_inanimate_vastness_of_
<c10.P1.111> sidereal_space._But_that_is_a_remote_dream._It_may_be,_on_
<c10.P1.112> the_other_hand,_that_the_destruction_of_the_Martians_is_only_
<c10.P1.113> a_reprieve._To_them,_and_not_to_us,_perhaps,_is_the_future_
<c10.P1.114> ordained.
<c10.P1.115> =
<c10.P1.116> I_must_confess_the_stress_and_danger_of_the_time_have_left_
<c10.P1.117> an_abiding_sense_of_doubt_and_insecurity_in_my_mind._I_sit_
<c10.P1.118> in_my_study_writing_by_lamplight,_and_suddenly_I_see_again_
<c10.P1.119> the_healing_valley_below_set_with_writhing_flames,_and_feel_
<c10.P1.120> the_house_behind_and_about_me_empty_and_desolate._I_go_out_
<c10.P1.121> into_the_Byfleet_Road,_and_vehicles_pass_me,_a_butcher_boy_
<c10.P1.122> in_a_cart,_a_cabful_of_visitors,_a_workman_on_a_bicycle,_
<c10.P1.123> children_going_to_school,_and_suddenly_they_become_vague_and_
<c10.P1.124> unreal,_and_I_hurry_again_with_the_artilleryman_through_the_
<c10.P1.125> hot,_brooding_silence._Of_a_night_I_see_the_black_powder_
<c10.P1.126> darkening_the_silent_streets,_and_the_contorted_bodies_
<c10.P1.127> shrouded_in_that_layer;_they_rise_upon_me_tattered_and_
<c10.P1.128> dog-bitten._They_gibber_and_grow_fiercer,_paler,_uglier,_mad_
<c10.P1.129> distortions_of_humanity_at_last,_and_I_wake,_cold_and_
<c10.P1.130> wretched,_in_the_darkness_of_the_night.
<c10.P1.131> =
<c10.P1.132> I_go_to_London_and_see_the_busy_multitudes_in_Fleet_Street_
<c10.P1.133> and_the_Strand,_and_it_comes_across_my_mind_that_they_are_
<c10.P1.134> but_the_ghosts_of_the_past,_haunting_the_streets_that_I_have_
<c10.P1.135> seen_silent_and_wretched,_going_to_and_fro,_phantasms_in_a_
<c10.P1.136> dead_city,_the_mockery_of_life_in_a_galvanised_body._And_
<c10.P1.137> strange,_too,_it_is_to_stand_on_Primrose_Hill,_as_I_did_but_
<c10.P1.138> a_day_before_writing_this_last_chapter,_to_see_the_great_
<c10.P1.139> province_of_houses,_dim_and_blue_through_the_haze_of_the_
<c10.P1.140> smoke_and_mist,_vanishing_at_last_into_the_vague_lower_sky,_
<c10.P1.141> to_see_the_people_walking_to_and_fro_among_the_flower_beds_
<c10.P1.142> on_the_hill,_to_see_the_sight-seers_about_the_Martian_
<c10.P1.143> machine_that_stands_there_still,_to_hear_the_tumult_of_
<c10.P1.144> playing_children,_and_to_recall_the_time_when_I_saw_it_all_
<c10.P1.145> bright_and_clear-cut,_hard_and_silent,_under_the_dawn_of_
<c10.P1.146> that_last_great_day._._._.
<c10.P1.147> =
<c10.P1.148> And_strangest_of_all_is_it_to_hold_my_wife's_hand_again,_and_
<c10.P1.149> to_think_that_I_have_counted_her,_and_that_she_has_counted_
<c10.P1.150> me,_among_the_dead.
<c10.P1.151> =