Itwasprobablyhernotfiringthatenabledhertogetsoneartheenemyasshedid。Theydidnotknowwhattomakeofher。Oneshell,andtheywouldhavesenthertothebottomforthwithwiththeHeat-Ray。
ShewassteamingatsuchapacethatinaminutesheseemedhalfwaybetweenthesteamboatandtheMartians——adiminishingblackbulkagainsttherecedinghorizontalexpanseoftheEssexcoast。
SuddenlytheforemostMartianloweredhistubeanddis-chargedacanisteroftheblackgasattheironclad。Ithitherlarboardsideandglancedoffinaninkyjetthatrolledawaytoseaward,anunfoldingtorrentofBlackSmoke,fromwhichtheironcladdroveclear。Tothewatchersfromthesteamer,lowinthewaterandwiththesunintheireyes,itseemedasthoughshewerealreadyamongtheMartians。
Theysawthegauntfiguresseparatingandrisingoutofthewaterastheyretreatedshoreward,andoneofthemraisedthecamera-likegeneratoroftheHeat-Ray。Hehelditpointingobliquelydownward,andabankofsteamsprangfromthewateratitstouch。Itmusthavedriventhroughtheironoftheship\'ssidelikeawhite-hotironrodthroughpaper。
Aflickerofflamewentupthroughtherisingsteam,andthentheMartianreeledandstaggered。Inanothermomenthewascutdown,andagreatbodyofwaterandsteamshothighintheair。ThegunsoftheTHUNDERCHILD
soundedthroughthereek,goingoffoneaftertheother,andoneshotsplashedthewaterhighclosebythesteamer,ricochetedtowardstheotherflyingshipstothenorth,andsmashedasmacktomatchwood。
Butnooneheededthatverymuch。AtthesightoftheMartian\'scollapsethecaptainonthebridgeyelledinarticu-lately,andallthecrowdingpassengersonthesteamer\'ssternshoutedtogether。Andthentheyyelledagain。For,surgingoutbeyondthewhitetumult,drovesomethinglongandblack,theflamesstreamingfromitsmiddleparts,itsventila-torsandfunnelsspoutingfire。
Shewasalivestill;thesteeringgear,itseems,wasintactandherenginesworking。SheheadedstraightforasecondMartian,andwaswithinahundredyardsofhimwhentheHeat-Raycametobear。Thenwithaviolentthud,ablindingflash,herdecks,herfunnels,leapedupward。TheMartianstaggeredwiththeviolenceofherexplosion,andinanothermomenttheflamingwreckage,stilldrivingforwardwiththeimpetusofitspace,hadstruckhimandcrumpledhimuplikeathingofcardboard。Mybrothershoutedinvoluntarily。Aboilingtumultofsteamhideverythingagain。
\"Two!,\"yelledthecaptain。
Everyonewasshouting。Thewholesteamerfromendtoendrangwithfranticcheeringthatwastakenupfirstbyoneandthenbyallinthecrowdingmultitudeofshipsandboatsthatwasdrivingouttosea。
Thesteamhunguponthewaterformanyminutes,hidingthethirdMartianandthecoastaltogether。Andallthistimetheboatwaspaddlingsteadilyouttoseaandawayfromthefight;andwhenatlasttheconfusioncleared,thedriftingbankofblackvapourintervened,andnothingoftheTHUNDER
CHILDcouldbemadeout,norcouldthethirdMartianbeseen。Buttheironcladstoseawardwerenowquitecloseandstandingintowardsshorepastthesteamboat。
Thelittlevesselcontinuedtobeatitswayseaward,andtheironcladsrecededslowlytowardsthecoast,whichwashiddenstillbyamarbledbankofvapour,partsteam,partblackgas,eddyingandcombininginthestrangestway。Thefleetofrefugeeswasscatteringtothenortheast;severalsmacksweresailingbetweentheironcladsandthesteamboat。Afteratime,andbeforetheyreachedthesinkingcloudbank,thewarshipsturnednorthward,andthenabruptlywentaboutandpassedintothethickeninghazeofeveningsouth-ward。Thecoastgrewfaint,andatlastindistinguishableamidthelowbanksofcloudsthatweregatheringaboutthesinkingsun。
Thensuddenlyoutofthegoldenhazeofthesunsetcamethevibrationofguns,andaformofblackshadowsmoving。Everyonestruggledtotherailofthesteamerandpeeredintotheblindingfurnaceofthewest,butnothingwastobedis-tinguishedclearly。Amassofsmokeroseslantingandbarredthefaceofthesun。Thesteamboatthrobbedonitswaythroughaninterminablesuspense。
Thesunsankintogreyclouds,theskyflushedanddark-ened,theeveningstartrembledintosight。Itwasdeeptwilightwhenthecaptaincriedoutandpointed。Mybrotherstrainedhiseyes。Somethingrushedupintotheskyoutofthegreyness——rushedslantinglyupwardandveryswiftlyintotheluminousclearnessabovethecloudsinthewesternsky;somethingflatandbroad,andverylarge,thatsweptroundinavastcurve,grewsmaller,sankslowly,andvan-ishedagainintothegreymysteryofthenight。Andasitflewitraineddowndarknessupontheland。
EndofBook1TheWaroftheWorlds-Book2-Chapter1TheWaroftheWorlds-Book2byHGWellsChapter1-UnderFootInthefirstbookIhavewanderedsomuchfrommyownadventurestotelloftheexperiencesofmybrotherthatallthroughthelasttwochaptersIandthecuratehavebeenlurkingintheemptyhouseatHallifordwhitherwefledtoescapetheBlackSmoke。ThereIwillresume。WestoppedthereallSundaynightandallthenextday——thedayofthepanic——inalittleislandofdaylight,cutoffbytheBlackSmokefromtherestoftheworld。
Wecoulddonothingbutwaitinachinginactivityduringthosetwowearydays。
Mymindwasoccupiedbyanxietyformywife。IfiguredheratLeatherhead,terrified,indanger,mourningmealreadyasadeadman。IpacedtheroomsandcriedaloudwhenIthoughtofhowIwascutofffromher,ofallthatmighthap-pentoherinmyabsence。MycousinIknewwasbraveenoughforanyemergency,buthewasnotthesortofmantorealisedangerquickly,torisepromptly。Whatwasneedednowwasnotbravery,butcircumspection。
Myonlyconsola-tionwastobelievethattheMartiansweremovingLondon-
wardandawayfromher。Suchvagueanxietieskeepthemindsensitiveandpainful。Igrewverywearyandirritablewiththecurate\'sperpetualejaculations;
Itiredofthesightofhisselfishdespair。AftersomeineffectualremonstranceIkeptawayfromhim,stayinginaroom——evidentlyachildren\'sschoolroom——containingglobes,forms,andcopybooks。Whenhefollowedmethither,Iwenttoaboxroomatthetopofthehouseand,inordertobealonewithmyachingmiseries,lockedmyselfin。
WewerehopelesslyhemmedinbytheBlackSmokeallthatdayandthemorningofthenext。ThereweresignsofpeopleinthenexthouseonSundayevening——afaceatawindowandmovinglights,andlatertheslammingofadoor。ButIdonotknowwhothesepeoplewere,norwhatbecameofthem。
Wesawnothingofthemnextday。TheBlackSmokedriftedslowlyriverwardallthroughMondaymorning,creep-ingnearerandnearertous,drivingatlastalongtheroadwayoutsidethehousethathidus。
AMartiancameacrossthefieldsaboutmidday,layingthestuffwithajetofsuperheatedsteamthathissedagainstthewalls,smashedallthewindowsittouched,andscaldedthecurate\'shandashefledoutofthefrontroom。Whenatlastwecreptacrossthesoddenroomsandlookedoutagain,thecountrynorthwardwasasthoughablacksnowstormhadpassedoverit。Lookingtowardstheriver,wewereastonishedtoseeanunaccountablerednessminglingwiththeblackofthescorchedmeadows。
Foratimewedidnotseehowthischangeaffectedourposition,savethatwewererelievedofourfearoftheBlackSmoke。ButlaterIperceivedthatwewerenolongerhemmedin,thatnowwemightgetaway。SosoonasIrealisedthatthewayofescapewasopen,mydreamofactionreturned。
Butthecuratewaslethargic,unreasonable。
\"Wearesafehere,\"herepeated;\"safehere。\"
Iresolvedtoleavehim——wouldthatIhad!Wisernowfortheartilleryman\'steaching,Isoughtoutfoodanddrink。Ihadfoundoilandragsformyburns,andIalsotookahatandaflannelshirtthatIfoundinoneofthebedrooms。WhenitwascleartohimthatImeanttogoalone——hadreconciledmyselftogoingalone——hesuddenlyrousedhimselftocome。Andallbeingquietthroughouttheafternoon,westartedaboutfiveo\'clock,asIshouldjudge,alongtheblackenedroadtoSunbury。
InSunbury,andatintervalsalongtheroad,weredeadbodieslyingincontortedattitudes,horsesaswellasmen,overturnedcartsandluggage,allcoveredthicklywithblackdust。ThatpallofcinderypowdermademethinkofwhatIhadreadofthedestructionofPompeii。WegottoHamptonCourtwithoutmisadventure,ourmindsfullofstrangeandunfamiliarappearances,andatHamptonCourtoureyeswererelievedtofindapatchofgreenthathadescapedthesuf-focatingdrift。WewentthroughBusheyPark,withitsdeergoingtoandfrounderthechestnuts,andsomemenandwomenhurryinginthedistancetowardsHampton,andsowecametoTwickenham。Thesewerethefirstpeoplewesaw。
AwayacrosstheroadthewoodsbeyondHamandPeter-shamwerestillafire。TwickenhamwasuninjuredbyeitherHeat-RayorBlackSmoke,andthereweremorepeopleabouthere,thoughnonecouldgiveusnews。Forthemostparttheywerelikeourselves,takingadvantageofalulltoshifttheirquarters。Ihaveanimpressionthatmanyofthehousesherewerestilloccupiedbyscaredinhabitants,toofrightenedevenforflight。Heretootheevidenceofahastyroutwasabundantalongtheroad。Iremembermostvividlythreesmashedbicyclesinaheap,poundedintotheroadbythewheelsofsubsequentcarts。WecrossedRichmondBridgeabouthalfpasteight。Wehurriedacrosstheexposedbridge,ofcourse,butInoticedfloatingdownthestreamanumberofredmasses,somemanyfeetacross。Ididnotknowwhatthesewere——therewasnotimeforscrutiny——andIputamorehorribleinterpretationonthemthantheydeserved。HereagainontheSurreysidewereblackdustthathadoncebeensmoke,anddeadbodies——aheapneartheapproachtothestation;butwehadnoglimpseoftheMartiansuntilweweresomewaytowardsBarnes。
Wesawintheblackeneddistanceagroupofthreepeoplerunningdownasidestreettowardstheriver,butotherwiseitseemeddeserted。UpthehillRichmondtownwasburningbriskly;outsidethetownofRichmondtherewasnotraceoftheBlackSmoke。
Thensuddenly,asweapproachedKew,cameanumberofpeoplerunning,andtheupperworksofaMartianfighting-machineloomedinsightoverthehousetops,notahundredyardsawayfromus。Westoodaghastatourdanger,andhadtheMartianlookeddownwemustimmediatelyhaveperished。
Weweresoterrifiedthatwedarednotgoon,butturnedasideandhidinashedinagarden。Therethecuratecrouched,weepingsilently,andrefusingtostiragain。
ButmyfixedideaofreachingLeatherheadwouldnotletmerest,andinthetwilightIventuredoutagain。Iwentthroughashrubbery,andalongapassagebesideabighousestandinginitsowngrounds,andsoemergedupontheroadtowardsKew。ThecurateIleftintheshed,buthecamehurryingafterme。
ThatsecondstartwasthemostfoolhardythingIeverdid。ForitwasmanifesttheMartianswereaboutus。Nosoonerhadthecurateovertakenmethanwesaweitherthefighting-machinewehadseenbeforeoranother,farawayacrossthemeadowsinthedirectionofKewLodge。Fourorfivelittleblackfigureshurriedbeforeitacrossthegreen-greyofthefield,andinamomentitwasevidentthisMartianpursuedthem。Inthreestrideshewasamongthem,andtheyranradiatingfromhisfeetinalldirections。
HeusednoHeat-Raytodestroythem,butpickedthemuponebyone。Apparentlyhetossedthemintothegreatmetalliccarrierwhichprojectedbehindhim,muchasaworkman\'sbaskethangsoverhisshoulder。
ItwasthefirsttimeIrealisedthattheMartiansmighthaveanyotherpurposethandestructionwithdefeatedhumanity。Westoodforamomentpetrified,thenturnedandfledthroughagatebehindusintoawalledgarden,fellinto,ratherthanfound,afortunateditch,andlaythere,scarcedaringtowhispertoeachotheruntilthestarswereout。
Isupposeitwasnearlyeleveno\'clockbeforewegatheredcouragetostartagain,nolongerventuringintotheroad,butsneakingalonghedgerowsandthroughplantations,andwatchingkeenlythroughthedarkness,heontherightandIontheleft,fortheMartians,whoseemedtobeallaboutus。Inoneplaceweblundereduponascorchedandblackenedarea,nowcoolingandashen,andanumberofscattereddeadbodiesofmen,burnedhorriblyabouttheheadsandtrunksbutwiththeirlegsandbootsmostlyintact;
andofdeadhorses,fiftyfeet,perhaps,behindalineoffourrippedgunsandsmashedguncarriages。
Sheen,itseemed,hadescapeddestruction,buttheplacewassilentanddeserted。Herewehappenedonnodead,thoughthenightwastoodarkforustoseeintothesideroadsoftheplace。InSheenmycompanionsuddenlycom-plainedoffaintnessandthirst,andwedecidedtotryoneofthehouses。
Thefirsthouseweentered,afteralittledifficultywiththewindow,wasasmallsemi-detachedvilla,andIfoundnothingeatableleftintheplacebutsomemouldycheese。Therewas,however,watertodrink;andI
tookahatchet,whichpromisedtobeusefulinournexthouse-breaking。
WethencrossedtoaplacewheretheroadturnstowardsMortlake。Heretherestoodawhitehousewithinawalledgarden,andinthepantryofthisdomicilewefoundastoreoffood——twoloavesofbreadinapan,anuncookedsteak,andthehalfofaham。Igivethiscataloguesopreciselybecause,asithappened,weweredestinedtosubsistuponthisstoreforthenextfortnight。Bottledbeerstoodunderashelf,andthereweretwobagsofharicotbeansandsomelimplettuces。Thispantryopenedintoakindofwash-upkitchen,andinthiswasfirewood;therewasalsoacupboard,inwhichwefoundnearlyadozenofburgundy,tinnedsoupsandsalmon,andtwotinsofbiscuits。
Wesatintheadjacentkitcheninthedark——forwedarednotstrikealight——andatebreadandham,anddrankbeeroutofthesamebottle。
Thecurate,whowasstilltimorousandrestless,wasnow,oddlyenough,forpushingon,andIwasurginghimtokeepuphisstrengthbyeatingwhenthethinghappenedthatwastoimprisonus。
\"Itcan\'tbemidnightyet,\"Isaid,andthencameablindingglareofvividgreenlight。Everythinginthekitchenleapedout,clearlyvisibleingreenandblack,andvanishedagain。AndthenfollowedsuchaconcussionasIhaveneverheardbeforeorsince。Socloseontheheelsofthisastoseemin-stantaneouscameathudbehindme,aclashofglass,acrashandrattleoffallingmasonryallaboutus,andtheplasteroftheceilingcamedownuponus,smashingintoamultitudeoffragmentsuponourheads。
Iwasknockedheadlongacrosstheflooragainsttheovenhandleandstunned。
Iwasinsensibleforalongtime,thecuratetoldme,andwhenIcametowewereindarknessagain,andhe,withafacewet,asIfoundafterwards,withbloodfromacutforehead,wasdabbingwateroverme。
ForsometimeIcouldnotrecollectwhathadhappened。Thenthingscametomeslowly。Abruiseonmytempleas-serteditself。
\"Areyoubetter?\"askedthecurateinawhisper。
AtlastIansweredhim。Isatup。
\"Don\'tmove,\"hesaid。\"Theflooriscoveredwithsmashedcrockeryfromthedresser。Youcan\'tpossiblymovewithoutmakinganoise,andIfancyTHEYareoutside。\"
Webothsatquitesilent,sothatwecouldscarcelyheareachotherbreathing。Everythingseemeddeadlystill,butoncesomethingnearus,someplasterorbrokenbrickwork,sliddownwitharumblingsound。Outsideandverynearwasanintermittent,metallicrattle。
\"That!\"saidthecurate,whenpresentlyithappenedagain。
\"Yes,\"Isaid。\"Butwhatisit?\"
\"AMartian!\"saidthecurate。
Ilistenedagain。
\"ItwasnotliketheHeat-Ray,\"Isaid,andforatimeIwasinclinedtothinkoneofthegreatfighting-machineshadstumbledagainstthehouse,asIhadseenonestumbleagainstthetowerofSheppertonChurch。
Oursituationwassostrangeandincomprehensiblethatforthreeorfourhours,untilthedawncame,wescarcelymoved。Andthenthelightfilteredin,notthroughthewindow,whichremainedblack,butthroughatriangularaperturebetweenabeamandaheapofbrokenbricksinthewallbehindus。Theinteriorofthekitchenwenowsawgreylyforthefirsttime。
Thewindowhadbeenburstinbyamassofgardenmould,whichflowedoverthetableuponwhichwehadbeensittingandlayaboutourfeet。Outside,thesoilwasbankedhighagainstthehouse。Atthetopofthewindowframewecouldseeanuprooteddrainpipe。Thefloorwaslitteredwithsmashedhardware;theendofthekitchentowardsthehousewasbrokeninto,andsincethedaylightshoneinthere,itwasevidentthegreaterpartofthehousehadcollapsed。Con-trastingvividlywiththisruinwastheneatdresser,stainedinthefashion,palegreen,andwithanumberofcopperandtinvesselsbelowit,thewallpaperimitatingblueandwhitetiles,andacoupleofcolouredsupplementsflutteringfromthewallsabovethekitchenrange。
Asthedawngrewclearer,wesawthroughthegapinthewallthebodyofaMartian,standingsentinel,Isuppose,overthestillglowingcylinder。
Atthesightofthatwecrawledascircumspectlyaspossibleoutofthetwilightofthekitchenintothedarknessofthescullery。
Abruptlytherightinterpretationdawneduponmymind。
\"Thefifthcylinder,\"Iwhispered,\"thefifthshotfromMars,hasstruckthishouseandburiedusundertheruins!\"
Foratimethecuratewassilent,andthenhewhispered:
\"Godhavemercyuponus!\"
Iheardhimpresentlywhimperingtohimself。
Saveforthatsoundwelayquitestillinthescullery;Iformypartscarcedaredbreathe,andsatwithmyeyesfixedonthefaintlightofthekitchendoor。Icouldjustseethecurate\'sface,adim,ovalshape,andhiscollarandcuffs。Outsidetherebeganametallichammering,thenaviolenthooting,andthenagain,afteraquietinterval,ahissinglikethehissingofanengine。Thesenoises,forthemostpartproblematical,continuedintermittently,andseemedifany-thingtoincreaseinnumberastimeworeon。Presentlyameasuredthuddingandavibrationthatmadeeverythingaboutusquiverandthevesselsinthepantryringandshift,beganandcontinued。Oncethelightwaseclipsed,andtheghostlykitchendoorwaybecameabsolutelydark。Formanyhourswemusthavecrouchedthere,silentandshivering,untilourtiredattentionfailed……
AtlastIfoundmyselfawakeandveryhungry。Iamin-clinedtobelievewemusthavespentthegreaterportionofadaybeforethatawakening。
Myhungerwasatastridesoinsistentthatitmovedmetoaction。ItoldthecurateIwasgoingtoseekfood,andfeltmywaytowardsthepantry。
Hemademenoanswer,butsosoonasIbeganeatingthefaintnoiseImadestirredhimupandIheardhimcrawlingafterme。
TheWaroftheWorlds-Book2-Chapter2Chapter2-WhatWeSawFromtheRuinedHouseAftereatingwecreptbacktothescullery,andthereImusthavedozedagain,forwhenpresentlyIlookedroundIwasalone。Thethuddingvibrationcontinuedwithwearisomepersistence。Iwhisperedforthecurateseveraltimes,andatlastfeltmywaytothedoorofthekitchen。Itwasstillday-light,andIperceivedhimacrosstheroom,lyingagainstthetriangularholethatlookedoutupontheMartians。Hisshoulderswerehunched,sothathisheadwashiddenfromme。
Icouldhearanumberofnoisesalmostlikethoseinanengineshed;
andtheplacerockedwiththatbeatingthud。ThroughtheapertureinthewallIcouldseethetopofatreetouchedwithgoldandthewarmblueofatranquileveningsky。ForaminuteorsoIremainedwatchingthecurate,andthenIadvanced,crouchingandsteppingwithextremecareamidthebrokencrockerythatlitteredthefloor。
Itouchedthecurate\'sleg,andhestartedsoviolentlythatamassofplasterwentslidingdownoutsideandfellwithaloudimpact。Igrippedhisarm,fearinghemightcryout,andforalongtimewecrouchedmotionless。
ThenIturnedtoseehowmuchofourrampartremained。Thedetachmentoftheplasterhadleftaverticalslitopeninthedebris,andbyraisingmyselfcautiouslyacrossabeamIwasabletoseeoutofthisgapintowhathadbeenovernightaquietsuburbanroadway。Vast,indeed,wasthechangethatwebeheld。
Thefifthcylindermusthavefallenrightintothemidstofthehousewehadfirstvisited。Thebuildinghadvanished,completelysmashed,pulverised,anddispersedbytheblow。Thecylinderlaynowfarbeneaththeoriginalfoundations——deepinahole,alreadyvastlylargerthanthepitIhadlookedintoatWoking。Theearthallroundithadsplashedunderthattremendousimpact——\"splashed\"istheonlyword——andlayinheapedpilesthathidthemassesoftheadjacenthouses。Ithadbehavedexactlylikemudundertheviolentblowofahammer。Ourhousehadcollapsedbackward;thefrontportion,evenonthegroundfloor,hadbeendestroyedcompletely;byachancethekitchenandsculleryhadescaped,andstoodburiednowundersoilandruins,closedinbytonsofearthoneverysidesavetowardsthecylinder。OverthataspectwehungnowontheveryedgeofthegreatcircularpittheMartianswereengagedinmaking。Theheavybeatingsoundwasevidentlyjustbehindus,andeverandagainabrightgreenvapourdroveuplikeaveilacrossourpeephole。
Thecylinderwasalreadyopenedinthecentreofthepit,andonthefartheredgeofthepit,amidthesmashedandgravel-heapedshrubbery,oneofthegreatfighting-machines,desertedbyitsoccupant,stoodstiffandtallagainsttheeveningsky。AtfirstIscarcelynoticedthepitandthecylinder,althoughithasbeenconvenienttodescribethemfirst,onaccountoftheextraordinaryglitteringmechanismIsawbusyintheexcavation,andonaccountofthestrangecreaturesthatwerecrawlingslowlyandpainfullyacrosstheheapedmouldnearit。
Themechanismitcertainlywasthatheldmyattentionfirst。Itwasoneofthosecomplicatedfabricsthathavesincebeencalledhandling-machines,andthestudyofwhichhasalreadygivensuchanenormousimpetustoterrestrialinvention。Asitdawneduponmefirst,itpresentedasortofmetallicspiderwithfivejointed,agilelegs,andwithanextraordinarynumberofjointedlevers,bars,andreachingandclutchingtentaclesaboutitsbody。Mostofitsarmswereretracted,butwiththreelongtentaclesitwasfishingoutanumberofrods,plates,andbarswhichlinedthecoveringandapparentlystrengthenedthewallsofthecylinder。These,asitex-
tractedthem,wereliftedoutanddepositeduponalevelsurfaceofearthbehindit。
Itsmotionwassoswift,complex,andperfectthatatfirstIdidnotseeitasamachine,inspiteofitsmetallicglitter。Thefighting-machineswereco-ordinatedandanimatedtoanextraordinarypitch,butnothingtocomparewiththis。Peoplewhohaveneverseenthesestructures,andhaveonlytheill-imaginedeffortsofartistsortheimperfectdescriptionsofsucheye-witnessesasmyselftogoupon,scarcelyrealisethatlivingquality。
Irecallparticularlytheillustrationofoneofthefirstpamphletstogiveaconsecutiveaccountofthewar。Theartisthadevidentlymadeahastystudyofoneofthefighting-machines,andtherehisknowledgeended。Hepre-sentedthemastilted,stifftripods,withouteitherflexibilityorsubtlety,andwithanaltogethermisleadingmonotonyofeffect。Thepamphletcontainingtheserenderingshadacon-siderablevogue,andI
mentionthemheresimplytowarnthereaderagainsttheimpressiontheymayhavecreated。TheywerenomoreliketheMartiansIsawinactionthanaDutchdollislikeahumanbeing。Tomymind,thepamphletwouldhavebeenmuchbetterwithoutthem。
Atfirst,Isay,thehandling-machinedidnotimpressmeasamachine,butasacrablikecreaturewithaglitteringintegument,thecontrollingMartianwhosedelicatetentaclesactuateditsmovementsseemingtobesimplytheequivalentofthecrab\'scerebralportion。ButthenIperceivedthere-semblanceofitsgrey-brown,shiny,leatheryintegumenttothatoftheothersprawlingbodiesbeyond,andthetruenatureofthisdexterousworkmandawneduponme。Withthatrealisationmyinterestshiftedtothoseothercreatures,therealMartians。AlreadyIhadhadatransientimpressionofthese,andthefirstnauseanolongerobscuredmyobserva-tion。Moreover,Iwasconcealedandmotionless,andundernourgencyofaction。
Theywere,Inowsaw,themostunearthlycreaturesitispossibletoconceive。Theywerehugeroundbodies——or,rather,heads——aboutfourfeetindiameter,eachbodyhavinginfrontofitaface。Thisfacehadnonostrils——indeed,theMartiansdonotseemtohavehadanysenseofsmell,butithadapairofverylargedark-colouredeyes,andjustbeneaththisakindoffleshybeak。Inthebackofthisheadorbody——Iscarcelyknowhowtospeakofit——wasthesingletighttympanicsurface,sinceknowntobeanatomicallyanear,thoughitmusthavebeenalmostuselessinourdenseair。Inagrouproundthemouthweresixteenslender,almostwhipliketentacles,arrangedintwobunchesofeighteach。Thesebuncheshavesincebeennamedratheraptly,bythatdistinguishedanatomist,ProfessorHowes,theHANDS。
EvenasIsawtheseMartiansforthefirsttimetheyseemedtobeendeavouringtoraisethemselvesonthesehands,butofcourse,withtheincreasedweightofterrestrialconditions,thiswasimpossible。ThereisreasontosupposethatonMarstheymayhaveprogresseduponthemwithsomefacility。
Theinternalanatomy,Imayremarkhere,asdissectionhassinceshown,wasalmostequallysimple。Thegreaterpartofthestructurewasthebrain,sendingenormousnervestotheeyes,ear,andtactiletentacles。Besidesthiswerethebulkylungs,intowhichthemouthopened,andtheheartanditsvessels。Thepulmonarydistresscausedbythedenseratmosphereandgreatergravitationalattractionwasonlytooevidentintheconvulsivemovementsoftheouterskin。
AndthiswasthesumoftheMartianorgans。Strangeasitmayseemtoahumanbeing,allthecomplexapparatusofdigestion,whichmakesupthebulkofourbodies,didnotexistintheMartians。Theywereheads——merelyheads。Entrailstheyhadnone。Theydidnoteat,muchlessdigest。Instead,theytookthefresh,livingbloodofothercreatures,andINJECTEDitintotheirownveins。Ihavemyselfseenthisbeingdone,asIshallmentioninitsplace。But,squeamishasImayseem,IcannotbringmyselftodescribewhatIcouldnotendureeventocontinuewatching。Letitsufficetosay,bloodobtainedfromastilllivinganimal,inmostcasesfromahumanbeing,wasrundirectlybymeansofalittlepipetteintotherecipientcanal……
Thebareideaofthisisnodoubthorriblyrepulsivetous,butatthesametimeIthinkthatweshouldrememberhowrepulsiveourcarnivoroushabitswouldseemtoanintelligentrabbit。
Thephysiologicaladvantagesofthepracticeofinjectionareundeniable,ifonethinksofthetremendouswasteofhumantimeandenergyoccasionedbyeatingandthedigestiveprocess。Ourbodiesarehalfmadeupofglandsandtubesandorgans,occupiedinturningheterogeneousfoodintoblood。
Thedigestiveprocessesandtheirreactionuponthenervoussystemsapourstrengthandcolourourminds。Mengohappyormiserableastheyhavehealthyorunhealthylivers,orsoundgastricglands。ButtheMartianswereliftedabovealltheseorganicfluctuationsofmoodandemotion。
TheirundeniablepreferenceformenastheirsourceofnourishmentispartlyexplainedbythenatureoftheremainsofthevictimstheyhadbroughtwiththemasprovisionsfromMars。Thesecreatures,tojudgefromtheshrivelledremainsthathavefallenintohumanhands,werebipedswithflimsy,siliciousskeletons(almostlikethoseofthesilicioussponges)andfeeblemusculature,standingaboutsixfeethighandhavinground,erectheads,andlargeeyesinflintysockets。Twoorthreeoftheseseemtohavebeenbroughtineachcylinder,andallwerekilledbeforeearthwasreached。Itwasjustaswellforthem,forthemereattempttostanduprightuponourplanetwouldhavebrokeneveryboneintheirbodies。
AndwhileIamengagedinthisdescription,Imayaddinthisplacecertainfurtherdetailswhich,althoughtheywerenotallevidenttousatthetime,willenablethereaderwhoisunacquaintedwiththemtoformaclearerpictureoftheseoffensivecreatures。
Inthreeotherpointstheirphysiologydifferedstrangelyfromours。
Theirorganismsdidnotsleep,anymorethantheheartofmansleeps。Sincetheyhadnoextensivemuscularmechanismtorecuperate,thatperiodicalextinctionwasunknowntothem。Theyhadlittleornosenseoffatigue,itwouldseem。Onearththeycouldneverhavemovedwithouteffort,yeteventothelasttheykeptinaction。Intwenty-fourhourstheydidtwenty-fourhoursofwork,asevenonearthisperhapsthecasewiththeants。
Inthenextplace,wonderfulasitseemsinasexualworld,theMartianswereabsolutelywithoutsex,andthereforewithoutanyofthetumultuousemotionsthatarisefromthatdifferenceamongmen。AyoungMartian,therecannowbenodispute,wasreallybornuponearthduringthewar,anditwasfoundattachedtoitsparent,partiallyBUDDEDoff,justasyounglilybulbsbudoff,orliketheyounganimalsinthefresh-waterpolyp。
Inman,inallthehigherterrestrialanimals,suchamethodofincreasehasdisappeared;butevenonthisearthitwascertainlytheprimitivemethod。Amongtheloweranimals,upeventothosefirstcousinsofthevertebratedanimals,theTunicates,thetwoprocessesoccursidebyside,butfinallythesexualmethodsupersededitscompetitoraltogether。OnMars,however,justthereversehasapparentlybeenthecase。
Itisworthyofremarkthatacertainspeculativewriterofquasi-scientificrepute,writinglongbeforetheMartianinva-sion,didforecastformanafinalstructurenotunliketheactualMartiancondition。Hisprophecy,Iremember,appearedinNovemberorDecember,1893,inalong-defunctpublica-
tion,thePALLMALLBUDGET,andIrecallacaricatureofitinapre-MartianperiodicalcalledPUNCH。Hepointedout——writinginafoolish,facetioustone——thattheperfectionofmechanicalappliancesmustultimatelysupersedelimbs;theperfectionofchemicaldevices,digestion;thatsuchorgansashair,externalnose,teeth,ears,andchinwerenolongeressentialpartsofthehumanbeing,andthatthetendencyofnaturalselectionwouldlieinthedirectionoftheirsteadydiminutionthroughthecomingages。
Thebrainalonere-mainedacardinalnecessity。Onlyoneotherpartofthebodyhadastrongcaseforsurvival,andthatwasthehand,\"teacherandagentofthebrain。\"Whiletherestofthebodydwindled,thehandswouldgrowlarger。
Thereismanyatruewordwritteninjest,andhereintheMartianswehavebeyonddisputetheactualaccomplish-mentofsuchasuppressionoftheanimalsideoftheorganismbytheintelligence。TomeitisquitecrediblethattheMartiansmaybedescendedfrombeingsnotunlikeourselves,byagradualdevelopmentofbrainandhands(thelattergivingrisetothetwobunchesofdelicatetentaclesatlast)attheexpenseoftherestofthebody。Withoutthebodythebrainwould,ofcourse,becomeamereselfishintelligence,withoutanyoftheemotionalsubstratumofthehumanbeing。
Thelastsalientpointinwhichthesystemsofthesecreaturesdifferedfromourswasinwhatonemighthavethoughtaverytrivialparticular。
Micro-organisms,whichcausesomuchdiseaseandpainonearth,haveeitherneverappeareduponMarsorMartiansanitaryscienceeliminatedthemagesago。Ahundreddiseases,allthefeversandcon-tagionsofhumanlife,consumption,cancers,tumoursandsuchmorbidities,neverentertheschemeoftheirlife。AndspeakingofthedifferencesbetweenthelifeonMarsandterrestriallife,Imayalludeheretothecurioussuggestionsoftheredweed。
ApparentlythevegetablekingdominMars,insteadofhavinggreenforadominantcolour,isofavividblood-redtint。Atanyrate,theseedswhichtheMartians(intentionallyoraccidentally)broughtwiththemgaveriseinallcasestored-colouredgrowths。Onlythatknownpopularlyastheredweed,however,gainedanyfootingincompetitionwithterrestrialforms。Theredcreeperwasquiteatransitorygrowth,andfewpeoplehaveseenitgrowing。Foratime,however,theredweedgrewwithastonishingvigourandluxuriance。Itspreadupthesidesofthepitbythethirdorfourthdayofourimprisonment,anditscactus-likebranchesformedacarminefringetotheedgesofourtriangularwindow。AndafterwardsIfounditbroadcastthroughoutthecountry,andespeciallywherevertherewasastreamofwater。
TheMartianshadwhatappearstohavebeenanauditoryorgan,asinglerounddrumatthebackofthehead-body,andeyeswithavisualrangenotverydifferentfromoursexceptthat,accordingtoPhilips,blueandvioletwereasblacktothem。Itiscommonlysupposedthattheycom-municatedbysoundsandtentaculargesticulations;thisisasserted,forinstance,intheablebuthastilycompiledpamphlet(writtenevidentlybysomeonenotaneye-witnessofMartianactions)towhichIhavealreadyalluded,andwhich,sofar,hasbeenthechiefsourceofinformationcon-cerningthem。NownosurvivinghumanbeingsawsomuchoftheMartiansinactionasIdid。Itakenocredittomyselfforanaccident,butthefactisso。
AndIassertthatIwatchedthemcloselytimeaftertime,andthatIhaveseenfour,five,and(once)sixofthemsluggishlyperformingthemostelabo-ratelycomplicatedoperationstogetherwithouteithersoundorgesture。
Theirpeculiarhootinginvariablyprecededfeed-ing;ithadnomodulation,andwas,Ibelieve,innosenseasignal,butmerelytheexpirationofairpreparatorytothesuctionaloperation。Ihaveacertainclaimtoatleastanelementaryknowledgeofpsychology,andinthismatterIamconvinced——asfirmlyasIamconvincedofanything——thattheMartiansinterchangedthoughtswithoutanyphysicalintermediation。AndIhavebeenconvincedofthisinspiteofstrongpreconceptions。BeforetheMartianinvasion,asanoccasionalreaderhereortheremayremember,Ihadwrittenwithsomelittlevehemenceagainstthetelepathictheory。
TheMartiansworenoclothing。Theirconceptionsoforna-mentanddecorumwerenecessarilydifferentfromours;andnotonlyweretheyevidentlymuchlesssensibleofchangesoftemperaturethanweare,butchangesofpressuredonotseemtohaveaffectedtheirhealthatallseriously。Yetthoughtheyworenoclothing,itwasintheotherartificialadditionstotheirbodilyresourcesthattheirgreatsuperiorityovermanlay。Wemen,withourbicyclesandroad-skates,ourLilienthalsoaring-machines,ourgunsandsticksandsoforth,arejustinthebeginningoftheevolutionthattheMartianshaveworkedout。Theyhavebecomepracticallymerebrains,wearingdifferentbodiesaccordingtotheirneedsjustasmenwearsuitsofclothesandtakeabicycleinahurryoranumbrellainthewet。Andoftheirappliances,perhapsnothingismorewonderfultoamanthanthecuriousfactthatwhatisthedominantfeatureofalmostallhumandevicesinmechanismisabsent——theWHEELisabsent;amongallthethingstheybroughttoearththereisnotraceorsuggestionoftheiruseofwheels。
Onewouldhaveatleastexpecteditinlocomotion。AndinthisconnectionitiscurioustoremarkthatevenonthisearthNaturehasneverhituponthewheel,orhaspreferredotherexpedientstoitsdevelopment。AndnotonlydidtheMartianseithernotknowof(whichisincredible),orabstainfrom,thewheel,butintheirapparatussingularlylittleuseismadeofthefixedpivotorrelativelyfixedpivot,withcircularmotionsthereaboutconfinedtooneplane。Almostallthejointsofthemachinerypresentacom-plicatedsystemofslidingpartsmovingoversmallbutbeauti-fullycurvedfrictionbearings。Andwhileuponthismatterofdetail,itisremarkablethatthelongleveragesoftheirmachinesareinmostcasesactuatedbyasortofshammusculatureofthedisksinanelasticsheath;thesedisksbecomepolarisedanddrawncloselyandpowerfullytogetherwhentraversedbyacurrentofelectricity。Inthiswaythecuriousparallelismtoanimalmotions,whichwassostrikinganddisturbingtothehumanbeholder,wasattained。Suchquasi-musclesaboundedinthecrablikehandling-machinewhich,onmyfirstpeepingoutoftheslit,Iwatchedun-packingthecylinder。
ItseemedinfinitelymorealivethantheactualMartianslyingbeyonditinthesunsetlight,panting,stirringineffectualtentacles,andmovingfeeblyaftertheirvastjourneyacrossspace。
WhileIwasstillwatchingtheirsluggishmotionsinthesunlight,andnotingeachstrangedetailoftheirform,thecurateremindedmeofhispresencebypullingviolentlyatmyarm。Iturnedtoascowlingface,andsilent,eloquentlips。Hewantedtheslit,whichpermittedonlyoneofustopeepthrough;andsoIhadtoforegowatchingthemforatimewhileheenjoyedthatprivilege。
WhenIlookedagain,thebusyhandling-machinehadalreadyputtogetherseveralofthepiecesofapparatusithadtakenoutofthecylinderintoashapehavinganun-mistakablelikenesstoitsown;anddownontheleftabusylittlediggingmechanismhadcomeintoview,emittingjetsofgreenvapourandworkingitswayroundthepit,excavatingandembankinginamethodicalanddiscriminatingmanner。Thisitwaswhichhadcausedtheregularbeatingnoise,andtherhythmicshocksthathadkeptourruinousrefugequiver-ing。Itpipedandwhistledasitworked。SofarasIcouldsee,thethingwaswithoutadirectingMartianatall。
TheWaroftheWorlds-Book2-Chapter3Chapter3-TheDaysofImprisonmentThearrivalofasecondfighting-machinedroveusfromourpeepholeintothescullery,forwefearedthatfromhiselevationtheMartianmightseedownuponusbehindourbarrier。Atalaterdatewebegantofeellessindangeroftheireyes,fortoaneyeinthedazzleofthesunlightoutsideourrefugemusthavebeenblankblackness,butatfirsttheslightestsuggestionofapproachdroveusintothesculleryinheart-throbbingretreat。Yetterribleaswasthedangerweincurred,theattractionofpeepingwasforbothofusirresist-ible。AndIrecallnowwithasortofwonderthat,inspiteoftheinfinitedangerinwhichwewerebetweenstarvationandastillmoreterribledeath,wecouldyetstrugglebitterlyforthathorribleprivilegeofsight。Wewouldraceacrossthekitcheninagrotesquewaybetweeneagernessandthedreadofmakinganoise,andstrikeeachother,andthrustaddkick,withinafewinchesofexposure。
Thefactisthatwehadabsolutelyincompatibledispositionsandhabitsofthoughtandaction,andourdangerandisolationonlyaccentuatedtheincompatibility。AtHallifordIhadal-readycometohatethecurate\'strickofhelplessexclamation,hisstupidrigidityofmind。HisendlessmutteringmonologuevitiatedeveryeffortImadetothinkoutalineofaction,anddrovemeattimes,thuspentupandintensified,almosttothevergeofcraziness。Hewasaslackinginrestraintasasillywoman。
Hewouldweepforhourstogether,andIverilybelievethattotheveryendthisspoiledchildoflifethoughthisweaktearsinsomewayefficacious。
AndIwouldsitinthedarknessunabletokeepmymindoffhimbyreasonofhisimportunities。HeatemorethanIdid,anditwasinvainIpointedoutthatouronlychanceoflifewastostopinthehouseuntiltheMartianshaddonewiththeirpit,thatinthatlongpatienceatimemightpresentlycomewhenweshouldneedfood。Heateanddrankimpulsivelyinheavymealsatlongintervals。Hesleptlittle。
Asthedaysworeon,hisuttercarelessnessofanyconsidera-tionsointensifiedourdistressanddangerthatIhad,muchasIloatheddoingit,toresorttothreats,andatlasttoblows。Thatbroughthimtoreasonforatime。Buthewasoneofthoseweakcreatures,voidofpride,timorous,anaemic,hatefulsouls,fullofshiftycunning,whofaceneitherGodnorman,whofacenoteventhemselves。
Itisdisagreeableformetorecallandwritethesethings,butIsetthemdownthatmystorymaylacknothing。Thosewhohaveescapedthedarkandterribleaspectsoflifewillfindmybrutality,myflashofrageinourfinaltragedy,easyenoughtoblame;fortheyknowwhatiswrongaswellasany,butnotwhatispossibletotorturedmen。Butthosewhohavebeenundertheshadow,whohavegonedownatlasttoelementalthings,willhaveawidercharity。
Andwhilewithinwefoughtoutourdark,dimcontestofwhispers,snatchedfoodanddrink,andgrippinghandsandblows,without,inthepitilesssunlightofthatterribleJune,wasthestrangewonder,theunfamiliarroutineoftheMartiansinthepit。Letmereturntothosefirstnewexperi-
encesofmine。AfteralongtimeIventuredbacktothepeephole,tofindthatthenew-comershadbeenreinforcedbytheoccupantsofnofewerthanthreeofthefighting-machines。Theselasthadbroughtwiththemcertainfreshappliancesthatstoodinanorderlymanneraboutthecylinder。Thesecondhandling-machinewasnowcompleted,andwasbusiedinservingoneofthenovelcontrivancesthebigmachinehadbrought。Thiswasabodyresemblingamilkcaninitsgeneralform,abovewhichoscillatedapear-shapedreceptacle,andfromwhichastreamofwhitepowderflowedintoacircularbasinbelow。
Theoscillatorymotionwasimpartedtothisbyonetentacleofthehandling-machine。
Withtwospatulatehandsthehandling-machinewasdiggingoutandflingingmassesofclayintothepear-shapedreceptacleabove,whilewithanotherarmitperiodicallyopenedadoorandremovedrustyandblack-enedclinkersfromthemiddlepartofthemachine。Anothersteelytentacledirectedthepowderfromthebasinalongaribbedchanneltowardssomereceiverthatwashiddenfrommebythemoundofbluishdust。Fromthisunseenreceiveralittlethreadofgreensmokeroseverticallyintothequietair。AsI
looked,thehandling-machine,withafaintandmusicalclinking,extended,telescopicfashion,atentaclethathadbeenamomentbeforeamerebluntprojection,untilitsendwashiddenbehindthemoundofclay。Inanothersecondithadliftedabarofwhitealuminiumintosight,untarnishedasyet,andshiningdazzlingly,anddepositeditinagrowingstackofbarsthatstoodatthesideofthepit。Betweensunsetandstarlightthisdexterousmachinemusthavemademorethanahundredsuchbarsoutofthecrudeclay,andthemoundofbluishdustrosesteadilyuntilittoppedthesideofthepit。