Chapter1
TheWaroftheWorlds-Book1byHGWellsChapter1-TheEveoftheWarNoonewouldhavebelievedinthelastyearsofthenineteenthcenturythatthisworldwasbeingwatchedkeenlyandcloselybyintelligencesgreaterthanman\'sandyetasmortalashisown;thatasmenbusiedthemselvesabouttheirvariousconcernstheywerescrutinisedandstudied,perhapsalmostasnarrowlyasamanwithamicroscopemightscru-tinisethetransientcreaturesthatswarmandmultiplyinadropofwater。Withinfinitecomplacencymenwenttoandfrooverthisglobeabouttheirlittleaffairs,sereneintheirassuranceoftheirempireovermatter。Itispossiblethattheinfusoriaunderthemicroscopedothesame。Noonegaveathoughttotheolderworldsofspaceassourcesofhumandanger,orthoughtofthemonlytodismisstheideaoflifeuponthemasimpossibleorimprobable。Itiscurioustorecallsomeofthementalhabitsofthosedeparteddays。AtmostterrestrialmenfanciedtheremightbeothermenuponMars,perhapsinferiortothemselvesandreadytowelcomeamis-sionaryenterprise。
Yetacrossthegulfofspace,mindsthataretoourmindsasoursaretothoseofthebeaststhatperish,intellectsvastandcoolandunsympathetic,regardedthisearthwithenviouseyes,andslowlyandsurelydrewtheirplansagainstus。Andearlyinthetwentiethcenturycamethegreatdisillusionment。
TheplanetMars,Iscarcelyneedremindthereader,re-volvesaboutthesunatameandistanceof140,000,000miles,andthelightandheatitreceivesfromthesunisbarelyhalfofthatreceivedbythisworld。
Itmustbe,ifthenebularhypothesishasanytruth,olderthanourworld;
andlongbeforethisearthceasedtobemolten,lifeuponitssurfacemusthavebegunitscourse。Thefactthatitisscarcelyoneseventhofthevolumeoftheearthmusthaveaccelerateditscoolingtothetemperatureatwhichlifecouldbegin。Ithasairandwaterandallthatisnecessaryforthesupportofanimatedexistence。
Yetsovainisman,andsoblindedbyhisvanity,thatnowriter,uptotheveryendofthenineteenthcentury,ex-pressedanyideathatintelligentlifemighthavedevelopedtherefar,orindeedatall,beyonditsearthlylevel。NorwasitgenerallyunderstoodthatsinceMarsisolderthanourearth,withscarcelyaquarterofthesuperficialareaandremoterfromthesun,itnecessarilyfollowsthatitisnotonlymoredistantfromtime\'sbeginningbutneareritsend。
Thesecularcoolingthatmustsomedayovertakeourplanethasalreadygonefarindeedwithourneighbour。Itsphysicalconditionisstilllargelyamystery,butweknownowthateveninitsequatorialregionthemiddaytemperaturebarelyapproachesthatofourcoldestwinter。Itsairismuchmoreattenuatedthanours,itsoceanshaveshrunkuntiltheycoverbutathirdofitssurface,andasitsslowseasonschangehugesnowcapsgatherandmeltabouteitherpoleandperiodicallyinundateitstemperatezones。
Thatlaststageofexhaustion,whichtousisstillincrediblyremote,hasbecomeapresent-dayproblemfortheinhabitantsofMars。Theimmediatepressureofnecessityhasbrightenedtheirintellects,enlargedtheirpowers,andhardenedtheirhearts。Andlookingacrossspacewithinstruments,andintelligencessuchaswehavescarcelydreamedof,theysee,atitsnearestdistanceonly35,000,000ofmilessunwardofthem,amorningstarofhope,ourownwarmerplanet,greenwithvegetationandgreywithwater,withacloudyatmosphereeloquentoffertility,withglimpsesthroughitsdriftingcloudwispsofbroadstretchesofpopulouscountryandnarrow,navy-crowdedseas。
Andwemen,thecreatureswhoinhabitthisearth,mustbetothematleastasalienandlowlyasarethemonkeysandlemurstous。Theintellectualsideofmanalreadyadmitsthatlifeisanincessantstruggleforexistence,anditwouldseemthatthistooisthebeliefofthemindsuponMars。Theirworldisfargoneinitscoolingandthisworldisstillcrowdedwithlife,butcrowdedonlywithwhattheyregardasinferioranimals。Tocarrywarfaresunwardis,indeed,theironlyescapefromthedestructionthat,generationaftergener-ation,creepsuponthem。
Andbeforewejudgeofthemtooharshlywemustremem-berwhatruthlessandutterdestructionourownspecieshaswrought,notonlyuponanimals,suchasthevanishedbisonandthedodo,butuponitsinferiorraces。TheTasmanians,inspiteoftheirhumanlikeness,wereentirelysweptoutofexistenceinawarofexterminationwagedbyEuropeanimmi-grants,inthespaceoffiftyyears。ArewesuchapostlesofmercyastocomplainiftheMartianswarredinthesamespirit?
TheMartiansseemtohavecalculatedtheirdescentwithamazingsubtlety——theirmathematicallearningisevidentlyfarinexcessofours——andtohavecarriedouttheirprepara-tionswithawell-nighperfectunanimity。Hadourinstru-
mentspermittedit,wemighthaveseenthegatheringtroublefarbackinthenineteenthcentury。MenlikeSchiaparelliwatchedtheredplanet——itisodd,by-the-bye,thatforcount-lesscenturiesMarshasbeenthestarofwar——butfailedtointerpretthefluctuatingappearancesofthemarkingstheymappedsowell。AllthattimetheMartiansmusthavebeengettingready。
Duringtheoppositionof1894agreatlightwasseenontheilluminatedpartofthedisk,firstattheLickObservatory,thenbyPerrotinofNice,andthenbyotherobservers。EnglishreadersheardofitfirstintheissueofNATUREdatedAugust2。Iaminclinedtothinkthatthisblazemayhavebeenthecastingofthehugegun,inthevastpitsunkintotheirplanet,fromwhichtheirshotswerefiredatus。Peculiarmarkings,asyetunexplained,wereseennearthesiteofthatoutbreakduringthenexttwooppositions。
Thestormburstuponussixyearsagonow。AsMarsapproachedopposition,LavelleofJavasetthewiresoftheastronomicalexchangepalpitatingwiththeamazingintelli-genceofahugeoutbreakofincandescentgasupontheplanet。Ithadoccurredtowardsmidnightofthetwelfth;andthespectroscope,towhichhehadatonceresorted,indicatedamassofflaminggas,chieflyhydrogen,movingwithanenormousvelocitytowardsthisearth。
Thisjetoffirehadbecomeinvisibleaboutaquarterpasttwelve。Hecomparedittoacolossalpuffofflamesuddenlyandviolentlysquirtedoutoftheplanet,\"asflaminggasesrushedoutofagun。\"
Asingularlyappropriatephraseitproved。YetthenextdaytherewasnothingofthisinthepapersexceptalittlenoteintheDAILYTELEGRAPH,andtheworldwentinignoranceofoneofthegravestdangersthateverthreatenedthehumanrace。ImightnothaveheardoftheeruptionatallhadInotmetOgilvy,thewell-knownastronomer,atOttershaw。Hewasimmenselyexcitedatthenews,andintheexcessofhisfeel-ingsinvitedmeuptotakeaturnwithhimthatnightinascrutinyoftheredplanet。
Inspiteofallthathashappenedsince,Istillrememberthatvigilverydistinctly:theblackandsilentobservatory,theshadowedlanternthrowingafeebleglowuponthefloorinthecorner,thesteadytickingoftheclockworkofthetele-scope,thelittleslitintheroof——anoblongprofunditywiththestarduststreakedacrossit。Ogilvymovedabout,invisiblebutaudible。Lookingthroughthetelescope,onesawacircleofdeepblueandthelittleroundplanetswimminginthefield。Itseemedsuchalittlething,sobrightandsmallandstill,faintlymarkedwithtransversestripes,andslightlyflattenedfromtheperfectround。Butsolittleitwas,sosilverywarm——apin\'s-headoflight!Itwasasifitquivered,butreallythiswasthetelescopevibratingwiththeactivityoftheclockworkthatkepttheplanetinview。
AsIwatched,theplanetseemedtogrowlargerandsmallerandtoadvanceandrecede,butthatwassimplythatmyeyewastired。Fortymillionsofmilesitwasfromus——morethanfortymillionsofmilesofvoid。Fewpeoplerealisetheim-mensityofvacancyinwhichthedustofthematerialuniverseswims。
Nearitinthefield,Iremember,werethreefaintpointsoflight,threetelescopicstarsinfinitelyremote,andallarounditwastheunfathomabledarknessofemptyspace。Youknowhowthatblacknesslooksonafrostystarlightnight。Inatele-scopeitseemsfarprofounder。Andinvisibletomebecauseitwassoremoteandsmall,flyingswiftlyandsteadilytowardsmeacrossthatincredibledistance,drawingnearereverymin-utebysomanythousandsofmiles,cametheThingtheyweresendingus,theThingthatwastobringsomuchstruggleandcalamityanddeathtotheearth。
IneverdreamedofitthenasIwatched;nooneonearthdreamedofthatunerringmissile。
Thatnight,too,therewasanotherjettingoutofgasfromthedistantplanet。Isawit。Areddishflashattheedge,theslightestprojectionoftheoutlinejustasthechronometerstruckmidnight;andatthatItoldOgilvyandhetookmyplace。ThenightwaswarmandIwasthirsty,andIwentstretchingmylegsclumsilyandfeelingmywayinthedark-ness,tothelittletablewherethesiphonstood,whileOgilvyexclaimedatthestreamerofgasthatcameouttowardsus。
ThatnightanotherinvisiblemissilestartedonitswaytotheearthfromMars,justasecondorsoundertwenty-fourhoursafterthefirstone。IrememberhowIsatonthetablethereintheblackness,withpatchesofgreenandcrimsonswimmingbeforemyeyes。IwishedIhadalighttosmokeby,littlesuspectingthemeaningoftheminutegleamIhadseenandallthatitwouldpresentlybringme。Ogilvywatchedtillone,andthengaveitup;andwelitthelanternandwalkedovertohishouse。DownbelowinthedarknesswereOttershawandChertseyandalltheirhundredsofpeople,sleepinginpeace。
HewasfullofspeculationthatnightabouttheconditionofMars,andscoffedatthevulgarideaofitshavingin-habitantswhoweresignallingus。Hisideawasthatmeteoritesmightbefallinginaheavyshowerupontheplanet,orthatahugevolcanicexplosionwasinprogress。Hepointedouttomehowunlikelyitwasthatorganicevolutionhadtakenthesamedirectioninthetwoadjacentplanets。
\"ThechancesagainstanythingmanlikeonMarsareamilliontoone,\"
hesaid。
Hundredsofobserverssawtheflamethatnightandthenightafteraboutmidnight,andagainthenightafter;andsofortennights,aflameeachnight。Whytheshotsceasedafterthetenthnooneonearthhasattemptedtoexplain。ItmaybethegasesofthefiringcausedtheMartiansin-convenience。
Densecloudsofsmokeordust,visiblethroughapowerfultelescopeonearthaslittlegrey,fluctuatingpatches,spreadthroughtheclearnessoftheplanet\'satmos-phereandobscureditsmorefamiliarfeatures。
Eventhedailypaperswokeuptothedisturbancesatlast,andpopularnotesappearedhere,there,andeverywhereconcerningthevolcanoesuponMars。Theseriocomicperiodi-calPUNCH,Iremember,madeahappyuseofitinthepoliticalcartoon。And,allunsuspected,thosemissilestheMartianshadfiredatusdrewearthward,rushingnowatapaceofmanymilesasecondthroughtheemptygulfofspace,hourbyhouranddaybyday,nearerandnearer。Itseemstomenowalmostincrediblywonderfulthat,withthatswiftfatehangingoverus,mencouldgoabouttheirpettyconcernsastheydid。IrememberhowjubilantMarkhamwasatsecuringanewphotographoftheplanetfortheillustratedpaperheeditedinthosedays。Peopleintheselattertimesscarcelyrealisetheabundanceandenterpriseofournineteenth-centurypapers。Formyownpart,Iwasmuchoccupiedinlearningtoridethebicycle,andbusyuponaseriesofpapersdiscussingtheprobabledevelopmentsofmoralideasascivilisationprogressed。
Onenight(thefirstmissilethencouldscarcelyhavebeen10,000,000
milesaway)Iwentforawalkwithmywife。ItwasstarlightandIexplainedtheSignsoftheZodiactoher,andpointedoutMars,abrightdotoflightcreepingzenithward,towardswhichsomanytelescopeswerepointed。Itwasawarmnight。Cominghome,apartyofexcursionistsfromChertseyorIsleworthpassedussingingandplayingmusic。Therewerelightsintheupperwindowsofthehousesasthepeoplewenttobed。Fromtherailwaystationinthedistancecamethesoundofshuntingtrains,ringingandrumbling,softenedalmostintomelodybythedistance。Mywifepointedouttomethebrightnessofthered,green,andyellowsignallightshanginginaframeworkagainstthesky。Itseemedsosafeandtranquil。
TheWaroftheWorlds-Book1-Chapter2Chapter2-TheFallingStarThencamethenightofthefirstfallingstar。Itwasseenearlyinthemorning,rushingoverWinchestereastward,alineofflamehighintheatmosphere。Hundredsmusthaveseenit,andtakenitforanordinaryfallingstar。Albinde-scribeditasleavingagreenishstreakbehinditthatglowedforsomeseconds。Denning,ourgreatestauthorityonmeteor-ites,statedthattheheightofitsfirstappearancewasaboutninetyoronehundredmiles。Itseemedtohimthatitfelltoearthaboutonehundredmileseastofhim。
Iwasathomeatthathourandwritinginmystudy;andalthoughmyFrenchwindowsfacetowardsOttershawandtheblindwasup(forIlovedinthosedaystolookupatthenightsky),Isawnothingofit。YetthisstrangestofallthingsthatevercametoearthfromouterspacemusthavefallenwhileIwassittingthere,visibletomehadIonlylookedupasitpassed。Someofthosewhosawitsflightsayittravelledwithahissingsound。Imyselfheardnothingofthat。ManypeopleinBerkshire,Surrey,andMiddlesexmusthaveseenthefallofit,and,atmost,havethoughtthatanothermeteoritehaddescended。Nooneseemstohavetroubledtolookforthefallenmassthatnight。
ButveryearlyinthemorningpoorOgilvy,whohadseentheshootingstarandwhowaspersuadedthatameteoritelaysomewhereonthecommonbetweenHorsell,Ottershaw,andWoking,roseearlywiththeideaoffindingit。Findithedid,soonafterdawn,andnotfarfromthesandpits。Anenormousholehadbeenmadebytheimpactoftheprojectile,andthesandandgravelhadbeenflungviolentlyineverydirectionovertheheath,formingheapsvisibleamileandahalfaway。Theheatherwasonfireeastward,andathinbluesmokeroseagainstthedawn。
TheThingitselflayalmostentirelyburiedinsand,amidstthescatteredsplintersofafirtreeithadshiveredtofrag-mentsinitsdescent。
Theuncoveredparthadtheappearanceofahugecylinder,cakedoveranditsoutlinesoftenedbyathickscalydun-colouredincrustation。Ithadadiameterofaboutthirtyyards。Heapproachedthemass,surprisedatthesizeandmoresoattheshape,sincemostmeteoritesareroundedmoreorlesscompletely。Itwas,however,stillsohotfromitsflightthroughtheairastoforbidhisnearapproach。Astirringnoisewithinitscylinderheascribedtotheunequalcoolingofitssurface;foratthattimeithadnotoccurredtohimthatitmightbehollow。
HeremainedstandingattheedgeofthepitthattheThinghadmadeforitself,staringatitsstrangeappearance,astonishedchieflyatitsunusualshapeandcolour,anddimlyperceivingeventhensomeevidenceofdesigninitsarrival。Theearlymorningwaswonderfullystill,andthesun,justclearingthepinetreestowardsWeybridge,wasalreadywarm。
Hedidnotrememberhearinganybirdsthatmorning,therewascertainlynobreezestirring,andtheonlysoundswerethefaintmovementsfromwithinthecinderycylinder。Hewasallaloneonthecommon。
Thensuddenlyhenoticedwithastartthatsomeofthegreyclinker,theashyincrustationthatcoveredthemeteorite,wasfallingoffthecircularedgeoftheend。Itwasdroppingoffinflakesandrainingdownuponthesand。Alargepiecesuddenlycameoffandfellwithasharpnoisethatbroughthisheartintohismouth。
Foraminutehescarcelyrealisedwhatthismeant,and,althoughtheheatwasexcessive,heclambereddownintothepitclosetothebulktoseetheThingmoreclearly。Hefanciedeventhenthatthecoolingofthebodymightaccountforthis,butwhatdisturbedthatideawasthefactthattheashwasfallingonlyfromtheendofthecylinder。
Andthenheperceivedthat,veryslowly,thecirculartopofthecylinderwasrotatingonitsbody。Itwassuchagradualmovementthathediscovereditonlythroughnoticingthatablackmarkthathadbeennearhimfiveminutesagowasnowattheothersideofthecircumference。Eventhenhescarcelyunderstoodwhatthisindicated,untilheheardamuffledgratingsoundandsawtheblackmarkjerkforwardaninchorso。Thenthethingcameuponhiminaflash。Thecylinderwasartificial——hollow——withanendthatscrewedout!Somethingwithinthecylinderwasunscrewingthetop!
\"Goodheavens!\"saidOgilvy。\"There\'samaninit——meninit!Halfroastedtodeath!Tryingtoescape!\"
Atonce,withaquickmentalleap,helinkedtheThingwiththeflashuponMars。
Thethoughtoftheconfinedcreaturewassodreadfultohimthatheforgottheheatandwentforwardtothecylindertohelpturn。Butluckilythedullradiationarrestedhimbeforehecouldburnhishandsonthestill-glowingmetal。Atthathestoodirresoluteforamoment,thenturned,scrambledoutofthepit,andsetoffrunningwildlyintoWoking。Thetimethenmusthavebeensomewhereaboutsixo\'clock。Hemetawaggonerandtriedtomakehimunderstand,butthetalehetoldandhisappearanceweresowild——hishathadfallenoffinthepit——thatthemansimplydroveon。Hewasequallyunsuccessfulwiththepotmanwhowasjustunlockingthedoorsofthepublic-housebyHorsellBridge。Thefellowthoughthewasalunaticatlargeandmadeanunsuccessfulattempttoshuthimintothetaproom。Thatsoberedhimalittle;andwhenhesawHenderson,theLondonjournalist,inhisgarden,hecalledoverthepalingsandmadehimselfunderstood。
\"Henderson,\"hecalled,\"yousawthatshootingstarlastnight?\"
\"Well?\"saidHenderson。
\"It\'soutonHorsellCommonnow。\"
\"GoodLord!\"saidHenderson。\"Fallenmeteorite!That\'sgood。\"
\"Butit\'ssomethingmorethanameteorite。It\'sacylinder——anartificialcylinder,man!Andthere\'ssomethinginside。\"
Hendersonstoodupwithhisspadeinhishand。
\"What\'sthat?\"hesaid。Hewasdeafinoneear。
Ogilvytoldhimallthathehadseen。Hendersonwasaminuteorsotakingitin。Thenhedroppedhisspade,snatcheduphisjacket,andcameoutintotheroad。Thetwomenhurriedbackatoncetothecommon,andfoundthecylinderstilllyinginthesameposition。Butnowthesoundsinsidehadceased,andathincircleofbrightmetalshowedbetweenthetopandthebodyofthecylinder。Airwaseitherenteringorescapingattherimwithathin,sizzlingsound。
Theylistened,rappedonthescalyburntmetalwithastick,and,meetingwithnoresponse,theybothconcludedthemanormeninsidemustbeinsensibleordead。
Ofcoursethetwowerequiteunabletodoanything。Theyshoutedconsolationandpromises,andwentoffbacktothetownagaintogethelp。Onecanimaginethem,coveredwithsand,excitedanddisordered,runningupthelittlestreetinthebrightsunlightjustastheshopfolksweretakingdowntheirshuttersandpeoplewereopeningtheirbedroomwindows。Hendersonwentintotherailwaystationatonce,inordertotelegraphthenewstoLondon。Thenewspaperarticleshadpreparedmen\'smindsforthere-ceptionoftheidea。
Byeighto\'clockanumberofboysandunemployedmenhadalreadystartedforthecommontoseethe\"deadmenfromMars。\"Thatwastheformthestorytook。IheardofitfirstfrommynewspaperboyaboutaquartertoninewhenIwentouttogetmyDAILYCHRONICLE。Iwasnaturallystartled,andlostnotimeingoingoutandacrosstheOttershawbridgetothesandpits。
TheWaroftheWorlds-Book1-Chapter3Chapter3-OnHorsellCommonIfoundalittlecrowdofperhapstwentypeoplesur-roundingthehugeholeinwhichthecylinderlay。Ihavealreadydescribedtheappearanceofthatcolossalbulk,em-beddedintheground。Theturfandgravelaboutitseemedcharredasifbyasuddenexplosion。Nodoubtitsimpacthadcausedaflashoffire。HendersonandOgilvywerenotthere。Ithinktheyperceivedthatnothingwastobedoneforthepresent,andhadgoneawaytobreakfastatHenderson\'shouse。
TherewerefourorfiveboyssittingontheedgeofthePit,withtheirfeetdangling,andamusingthemselves——untilIstoppedthem——bythrowingstonesatthegiantmass。AfterIhadspokentothemaboutit,theybeganplayingat\"touch\"inandoutofthegroupofbystanders。
Amongthesewereacoupleofcyclists,ajobbinggardenerIemployedsometimes,agirlcarryingababy,Greggthebutcherandhislittleboy,andtwoorthreeloafersandgolfcaddieswhowereaccustomedtohangabouttherailwaystation。Therewasverylittletalking。FewofthecommonpeopleinEnglandhadanythingbutthevaguestastronomicalideasinthosedays。
Mostofthemwerestaringquietlyatthebigtablelikeendofthecylinder,whichwasstillasOgilvyandHendersonhadleftit。Ifancythepopularex-pectationofaheapofcharredcorpseswasdisappointedatthisinanimatebulk。SomewentawaywhileIwasthere,andotherpeoplecame。IclamberedintothepitandfanciedIheardafaintmovementundermyfeet。Thetophadcertainlyceasedtorotate。
ItwasonlywhenIgotthusclosetoitthatthestrangenessofthisobjectwasatallevidenttome。Atthefirstglanceitwasreallynomoreexcitingthananoverturnedcarriageoratreeblownacrosstheroad。Notsomuchso,indeed。Itlookedlikearustygasfloat。ItrequiredacertainamountofscientificeducationtoperceivethatthegreyscaleoftheThingwasnocommonoxide,thattheyellowish-whitemetalthatgleamedinthecrackbetweenthelidandthecylinderhadanunfamiliarhue。\"Extra-terrestrial\"
hadnomeaningformostoftheonlookers。
AtthattimeitwasquiteclearinmyownmindthattheThinghadcomefromtheplanetMars,butIjudgeditimprobablethatitcontainedanylivingcreature。Ithoughttheunscrewingmightbeautomatic。InspiteofOgilvy,IstillbelievedthatthereweremeninMars。Mymindranfancifullyonthepossibilitiesofitscontainingmanuscript,onthedifficultiesintranslationthatmightarise,whetherweshouldfindcoinsandmodelsinit,andsoforth。Yetitwasalittletoolargeforassuranceonthisidea。Ifeltanimpatiencetoseeitopened。Abouteleven,asnothingseemedhappening,Iwalkedback,fullofsuchthought,tomyhomeinMaybury。
ButIfounditdifficulttogettoworkuponmyabstractinvestigations。
Intheafternoontheappearanceofthecommonhadalteredverymuch。
TheearlyeditionsoftheeveningpapershadstartledLondonwithenormousheadlines:
\"AMESSAGERECEIVEDFROMMARS。\"
\"REMARKABLESTORYFROMWOKING,\"
andsoforth。Inaddition,Ogilvy\'swiretotheAstronomicalExchangehadrousedeveryobservatoryinthethreekingdoms。
TherewerehalfadozenfliesormorefromtheWokingstationstandingintheroadbythesandpits,abasket-chaisefromChobham,andaratherlordlycarriage。Besidesthat,therewasquiteaheapofbicycles。Inaddition,alargenumberofpeoplemusthavewalked,inspiteoftheheatoftheday,fromWokingandChertsey,sothattherewasaltogetherquiteaconsiderablecrowd——oneortwogailydressedladiesamongtheothers。Itwasglaringlyhot,notacloudintheskynorabreathofwind,andtheonlyshadowwasthatofthefewscatteredpinetrees。Theburningheatherhadbeenextinguished,butthelevelgroundtowardsOttershawwasblackenedasfarasonecouldsee,andstillgivingoffverticalstreamersofsmoke。Anenterprisingsweet-stuffdealerintheChobhamRoadhadsentuphissonwithabarrow-loadofgreenapplesandgingerbeer。
Goingtotheedgeofthepit,Ifounditoccupiedbyagroupofabouthalfadozenmen——Henderson,Ogilvy,andatall,fair-hairedmanthatI
afterwardslearnedwasStent,theAstronomerRoyal,withseveralworkmenwieldingspadesandpickaxes。Stentwasgivingdirectionsinaclear,high-
pitchedvoice。Hewasstandingonthecylinder,whichwasnowevidentlymuchcooler;hisfacewascrimsonandstream-ingwithperspiration,andsomethingseemedtohaveirritatedhim。
Alargeportionofthecylinderhadbeenuncovered,thoughitslowerendwasstillembedded。AssoonasOgilvysawmeamongthestaringcrowdontheedgeofthepithecalledtometocomedown,andaskedmeifI
wouldmindgoingovertoseeLordHilton,thelordofthemanor。
Thegrowingcrowd,hesaid,wasbecomingaseriousimpedimenttotheirexcavations,especiallytheboys。Theywantedalightrailingputup,andhelptokeepthepeopleback。Hetoldmethatafaintstirringwasoccasionallystillaudiblewithinthecase,butthattheworkmenhadfailedtounscrewthetop,asitaffordednogriptothem。Thecaseappearedtobeenormouslythick,anditwaspossiblethatthefaintsoundsweheardrepresentedanoisytumultintheinterior。
Iwasverygladtodoasheasked,andsobecomeoneoftheprivilegedspectatorswithinthecontemplatedenclosure。IfailedtofindLordHiltonathishouse,butIwastoldhewasexpectedfromLondonbythesixo\'clocktrainfromWaterloo;andasitwasthenaboutaquarterpastfive,Iwenthome,hadsometea,andwalkeduptothestationtowaylayhim。
TheWaroftheWorlds-Book1-Chapter4Chapter4-TheCylinderOpensWhenIreturnedtothecommonthesunwassetting。ScatteredgroupswerehurryingfromthedirectionofWoking,andoneortwopersonswerereturning。
Thecrowdaboutthepithadincreased,andstoodoutblackagainstthelemonyellowofthesky——acoupleofhundredpeople,perhaps。Therewereraisedvoices,andsomesortofstruggleappearedtobegoingonaboutthepit。Strangeimaginingspassedthroughmymind。AsIdrewnearerI
heardStent\'svoice:
\"Keepback!Keepback!\"
Aboycamerunningtowardsme。
\"It\'sa-movin\',\"hesaidtomeashepassed;\"a-screwin\'anda-screwin\'
out。Idon\'tlikeit。I\'ma-goin\'\'ome,Iam。\"
Iwentontothecrowd。Therewerereally,Ishouldthink,twoorthreehundredpeopleelbowingandjostlingonean-other,theoneortwoladiestherebeingbynomeanstheleastactive。
\"He\'sfalleninthepit!\"criedsomeone。
\"Keepback!\"saidseveral。
Thecrowdswayedalittle,andIelbowedmywaythrough。Everyoneseemedgreatlyexcited。Iheardapeculiarhum-mingsoundfromthepit。
\"Isay!\"saidOgilvy;\"helpkeeptheseidiotsback。Wedon\'tknowwhat\'sintheconfoundedthing,youknow!\"
Isawayoungman,ashopassistantinWokingIbelievehewas,standingonthecylinderandtryingtoscrambleoutoftheholeagain。Thecrowdhadpushedhimin。
Theendofthecylinderwasbeingscrewedoutfromwithin。Nearlytwofeetofshiningscrewprojected。Somebodyblun-deredagainstme,andI
narrowlymissedbeingpitchedontothetopofthescrew。Iturned,andasIdidsothescrewmusthavecomeout,forthelidofthecylinderfelluponthegravelwitharingingconcussion。Istuckmyelbowintothepersonbehindme,andturnedmyheadtowardstheThingagain。Foramomentthatcircularcavityseemedperfectlyblack。Ihadthesunsetinmyeyes。
Ithinkeveryoneexpectedtoseeamanemerge——possiblysomethingalittleunlikeusterrestrialmen,butinallessen-tialsaman。IknowIdid。But,looking,Ipresentlysawsome-thingstirringwithintheshadow:
greyishbillowymovements,oneaboveanother,andthentwoluminousdisks——likeeyes。Thensomethingresemblingalittlegreysnake,aboutthethicknessofawalkingstick,coiledupoutofthewrithingmiddle,andwriggledintheairtowardsme——andthenanother。
Asuddenchillcameoverme。Therewasaloudshriekfromawomanbehind。
Ihalfturned,keepingmyeyesfixeduponthecylinderstill,fromwhichothertentacleswerenowprojecting,andbeganpushingmywaybackfromtheedgeofthepit。Isawastonishmentgivingplacetohorroronthefacesofthepeopleaboutme。Iheardinarticulateexclama-tionsonallsides。
Therewasageneralmovementbackwards。Isawtheshopmanstrugglingstillontheedgeofthepit。Ifoundmyselfalone,andsawthepeopleontheothersideofthepitrunningoff,Stentamongthem。Ilookedagainatthecylinder,andungovernableterrorgrippedme。Istoodpetri-fiedandstaring。
Abiggreyishroundedbulk,thesize,perhaps,ofabear,wasrisingslowlyandpainfullyoutofthecylinder。Asitbulgedupandcaughtthelight,itglistenedlikewetleather。
Twolargedark-colouredeyeswereregardingmestead-fastly。Themassthatframedthem,theheadofthething,wasrounded,andhad,onemightsay,aface。Therewasamouthundertheeyes,theliplessbrimofwhichquiveredandpanted,anddroppedsaliva。Thewholecreatureheavedandpulsatedconvulsively。Alanktentacularappendagegrippedtheedgeofthecylinder,anotherswayedintheair。
ThosewhohaveneverseenalivingMartiancanscarcelyimaginethestrangehorrorofitsappearance。ThepeculiarV-shapedmouthwithitspointedupperlip,theabsenceofbrowridges,theabsenceofachinbeneaththewedgelikelowerlip,theincessantquiveringofthismouth,theGorgongroupsoftentacles,thetumultuousbreathingofthelungsinastrangeatmosphere,theevidentheavinessandpainfulnessofmovementduetothegreatergravitationalenergyoftheearth——aboveall,theextraordinaryintensityoftheimmenseeyes——wereatoncevital,intense,inhuman,crippledandmonstrous。Therewassomethingfungoidintheoilybrownskin,somethingintheclumsydeliberationofthetedi-ousmovementsunspeakablynasty。
Evenatthisfirsten-counter,thisfirstglimpse,Iwasovercomewithdisgustanddread。
Suddenlythemonstervanished。Ithadtoppledoverthebrimofthecylinderandfallenintothepit,withathudlikethefallofagreatmassofleather。
Ihearditgiveapeculiarthickcry,andforthwithanotherofthesecreaturesappeareddarklyinthedeepshadowoftheaperture。
Iturnedand,runningmadly,madeforthefirstgroupoftrees,perhapsahundredyardsaway;butIranslantinglyandstumbling,forIcouldnotavertmyfacefromthesethings。
There,amongsomeyoungpinetreesandfurzebushes,Istopped,panting,andwaitedfurtherdevelopments。Thecommonroundthesandpitswasdottedwithpeople,stand-inglikemyselfinahalf-fascinatedterror,staringatthesecreatures,orratherattheheapedgravelattheedgeofthepitinwhichtheylay。Andthen,witharenewedhorror,Isawaround,blackobjectbobbingupanddownontheedgeofthepit。Itwastheheadoftheshopmanwhohadfallenin,butshowingasalittleblackobjectagainstthehotwesternsun。Nowhegothisshoulderandkneeup,andagainheseemedtoslipbackuntilonlyhisheadwasvisible。Suddenlyhevan-ished,andIcouldhavefanciedafaintshriekhadreachedme。Ihadamomentaryimpulsetogobackandhelphimthatmyfearsoverruled。
Everythingwasthenquiteinvisible,hiddenbythedeeppitandtheheapofsandthatthefallofthecylinderhadmade。AnyonecomingalongtheroadfromChobhamorWo-kingwouldhavebeenamazedatthesight——adwindlingmul-titudeofperhapsahundredpeopleormorestandinginagreatirregularcircle,inditches,behindbushes,behindgatesandhedges,sayinglittletooneanotherandthatinshort,excitedshouts,andstaring,staringhardatafewheapsofsand。Thebarrowofgingerbeerstood,aqueerderelict,blackagainsttheburningsky,andinthesandpitswasarowofdesertedvehicleswiththeirhorsesfeedingoutofnosebagsorpawingtheground。
TheWaroftheWorlds-Book1-Chapter5Chapter5-TheHeat-RayAftertheglimpseIhadhadoftheMartiansemergingfromthecylinderinwhichtheyhadcometotheearthfromtheirplanet,akindoffascinationparalysedmyactions。Iremainedstandingknee-deepintheheather,staringatthemoundthathidthem。Iwasabattlegroundoffearandcuriosity。
Ididnotdaretogobacktowardsthepit,butIfeltapas-sionatelongingtopeerintoit。Ibeganwalking,therefore,inabigcurve,seekingsomepointofvantageandcontinuallylookingatthesandheapsthathidthesenew-comerstoourearth。Oncealeashofthinblackwhips,likethearmsofanoctopus,flashedacrossthesunsetandwasimmediatelywith-
drawn,andafterwardsathinrodroseup,jointbyjoint,bearingatitsapexacirculardiskthatspunwithawobblingmotion。Whatcouldbegoingonthere?
Mostofthespectatorshadgatheredinoneortwogroups——onealittlecrowdtowardsWoking,theotheraknotofpeopleinthedirectionofChobham。
Evidentlytheysharedmymentalconflict。Therewerefewnearme。OnemanIapproached——hewas,Iperceived,aneighbourofmine,thoughIdidnotknowhisname——andaccosted。Butitwasscarcelyatimeforarticulateconversation。
\"Whatuglybrutes!\"hesaid。\"GoodGod!Whatuglybrutes!\"Herepeatedthisoverandoveragain。
\"Didyouseeamaninthepit?\"Isaid;buthemadenoanswertothat。
Webecamesilent,andstoodwatchingforatimesidebyside,deriving,Ifancy,acertaincomfortinoneanother\'scompany。ThenIshiftedmypositiontoalittleknollthatgavemetheadvantageofayardormoreofeleva-tionandwhenIlookedforhimpresentlyhewaswalkingtowardsWoking。
Thesunsetfadedtotwilightbeforeanythingfurtherhap-pened。Thecrowdfarawayontheleft,towardsWoking,seemedtogrow,andIheardnowafaintmurmurfromit。ThelittleknotofpeopletowardsChobhamdispersed。
Therewasscarcelyanintimationofmovementfromthepit。
Itwasthis,asmuchasanything,thatgavepeoplecourage,andIsupposethenewarrivalsfromWokingalsohelpedtorestoreconfidence。Atanyrate,astheduskcameonaslow,intermittentmovementuponthesandpitsbegan,amove-mentthatseemedtogatherforceasthestillnessoftheeve-ningaboutthecylinderremainedunbroken。Verticalblackfiguresintwosandthreeswouldadvance,stop,watch,andadvanceagain,spreadingoutastheydidsoinathinirregularcrescentthatpromisedtoenclosethepitinitsattenuatedhorns。I,too,onmysidebegantomovetowardsthepit。
ThenIsawsomecabmenandothershadwalkedboldlyintothesandpits,andheardtheclatterofhoofsandthegrideofwheels。Isawaladtrundlingoffthebarrowofapples。Andthen,withinthirtyyardsofthepit,advancingfromthedirectionofHorsell,Inotedalittleblackknotofmen,theforemostofwhomwaswavingawhiteflag。
ThiswastheDeputation。Therehadbeenahastyconsulta-tion,andsincetheMartianswereevidently,inspiteoftheirrepulsiveforms,intelligentcreatures,ithadbeenresolvedtoshowthem,byapproachingthemwithsignals,thatwetoowereintelligent。
Flutter,flutter,wenttheflag,firsttotheright,thentotheleft。
Itwastoofarformetorecogniseanyonethere,butafterwardsIlearnedthatOgilvy,Stent,andHendersonwerewithothersinthisattemptatcommunication。
Thislittlegrouphadinitsadvancedraggedinward,sotospeak,thecircumferenceofthenowalmostcompletecircleofpeople,andanumberofdimblackfiguresfolloweditatdiscreetdistances。
Suddenlytherewasaflashoflight,andaquantityofluminousgreenishsmokecameoutofthepitinthreedistinctpuffs,whichdroveup,oneaftertheother,straightintothestillair。
Thissmoke(orflame,perhaps,wouldbethebetterwordforit)wassobrightthatthedeepblueskyoverheadandthehazystretchesofbrowncommontowardsChertsey,setwithblackpinetrees,seemedtodarkenabruptlyasthesepuffsarose,andtoremainthedarkeraftertheirdispersal。Atthesametimeafainthissingsoundbecameaudible。
Beyondthepitstoodthelittlewedgeofpeoplewiththewhiteflagatitsapex,arrestedbythesephenomena,alittleknotofsmallverticalblackshapesupontheblackground。Asthegreensmokearose,theirfacesflashedoutpallidgreen,andfadedagainasitvanished。Thenslowlythehissingpassedintoahumming,intoalong,loud,droningnoise。Slowlyahumpedshaperoseoutofthepit,andtheghostofabeamoflightseemedtoflickeroutfromit。
Forthwithflashesofactualflame,abrightglareleapingfromonetoanother,sprangfromthescatteredgroupofmen。Itwasasifsomeinvisiblejetimpingeduponthemandflashedintowhiteflame。Itwasasifeachmanweresuddenlyandmomentarilyturnedtofire。
Then,bythelightoftheirowndestruction,Isawthemstaggeringandfalling,andtheirsupportersturningtorun。
Istoodstaring,notasyetrealisingthatthiswasdeathleapingfrommantomaninthatlittledistantcrowd。AllIfeltwasthatitwassomethingverystrange。Analmostnoise-lessandblindingflashoflight,andamanfellheadlongandlaystill;andastheunseenshaftofheatpassedoverthem,pinetreesburstintofire,andeverydryfurzebushbecamewithonedullthudamassofflames。AndfarawaytowardsKnaphillIsawtheflashesoftreesandhedgesandwoodenbuildingssuddenlysetalight。
Itwassweepingroundswiftlyandsteadily,thisflamingdeath,thisinvisible,inevitableswordofheat。Iperceiveditcomingtowardsmebytheflashingbushesittouched,andwastooastoundedandstupefiedtostir。Iheardthecrackleoffireinthesandpitsandthesuddensquealofahorsethatwasassuddenlystilled。ThenitwasasifaninvisibleyetintenselyheatedfingerweredrawnthroughtheheatherbetweenmeandtheMartians,andallalongacurvinglinebeyondthesandpitsthedarkgroundsmokedandcrackled。SomethingfellwithacrashfarawaytotheleftwheretheroadfromWokingstationopensoutonthecommon。Forth-
withthehissingandhummingceased,andtheblack,dome-likeobjectsankslowlyoutofsightintothepit。
AllthishadhappenedwithsuchswiftnessthatIhadstoodmotionless,dumbfoundedanddazzledbytheflashesoflight。Hadthatdeathsweptthroughafullcircle,itmustinevitablyhaveslainmeinmysurprise。Butitpassedandsparedme,andleftthenightaboutmesuddenlydarkandun-
familiar。
Theundulatingcommonseemednowdarkalmosttoblackness,exceptwhereitsroadwayslaygreyandpaleunderthedeepblueskyoftheearlynight。
Itwasdark,andsud-denlyvoidofmen。Overheadthestarsweremustering,andinthewesttheskywasstillapale,bright,almostgreenishblue。
ThetopsofthepinetreesandtheroofsofHorsellcameoutsharpandblackagainstthewesternafterglow。TheMar-tiansandtheirapplianceswerealtogetherinvisible,saveforthatthinmastuponwhichtheirrestlessmirrorwobbled。Patchesofbushandisolatedtreeshereandtheresmokedandglowedstill,andthehousestowardsWokingstationweresendingupspiresofflameintothestillnessoftheeveningair。
Nothingwaschangedsaveforthatandaterribleastonish-ment。Thelittlegroupofblackspeckswiththeflagofwhitehadbeensweptoutofexistence,andthestillnessoftheevening,soitseemedtome,hadscarcelybeenbroken。
ItcametomethatIwasuponthisdarkcommon,helpless,unprotected,andalone。Suddenly,likeathingfallinguponmefromwithout,came——fear。
WithaneffortIturnedandbeganastumblingrunthroughtheheather。
ThefearIfeltwasnorationalfear,butapanicterrornotonlyoftheMartians,butoftheduskandstillnessallaboutme。SuchanextraordinaryeffectinunmanningmeithadthatIranweepingsilentlyasachildmightdo。OnceIhadturned,Ididnotdaretolookback。
IrememberIfeltanextraordinarypersuasionthatIwasbeingplayedwith,thatpresently,whenIwasupontheveryvergeofsafety,thismysteriousdeath——asswiftasthepassageoflight——wouldleapaftermefromthepitaboutthecylinderandstrikemedown。
TheWaroftheWorlds-Book1-Chapter6Chapter6-TheHeat-RayintheChobhamRoadItisstillamatterofwonderhowtheMartiansareabletoslaymensoswiftlyandsosilently。Manythinkthatinsomewaytheyareabletogenerateanintenseheatinachamberofpracticallyabsolutenon-conductivity。
Thisintenseheattheyprojectinaparallelbeamagainstanyobjecttheychoose,bymeansofapolishedparabolicmirrorofunknowncomposition,muchastheparabolicmirrorofalighthouseprojectsabeamoflight。
Butnoonehasabsolutelyprovedthesedetails。Howeveritisdone,itiscertainthatabeamofheatistheessenceofthematter。Heat,andinvisible,insteadofvisible,light。Whateveriscombustibleflashesintoflameatitstouch,leadrunslikewater,itsoftensiron,cracksandmeltsglass,andwhenitfallsuponwater,incontinentlythatexplodesintosteam。
Thatnightnearlyfortypeoplelayunderthestarlightaboutthepit,charredanddistortedbeyondrecognition,andallnightlongthecommonfromHorselltoMayburywasdesertedandbrightlyablaze。