Thecontrastbetweentheswiftandcomplexmovementsofthesecontrivancesandtheinertpantingclumsinessoftheirmasterswasacute,andfordaysIhadtotellmyselfrepeatedlythattheselatterwereindeedthelivingofthetwothings。
Thecuratehadpossessionoftheslitwhenthefirstmenwerebroughttothepit。Iwassittingbelow,huddledup,listeningwithallmyears。
Hemadeasuddenmovementbackward,andI,fearfulthatwewereobserved,crouchedinaspasmofterror。Hecameslidingdowntherubbishandcreptbesidemeinthedarkness,inarticulate,gesticulating,andforamomentIsharedhispanic。Hisgesturesuggestedaresignationoftheslit,andafteralittlewhilemycuriositygavemecourage,andIroseup,steppedacrosshim,andclambereduptoit。AtfirstIcouldseenoreasonforhisfranticbehaviour。Thetwilighthadnowcome,thestarswerelittleandfaint,butthepitwasilluminatedbytheflickeringgreenfirethatcamefromthealuminium-making。Thewholepicturewasaflickeringschemeofgreengleamsandshiftingrustyblackshadows,strangelytryingtotheeyes。Overandthroughitallwentthebats,heedingitnotatall。ThesprawlingMartianswerenolongertobeseen,themoundofblue-greenpowderhadrisentocoverthemfromsight,andafighting-machine,withitslegscontracted,crumpled,andabbreviated,stoodacrossthecornerofthepit。
Andthen,amidtheclangourofthemachinery,cameadriftingsuspicionofhumanvoices,thatIentertainedatfirstonlytodismiss。
Icrouched,watchingthisfighting-machineclosely,satisfy-ingmyselfnowforthefirsttimethatthehooddidindeedcontainaMartian。AsthegreenflamesliftedIcouldseetheoilygleamofhisintegumentandthebrightnessofhiseyes。AndsuddenlyIheardayell,andsawalongtentaclereach-ingovertheshoulderofthemachinetothelittlecagethathuncheduponitsback。Thensomething——somethingstrug-glingviolently——wasliftedhighagainstthesky,ablack,vagueenigmaagainstthestarlight;andasthisblackobjectcamedownagain,Isawbythegreenbrightnessthatitwasaman。Foraninstanthewasclearlyvisible。Hewasastout,ruddy,middle-agedman,welldressed;threedaysbefore,hemusthavebeenwalkingtheworld,amanofconsiderableconsequence。Icouldseehisstaringeyesandgleamsoflightonhisstudsandwatchchain。Hevanishedbehindthemound,andforamomenttherewassilence。AndthenbeganashriekingandasustainedandcheerfulhootingfromtheMartians。
Isliddowntherubbish,struggledtomyfeet,clappedmyhandsovermyears,andboltedintothescullery。Thecurate,whohadbeencrouchingsilentlywithhisarmsoverhishead,lookedupasIpassed,criedoutquiteloudlyatmydesertionofhim,andcamerunningafterme。
Thatnight,aswelurkedinthescullery,balancedbetweenourhorrorandtheterriblefascinationthispeepinghad,al-thoughIfeltanurgentneedofactionItriedinvaintoconceivesomeplanofescape;butafterwards,duringthesecondday,Iwasabletoconsiderourpositionwithgreatclearness。
Thecurate,Ifound,wasquiteincapableofdis-cussion;thisnewandculminatingatrocityhadrobbedhimofallvestigesofreasonorforethought。
Practicallyhehadalreadysunktothelevelofananimal。Butasthesayinggoes,Igrippedmyselfwithbothhands。Itgrewuponmymind,onceIcouldfacethefacts,thatterribleasourposi-tionwas,therewasasyetnojustificationforabsolutedespair。OurchiefchancelayinthepossibilityoftheMartiansmakingthepitnothingmorethanatemporaryencampment。
Oreveniftheykeptitpermanently,theymightnotconsideritnecessarytoguardit,andachanceofescapemightbeaffordedus。Ialsoweighedverycarefullythepossibilityofourdiggingawayoutinadirectionawayfromthepit,butthechancesofouremergingwithinsightofsomesentinelfighting-machineseemedatfirsttoogreat。AndIshouldhavehadtodoallthediggingmyself。Thecuratewouldcertainlyhavefailedme。
Itwasonthethirdday,ifmymemoryservesmeright,thatIsawtheladkilled。ItwastheonlyoccasiononwhichIactuallysawtheMartiansfeed。AfterthatexperienceIavoidedtheholeinthewallforthebetterpartofaday。Iwentintothescullery,removedthedoor,andspentsomehoursdiggingwithmyhatchetassilentlyaspossible;butwhenIhadmadeaholeaboutacoupleoffeetdeepthelooseearthcollapsednoisily,andIdidnotdarecontinue。Ilostheart,andlaydownonthesculleryfloorforalongtime,havingnospiriteventomove。AndafterthatIabandonedaltogethertheideaofescapingbyexcavation。
ItsaysmuchfortheimpressiontheMartianshadmadeuponmethatatfirstIentertainedlittleornohopeofourescapebeingbroughtaboutbytheiroverthrowthroughanyhumaneffort。ButonthefourthorfifthnightIheardasoundlikeheavyguns。
Itwasverylateinthenight,andthemoonwasshiningbrightly。TheMartianshadtakenawaytheexcavating-machine,and,saveforafighting-machinethatstoodintheremoterbankofthepitandahandling-machinethatwasburiedoutofmysightinacornerofthepitimmedi-atelybeneathmypeephole,theplacewasdesertedbythem。Exceptforthepaleglowfromthehandling-machineandthebarsandpatchesofwhitemoonlightthepitwasindark-ness,and,exceptfortheclinkingofthehandling-machine,quitestill。Thatnightwasabeautifulserenity;saveforoneplanet,themoonseemedtohavetheskytoherself。Iheardadoghowling,andthatfamiliarsounditwasthatmademelisten。ThenIheardquitedistinctlyaboomingex-actlylikethesoundofgreatguns。SixdistinctreportsIcounted,andafteralongintervalsixagain。Andthatwasall。
TheWaroftheWorlds-Book2-Chapter4Chapter4-TheDeathoftheCurateItwasonthesixthdayofourimprisonmentthatIpeepedforthelasttime,andpresentlyfoundmyselfalone。Insteadofkeepingclosetomeandtryingtooustmefromtheslit,thecuratehadgonebackintothescullery。Iwasstruckbyasuddenthought。Iwentbackquicklyandquietlyintothescullery。InthedarknessIheardthecuratedrink-ing。Isnatchedinthedarkness,andmyfingerscaughtabottleofburgundy。
Forafewminutestherewasatussle。Thebottlestruckthefloorandbroke,andIdesistedandrose。Westoodpantingandthreateningeachother。
IntheendIplantedmyselfbetweenhimandthefood,andtoldhimofmydeterminationtobeginadiscipline。Idividedthefoodinthepantry,intorationstolastustendays。Iwouldnotlethimeatanymorethatday。Intheafternoonhemadeafeebleefforttogetatthefood。Ihadbeendozing,butinaninstantIwasawake。Alldayandallnightwesatfacetoface,Iwearybutresolute,andheweepingandcom-plainingofhisimmediatehunger。Itwas,Iknow,anightandaday,buttomeitseemed——itseemsnow——aninter-minablelengthoftime。
Andsoourwidenedincompatibilityendedatlastinopenconflict。Fortwovastdayswestruggledinundertonesandwrestlingcontests。ThereweretimeswhenIbeatandkickedhimmadly,timeswhenIcajoledandpersuadedhim,andonceItriedtobribehimwiththelastbottleofburgundy,fortherewasarain-waterpumpfromwhichIcouldgetwater。Butneitherforcenorkindnessavailed;hewasindeedbeyondreason。Hewouldneitherdesistfromhisattacksonthefoodnorfromhisnoisybabblingtohimself。Therudi-mentaryprecautionstokeepourimprisonmentendurablehewouldnotobserve。SlowlyIbegantorealisethecompleteoverthrowofhisintelligence,toperceivethatmysolecom-panioninthiscloseandsicklydarknesswasamaninsane。
FromcertainvaguememoriesIaminclinedtothinkmyownmindwanderedattimes。IhadstrangeandhideousdreamswheneverIslept。Itsoundsparadoxical,butIaminclinedtothinkthattheweaknessandinsanityofthecuratewarnedme,bracedme,andkeptmeasaneman。
Ontheeighthdayhebegantotalkaloudinsteadofwhis-pering,andnothingIcoulddowouldmoderatehisspeech。
\"Itisjust,OGod!\"hewouldsay,overandoveragain。\"Itisjust。
Onmeandminebethepunishmentlaid。Wehavesinned,wehavefallenshort。
Therewaspoverty,sorrow;thepoorweretroddeninthedust,andIheldmypeace。Ipreachedacceptablefolly——myGod,whatfolly!——whenIshouldhavestoodup,thoughIdiedforit,andcalleduponthemtorepent-repent!……Oppressorsofthepoorandneedy……!ThewinepressofGod!\"
ThenhewouldsuddenlyreverttothematterofthefoodIwithheldfromhim,praying,begging,weeping,atlastthreatening。Hebegantoraisehisvoice——Iprayedhimnotto。Heperceivedaholdonme——hethreatenedhewouldshoutandbringtheMartiansuponus。Foratimethatscaredme;
butanyconcessionwouldhaveshortenedourchanceofescapebeyondestimating。
Idefiedhim,althoughIfeltnoassurancethathemightnotdothisthing。
Butthatday,atanyrate,hedidnot。Hetalkedwithhisvoicerisingslowly,throughthegreaterpartoftheeighthandninthdays——threats,entreaties,mingledwithatorrentofhalf-saneandalwaysfrothyrepentanceforhisvacantshamofGod\'sservice,suchasmademepityhim。Thenhesleptawhile,andbeganagainwithrenewedstrength,soloudlythatImustneedsmakehimdesist。
\"Bestill!\"Iimplored。
Herosetohisknees,forhehadbeensittinginthedark-nessnearthecopper。
\"Ihavebeenstilltoolong,\"hesaid,inatonethatmusthavereachedthepit,\"andnowImustbearmywitness。Woeuntothisunfaithfulcity!
Woe!Woe!Woe!Woe!Woe!Totheinhabitantsoftheearthbyreasonoftheothervoicesofthetrumpet————\"
\"Shutup!\"Isaid,risingtomyfeet,andinaterrorlesttheMartiansshouldhearus。\"ForGod\'ssake————\"
\"Nay,\"shoutedthecurate,atthetopofhisvoice,stand-inglikewiseandextendinghisarms。\"Speak!ThewordoftheLordisuponme!\"
Inthreestrideshewasatthedoorleadingintothekitchen。
\"Imustbearmywitness!Igo!Ithasalreadybeentoolongdelayed。\"
Iputoutmyhandandfeltthemeatchopperhangingtothewall。InaflashIwasafterhim。Iwasfiercewithfear。BeforehewashalfwayacrossthekitchenIhadovertakenhim。WithonelasttouchofhumanityIturnedthebladebackandstruckhimwiththebutt。Hewentheadlongfor-wardandlaystretchedontheground。Istumbledoverhimandstoodpanting。Helaystill。
SuddenlyIheardanoisewithout,therunandsmashofslippingplaster,andthetriangularapertureinthewallwasdarkened。Ilookedupandsawthelowersurfaceofahandling-machinecomingslowlyacrossthehole。
Oneofitsgrippinglimbscurledamidthedebris;anotherlimbap-peared,feelingitswayoverthefallenbeams。Istoodpetrified,staring。ThenIsawthroughasortofglassplateneartheedgeofthebodytheface,aswemaycallit,andthelargedarkeyesofaMartian,peering,andthenalongmetallicsnakeoftentaclecamefeelingslowlythroughthehole。
Iturnedbyaneffort,stumbledoverthecurate,andstoppedatthescullerydoor。Thetentaclewasnowsomeway,twoyardsormore,intheroom,andtwistingandturn-ing,withqueersuddenmovements,thiswayandthat。ForawhileIstoodfascinatedbythatslow,fitfuladvance。
Then,withafaint,hoarsecry,Iforcedmyselfacrossthescullery。I
trembledviolently;Icouldscarcelystandupright。Iopenedthedoorofthecoalcellar,andstoodthereinthedarknessstaringatthefaintlylitdoorwayintothekitchen,andlisten-ing。HadtheMartianseenme?
Whatwasitdoingnow?
Somethingwasmovingtoandfrothere,veryquietly;everynowandthenittappedagainstthewall,orstartedonitsmovementswithafaintmetallicringing,likethemovementsofkeysonasplit-ring。Thenaheavybody——I
knewtoowellwhat——wasdraggedacrossthefloorofthekitchentowardstheopening。Irresistiblyattracted,Icrepttothedoorandpeepedintothekitchen。InthetriangleofbrightoutersunlightIsawtheMartian,initsBriareusofahandling-machine,scrutinizingthecurate\'shead。
IthoughtatoncethatitwouldinfermypresencefromthemarkoftheblowIhadgivenhim。
Icreptbacktothecoalcellar,shutthedoor,andbegantocovermyselfupasmuchasIcould,andasnoiselesslyaspossibleinthedarkness,amongthefirewoodandcoaltherein。EverynowandthenIpaused,rigid,toheariftheMartianhadthrustitstentaclesthroughtheopeningagain。
Thenthefaintmetallicjinglereturned。Itraceditslowlyfeelingoverthekitchen。PresentlyIhearditnearer——inthescullery,asIjudged。
Ithoughtthatitslengthmightbein-sufficienttoreachme。Iprayedcopiously。Itpassed,scrap-ingfaintlyacrossthecellardoor。Anageofalmostintolerablesuspenseintervened;thenIhearditfumblingatthelatch!Ithadfoundthedoor!TheMartiansunderstooddoors!
Itworriedatthecatchforaminute,perhaps,andthenthedooropened。
InthedarknessIcouldjustseethething——likeanele-phant\'strunkmorethananythingelse——wavingtowardsmeandtouchingandexaminingthewall,coals,woodandceil-ing。Itwaslikeablackwormswayingitsblindheadtoandfro。
Once,even,ittouchedtheheelofmyboot。Iwasonthevergeofscreaming;
Ibitmyhand。Foratimethetentaclewassilent。Icouldhavefanciedithadbeenwithdrawn。Presently,withanabruptclick,itgrippedsomething——I
thoughtithadme!——andseemedtogooutofthecellaragain。ForaminuteIwasnotsure。Apparentlyithadtakenalumpofcoaltoexamine。
Iseizedtheopportunityofslightlyshiftingmyposition,whichhadbecomecramped,andthenlistened。Iwhisperedpassionateprayersforsafety。
ThenIheardtheslow,deliberatesoundcreepingtowardsmeagain。Slowly,slowlyitdrewnear,scratchingagainstthewallsandtappingthefurniture。
WhileIwasstilldoubtful,itrappedsmartlyagainstthecellardoorandclosedit。Ihearditgointothepantry,andthebiscuit-tinsrattledandabottlesmashed,andthencameaheavybumpagainstthecellardoor。
Thensilencethatpassedintoaninfinityofsuspense。
Haditgone?
AtlastIdecidedthatithad。
Itcameintothescullerynomore;butIlayallthetenthdayintheclosedarkness,buriedamongcoalsandfirewood,notdaringeventocrawloutforthedrinkforwhichIcraved。ItwastheeleventhdaybeforeI
venturedsofarfrommysecurity。
TheWaroftheWorlds-Book2-Chapter5Chapter5-TheStillnessMyfirstactbeforeIwentintothepantrywastofastenthedoorbetweenthekitchenandthescullery。Butthepantrywasempty;everyscrapoffoodhadgone。Appar-ently,theMartianhadtakenitallonthepreviousday。AtthatdiscoveryIdespairedforthefirsttime。Itooknofood,ornodrinkeither,ontheeleventhorthetwelfthday。
Atfirstmymouthandthroatwereparched,andmystrengthebbedsensibly。
Isataboutinthedarknessofthescullery,inastateofdespondentwretchedness。
Mymindranoneating。IthoughtIhadbecomedeaf,forthenoisesofmovementIhadbeenaccustomedtohearfromthepithadceasedabsolutely。Ididnotfeelstrongenoughtocrawlnoiselesslytothepeephole,orIwouldhavegonethere。
Onthetwelfthdaymythroatwassopainfulthat,takingthechanceofalarmingtheMartians,Iattackedthecreakingrain-waterpumpthatstoodbythesink,andgotacoupleofglassfulsofblackenedandtaintedrainwater。Iwasgreatlyrefreshedbythis,andemboldenedbythefactthatnoenquiringtentaclefollowedthenoiseofmypumping。
Duringthesedays,inarambling,inconclusiveway,Ithoughtmuchofthecurateandofthemannerofhisdeath。
OnthethirteenthdayIdranksomemorewater,anddozedandthoughtdisjointedlyofeatingandofvagueim-possibleplansofescape。WheneverIdozedIdreamtofhorriblephantasms,ofthedeathofthecurate,orofsump-tuousdinners;but,asleeporawake,Ifeltakeenpainthaturgedmetodrinkagainandagain。Thelightthatcameintothescullerywasnolongergrey,butred。Tomydisorderedimaginationitseemedthecolourofblood。
OnthefourteenthdayIwentintothekitchen,andIwassurprisedtofindthatthefrondsoftheredweedhadgrownrightacrosstheholeinthewall,turningthehalf-lightoftheplaceintoacrimson-colouredobscurity。
ItwasearlyonthefifteenthdaythatIheardacurious,familiarsequenceofsoundsinthekitchen,and,listening,identifieditasthesnuffingandscratchingofadog。Goingintothekitchen,Isawadog\'snosepeeringinthroughabreakamongtheruddyfronds。Thisgreatlysurprisedme。Atthescentofmehebarkedshortly。
IthoughtifIcouldinducehimtocomeintotheplacequietlyIshouldbeable,perhaps,tokillandeathim;andinanycase,itwouldbeadvisabletokillhim,lesthisactionsattractedtheattentionoftheMartians。
Icreptforward,saying\"Gooddog!\"verysoftly;buthesuddenlywithdrewhisheadanddisappeared。
Ilistened——Iwasnotdeaf——butcertainlythepitwasstill。Iheardasoundliketheflutterofabird\'swings,andahoarsecroaking,butthatwasall。
ForalongwhileIlayclosetothepeephole,butnotdaringtomoveasidetheredplantsthatobscuredit。OnceortwiceIheardafaintpitter-patterlikethefeetofthedoggoinghitherandthitheronthesandfarbelowme,andthereweremorebirdlikesounds,butthatwasall。Atlength,encouragedbythesilence,Ilookedout。
Exceptinthecorner,whereamultitudeofcrowshoppedandfoughtovertheskeletonsofthedeadtheMartianshadconsumed,therewasnotalivingthinginthepit。
Istaredaboutme,scarcelybelievingmyeyes。Allthemachineryhadgone。Saveforthebigmoundofgreyish-bluepowderinonecorner,certainbarsofaluminiuminanother,theblackbirds,andtheskeletonsofthekilled,theplacewasmerelyanemptycircularpitinthesand。
SlowlyIthrustmyselfoutthroughtheredweed,andstooduponthemoundofrubble。Icouldseeinanydirectionsavebehindme,tothenorth,andneitherMartiansnorsignofMartiansweretobeseen。Thepitdroppedsheerlyfrommyfeet,butalittlewayalongtherubbishaffordedaprac-
ticableslopetothesummitoftheruins。Mychanceofescapehadcome。
Ibegantotremble。
Ihesitatedforsometime,andthen,inagustofdesperateresolution,andwithaheartthatthrobbedviolently,IscrambledtothetopofthemoundinwhichIhadbeenburiedsolong。
Ilookedaboutagain。Tothenorthward,too,noMartianwasvisible。
WhenIhadlastseenthispartofSheeninthedaylightithadbeenastragglingstreetofcomfortablewhiteandredhouses,interspersedwithabundantshadytrees。NowIstoodonamoundofsmashedbrickwork,clay,andgravel,overwhichspreadamultitudeofredcactus-shapedplants,knee-high,withoutasolitaryterrestrialgrowthtodisputetheirfooting。
Thetreesnearmeweredeadandbrown,butfurtheranetworkofredthreadscaledthestilllivingstems。
Theneighbouringhouseshadallbeenwrecked,butnonehadbeenburned;
theirwallsstood,sometimestothesecondstory,withsmashedwindowsandshattereddoors。Theredweedgrewtumultuouslyintheirrooflessrooms。
Belowmewasthegreatpit,withthecrowsstrugglingforitsrefuse。A
numberofotherbirdshoppedaboutamongtheruins。FarawayIsawagauntcatslinkcrouchinglyalongawall,buttracesofmentherewerenone。
Thedayseemed,bycontrastwithmyrecentconfinement,dazzlinglybright,theskyaglowingblue。Agentlebreezekepttheredweedthatcoveredeveryscrapofunoccupiedgroundgentlyswaying。Andoh!thesweetnessoftheair!
TheWaroftheWorlds-Book2-Chapter6Chapter6-TheWorkofFifteenDaysForsometimeIstoodtotteringonthemoundregardlessofmysafety。WithinthatnoisomedenfromwhichIhademergedIhadthoughtwithanarrowintensityonlyofourimmediatesecurity。Ihadnotrealisedwhathadbeenhap-peningtotheworld,hadnotanticipatedthisstartlingvisionofunfamiliarthings。
IhadexpectedtoseeSheeninruins——Ifoundaboutmethelandscape,weirdandlurid,ofanotherplanet。
ForthatmomentItouchedanemotionbeyondthecommonrangeofmen,yetonethatthepoorbruteswedominateknowonlytoowell。Ifeltasarabbitmightfeelreturningtohisburrowandsuddenlyconfrontedbytheworkofadozenbusynavviesdiggingthefoundationsofahouse。I
feltthefirstinklingofathingthatpresentlygrewquiteclearinmymind,thatoppressedmeformanydays,asenseofdethronement,apersuasionthatIwasnolongeramaster,butananimalamongtheanimals,undertheMartianheel。Withusitwouldbeaswiththem,tolurkandwatch,torunandhide;thefearandempireofmanhadpassedaway。
Butsosoonasthisstrangenesshadbeenrealiseditpassed,andmydominantmotivebecamethehungerofmylonganddismalfast。InthedirectionawayfromthepitIsaw,beyondared-coveredwall,apatchofgardengroundun-buried。Thisgavemeahint,andIwentknee-deep,andsometimesneck-deep,intheredweed。Thedensityoftheweedgavemeareassuringsenseofhiding。Thewallwassomesixfeethigh,andwhenIattemptedtoclamberitIfoundIcouldnotliftmyfeettothecrest。SoIwentalongbythesideofit,andcametoacornerandarockworkthatenabledmetogettothetop,andtumbleintothegardenIcoveted。HereIfoundsomeyoungonions,acoupleofgladiolusbulbs,andaquantityofimmaturecarrots,allofwhichIsecured,and,scramblingoveraruinedwall,wentonmywaythroughscarletandcrimsontreestowardsKew——itwaslikewalkingthroughanavenueofgiganticblooddrops——possessedwithtwoideas:togetmorefood,andtolimp,assoonandasfarasmystrengthpermitted,outofthisaccursedunearthlyregionofthepit。
Somewayfarther,inagrassyplace,wasagroupofmush-roomswhichalsoIdevoured,andthenIcameuponabrownsheetofflowingshallowwater,wheremeadowsusedtobe。Thesefragmentsofnourishmentservedonlytowhetmyhunger。AtfirstIwassurprisedatthisfloodinahot,drysummer,butafterwardsIdiscoveredthatitwascausedbythetropicalexuberanceoftheredweed。Directlythisextraor-dinarygrowthencounteredwateritstraightwaybecamegiganticandofunparalleledfecundity。ItsseedsweresimplypoureddownintothewateroftheWeyandThames,anditsswiftlygrowingandTitanicwaterfrondsspeedilychokedboththoserivers。
AtPutney,asIafterwardssaw,thebridgewasalmostlostinatangleofthisweed,andatRichmond,too,theThameswaterpouredinabroadandshallowstreamacrossthemeadowsofHamptonandTwickenham。Asthewaterspreadtheweedfollowedthem,untiltheruinedvillasoftheThamesvalleywereforatimelostinthisredswamp,whosemarginIexplored,andmuchofthedesolationtheMartianshadcausedwasconcealed。
Intheendtheredweedsuccumbedalmostasquicklyasithadspread。
Acankeringdisease,due,itisbelieved,totheactionofcertainbacteria,presentlyseizeduponit。Nowbytheactionofnaturalselection,allterrestrialplantshaveacquiredaresistingpoweragainstbacterialdiseases——theyneversuccumbwithoutaseverestruggle,buttheredweedrottedlikeathingalreadydead。Thefrondsbecamebleached,andthenshrivelledandbrittle。Theybrokeoffattheleasttouch,andthewatersthathadstimulatedtheirearlygrowthcarriedtheirlastvestigesouttosea。
Myfirstactoncomingtothiswaterwas,ofcourse,toslakemythirst。
Idrankagreatdealofitand,movedbyanimpulse,gnawedsomefrondsofredweed;buttheywerewatery,andhadasickly,metallictaste。I
foundthewaterwassufficientlyshallowformetowadesecurely,althoughtheredweedimpededmyfeetalittle;butthefloodevidentlygotdeepertowardstheriver,andIturnedbacktoMortlake。Imanagedtomakeouttheroadbymeansofoccasionalruinsofitsvillasandfencesandlamps,andsopresentlyIgotoutofthisspateandmademywaytothehillgoinguptowardsRoehamptonandcameoutonPutneyCommon。
Herethescenerychangedfromthestrangeandunfamiliartothewreckageofthefamiliar:patchesofgroundexhibitedthedevastationofacyclone,andinafewscoreyardsIwouldcomeuponperfectlyundisturbedspaces,houseswiththeirblindstrimlydrawnanddoorsclosed,asiftheyhadbeenleftforadaybytheowners,orasiftheirinhabitantssleptwithin。
Theredweedwaslessabundant;thetalltreesalongthelanewerefreefromtheredcreeper。Ihuntedforfoodamongthetrees,findingnothing,andIalsoraidedacoupleofsilenthouses,buttheyhadalreadybeenbrokenintoandransacked。Irestedfortheremainderoftheday-lightinashrubbery,being,inmyenfeebledcondition,toofatiguedtopushon。
AllthistimeIsawnohumanbeings,andnosignsoftheMartians。I
encounteredacoupleofhungry-lookingdogs,butbothhurriedcircuitouslyawayfromtheadvancesImadethem。NearRoehamptonIhadseentwohumanskeletons——notbodies,butskeletons,pickedclean——andinthewoodbymeIfoundthecrushedandscatteredbonesofseveralcatsandrabbitsandtheskullofasheep。ButthoughIgnawedpartsoftheseinmymouth,therewasnothingtobegotfromthem。
AftersunsetIstruggledonalongtheroadtowardsPutney,whereIthinktheHeat-Raymusthavebeenusedforsomereason。AndinthegardenbeyondRoehamptonIgotaquan-tityofimmaturepotatoes,sufficienttostaymyhunger。FromthisgardenonelookeddownuponPutneyandtheriver。
Theaspectoftheplaceintheduskwassingularlydesolate:blackenedtrees,blackened,desolateruins,anddownthehillthesheetsofthefloodedriver,red-tingedwiththeweed。Andoverall——silence。Itfilledmewithindescribableterrortothinkhowswiftlythatdesolatingchangehadcome。
ForatimeIbelievedthatmankindhadbeensweptoutofexistence,andthatIstoodtherealone,thelastmanleftalive。HardbythetopofPutneyHillIcameuponanotherskeleton,withthearmsdislocatedandremovedseveralyardsfromtherestofthebody。AsIproceededIbecamemoreandmoreconvincedthattheexterminationofmankindwas,saveforsuchstragglersasmyself,alreadyaccomplishedinthispartoftheworld。
TheMartians,Ithought,hadgoneonandleftthecountrydesolated,seekingfoodelsewhere。PerhapsevennowtheyweredestroyingBerlinorParis,oritmightbetheyhadgonenorthward。
TheWaroftheWorlds-Book2-Chapter7Chapter7-TheManonPutneyHillIspentthatnightintheinnthatstandsatthetopofPutneyHill,sleepinginamadebedforthefirsttimesincemyflighttoLeatherhead。IwillnottelltheneedlesstroubleIhadbreakingintothathouse——afterwardsIfoundthefrontdoorwasonthelatch——norhowIransackedeveryroomforfood,untiljustonthevergeofdespair,inwhatseemedtometobeaservant\'sbedroom,Ifoundarat-gnawedcrustandtwotinsofpineapple。
Theplacehadbeenalreadysearchedandemptied。InthebarIafterwardsfoundsomebiscuitsandsandwichesthathadbeenover-looked。ThelatterIcouldnoteat,theyweretoorotten,buttheformernotonlystayedmyhunger,butfilledmypockets。Ilitnolamps,fearingsomeMartianmightcomebeatingthatpartofLondonforfoodinthenight。BeforeIwenttobedIhadanintervalofrestlessness,andprowledfromwindowtowindow,peeringoutforsomesignofthesemonsters。Isleptlittle。AsIlayinbedIfoundmyselfthink-ingconsecutively——athingIdonotremembertohavedonesincemylastargumentwiththecurate。Duringalltheinter-
veningtimemymentalconditionhadbeenahurryingsuc-cessionofvagueemotionalstatesorasortofstupidrecep-tivity。Butinthenightmybrain,reinforced,Isuppose,bythefoodIhadeaten,grewclearagain,andIthought。
Threethingsstruggledforpossessionofmymind:thekillingofthecurate,thewhereaboutsoftheMartians,andthepossiblefateofmywife。
Theformergavemenosensa-tionofhorrororremorsetorecall;Isawitsimplyasathingdone,amemoryinfinitelydisagreeablebutquitewithoutthequalityofremorse。IsawmyselfthenasIseemyselfnow,drivenstepbysteptowardsthathastyblow,thecreatureofasequenceofaccidentsleadinginevitablytothat。Ifeltnocondemnation;yetthememory,static,unprogressive,hauntedme。Inthesilenceofthenight,withthatsenseofthenear-nessofGodthatsometimescomesintothestillnessandthedarkness,Istoodmytrial,myonlytrial,forthatmomentofwrathandfear。IretracedeverystepofourconversationfromthemomentwhenI
hadfoundhimcrouchingbesideme,heedlessofmythirst,andpointingtothefireandsmokethatstreamedupfromtheruinsofWeybridge。Wehadbeenincapableofco-operation——grimchancehadtakennoheedofthat。
HadIforeseen,IshouldhavelefthimatHalliford。ButIdidnotforesee;
andcrimeistoforeseeanddo。AndIsetthisdownasIhavesetallthisstorydown,asitwas。Therewerenowitnesses——allthesethingsImighthavecon-cealed。ButIsetitdown,andthereadermustformhisjudgmentashewill。
Andwhen,byaneffort,Ihadsetasidethatpictureofaprostratebody,IfacedtheproblemoftheMartiansandthefateofmywife。FortheformerIhadnodata;Icouldimagineahundredthings,andso,unhappily,Icouldforthelatter。Andsuddenlythatnightbecameterrible。Ifoundmyselfsittingupinbed,staringatthedark。Ifoundmy-selfprayingthattheHeat-Raymighthavesuddenlyandpainlesslystruckheroutofbeing。SincethenightofmyreturnfromLeatherheadIhadnotprayed。
Ihadutteredprayers,fetishprayers,hadprayedasheathensmuttercharmswhenIwasinextremity;butnowIprayedindeed,plead-ingsteadfastlyandsanely,facetofacewiththedarknessofGod。Strangenight!Strangestinthis,thatsosoonasdawnhadcome,I,whohadtalkedwithGod,creptoutofthehouselikearatleavingitshidingplace——acreaturescarcelylarger,aninferioranimal,athingthatforanypassingwhimofourmastersmightbehuntedandkilled。PerhapstheyalsoprayedconfidentlytoGod。
Surely,ifwehavelearnednoth-ingelse,thiswarhastaughtuspity——pityforthosewitlesssoulsthatsufferourdominion。
Themorningwasbrightandfine,andtheeasternskyglowedpink,andwasfrettedwithlittlegoldenclouds。IntheroadthatrunsfromthetopofPutneyHilltoWimbledonwasanumberofpoorvestigesofthepanictorrentthatmusthavepouredLondonwardontheSundaynightafterthefightingbegan。Therewasalittletwo-wheeledcartinscribedwiththenameofThomasLobb,Greengrocer,NewMalden,withasmashedwheelandanabandonedtintrunk;therewasastrawhattrampledintothenowhardenedmud,andatthetopofWestHillalotofblood-stainedglassabouttheoverturnedwatertrough。Mymovementswerelanguid,myplansofthevaguest。
IhadanideaofgoingtoLeatherhead,thoughIknewthatthereIhadthepoorestchanceoffindingmywife。Certainly,unlessdeathhadovertakenthemsud-denly,mycousinsandshewouldhavefledthence;butitseemedtomeImightfindorlearntherewhithertheSurreypeoplehadfled。I
knewIwantedtofindmywife,thatmyheartachedforherandtheworldofmen,butIhadnoclearideahowthefindingmightbedone。Iwasalsosharplyawarenowofmyintenseloneliness。FromthecornerIwent,undercoverofathicketoftreesandbushes,totheedgeofWimbledonCommon,stretchingwideandfar。
Thatdarkexpansewaslitinpatchesbyyellowgorseandbroom;therewasnoredweedtobeseen,andasIprowled,hesitating,onthevergeoftheopen,thesunrose,floodingitallwithlightandvitality。Icameuponabusyswarmoflittlefrogsinaswampyplaceamongthetrees。I
stoppedtolookatthem,drawingalessonfromtheirstoutresolvetolive。
Andpresently,turningsuddenly,withanoddfeelingofbeingwatched,Ibeheldsomethingcrouchingamidaclumpofbushes。Istoodregardingthis。Imadeasteptowardsit,anditroseupandbecameamanarmedwithacutlass。Iapproachedhimslowly。Hestoodsilentandmotionless,regardingme。
AsIdrewnearerIperceivedhewasdressedinclothesasdustyandfilthyasmyown;helooked,indeed,asthoughhehadbeendraggedthroughaculvert。Nearer,Idistin-guishedthegreenslimeofditchesmixingwiththepaledrabofdriedclayandshiny,coalypatches。Hisblackhairfelloverhiseyes,andhisfacewasdarkanddirtyandsunken,sothatatfirstIdidnotrecognisehim。Therewasaredcutacrossthelowerpartofhisface。
\"Stop!\"hecried,whenIwaswithintenyardsofhim,andIstopped。
Hisvoicewashoarse。\"Wheredoyoucomefrom?\"hesaid。
Ithought,surveyinghim。
\"IcomefromMortlake,\"Isaid。\"IwasburiednearthepittheMartiansmadeabouttheircylinder。Ihaveworkedmywayoutandescaped。\"
\"Thereisnofoodabouthere,\"hesaid。\"Thisismycoun-try。Allthishilldowntotheriver,andbacktoClapham,anduptotheedgeofthecommon。Thereisonlyfoodforone。Whichwayareyougoing?\"
Iansweredslowly。
\"Idon\'tknow,\"Isaid。\"Ihavebeenburiedintheruinsofahousethirteenorfourteendays。Idon\'tknowwhathashappened。\"
Helookedatmedoubtfully,thenstarted,andlookedwithachangedexpression。
\"I\'venowishtostopabouthere,\"saidI。\"IthinkIshallgotoLeatherhead,formywifewasthere。\"
Heshotoutapointingfinger。
\"Itisyou,\"saidhe;\"themanfromWoking。Andyouweren\'tkilledatWeybridge?\"
Irecognisedhimatthesamemoment。
\"Youaretheartillerymanwhocameintomygarden。\"
\"Goodluck!\"hesaid。\"Weareluckyones!FancyYOU!\"Heputoutahand,andItookit。\"Icrawledupadrain,\"hesaid。\"Buttheydidn\'tkilleveryone。
AndaftertheywentawayIgotofftowardsWaltonacrossthefields。But————
It\'snotsixteendaysaltogether——andyourhairisgrey。\"Helookedoverhisshouldersuddenly。\"Onlyarook,\"hesaid。\"Onegetstoknowthatbirdshaveshadowsthesedays。Thisisabitopen。Letuscrawlunderthosebushesandtalk。\"
\"HaveyouseenanyMartians?\"Isaid。\"SinceIcrawledout————\"
\"They\'vegoneawayacrossLondon,\"hesaid。\"Iguessthey\'vegotabiggercampthere。Ofanight,alloverthere,Hampsteadway,theskyisalivewiththeirlights。It\'slikeagreatcity,andintheglareyoucanjustseethemmoving。Bydaylightyoucan\'t。Butnearer——Ihaven\'tseenthem——\"
(hecountedonhisfingers)\"fivedays。ThenIsawacoupleacrossHammersmithwaycarryingsomethingbig。Andthenightbeforelast\"——hestoppedandspokeimpressively——\"itwasjustamatteroflights,butitwassomethingupintheair。Ibelievethey\'vebuiltaflying-machine,andarelearn-
ingtofly。\"
Istopped,onhandsandknees,forwehadcometothebushes。
\"Fly!\"
\"Yes,\"hesaid,\"fly。\"
Iwentonintoalittlebower,andsatdown。
\"Itisalloverwithhumanity,\"Isaid。\"Iftheycandothattheywillsimplygoroundtheworld。\"
Henodded。
\"Theywill。But————Itwillrelievethingsoverhereabit。Andbesides————\"
Helookedatme。\"Aren\'tyousatisfieditISupwithhumanity?Iam。We\'redown;we\'rebeat。\"
Istared。Strangeasitmayseem,Ihadnotarrivedatthisfact——afactperfectlyobvioussosoonashespoke。Ihadstillheldavaguehope;
rather,Ihadkeptalifelonghabitofmind。Herepeatedhiswords,\"We\'rebeat。\"Theycarriedabsoluteconviction。
\"It\'sallover,\"hesaid。\"They\'velostONE——justONE。Andthey\'vemadetheirfootinggoodandcrippledthegreatestpowerintheworld。They\'vewalkedoverus。ThedeathofthatoneatWeybridgewasanaccident。Andtheseareonlypioneers。Theykeptoncoming。Thesegreenstars——I\'veseennonethesefiveorsixdays,butI\'venodoubtthey\'refallingsomewhereeverynight。Nothing\'stobedone。We\'reunder!We\'rebeat!\"
Imadehimnoanswer。Isatstaringbeforeme,tryinginvaintodevisesomecountervailingthought。
\"Thisisn\'tawar,\"saidtheartilleryman。\"Itneverwasawar,anymorethanthere\'swarbetweenmanandants。\"
SuddenlyIrecalledthenightintheobservatory。
\"Afterthetenthshottheyfirednomore——atleast,untilthefirstcylindercame。\"
\"Howdoyouknow?\"saidtheartilleryman。Iexplained。Hethought。\"Somethingwrongwiththegun,\"hesaid。\"Butwhatifthereis?They\'llgetitrightagain。Andevenifthere\'sadelay,howcanitaltertheend?It\'sjustmenandants。There\'stheantsbuildstheircities,livetheirlives,havewars,revolutions,untilthemenwantthemoutoftheway,andthentheygooutoftheway。That\'swhatwearenow——justants。Only————\"
\"Yes,\"Isaid。
\"We\'reeatableants。\"
Wesatlookingateachother。
\"Andwhatwilltheydowithus?\"Isaid。
\"That\'swhatI\'vebeenthinking,\"hesaid;\"that\'swhatI\'vebeenthinking。
AfterWeybridgeIwentsouth——thinking。Isawwhatwasup。Mostofthepeoplewerehardatitsquealingandexcitingthemselves。ButI\'mnotsofondofsquealing。I\'vebeeninsightofdeathonceortwice;I\'mnotanornamentalsoldier,andatthebestandworst,death——it\'sjustdeath。
Andit\'sthemanthatkeepsonthinkingcomesthrough。Isaweveryonetrackingawaysouth。SaysI,\"Foodwon\'tlastthisway,\"andIturnedrightback。
IwentfortheMartianslikeasparrowgoesforman。Allround\"——hewavedahandtothehorizon——\"they\'restarvinginheaps,bolting,treadingoneachother……\"
Hesawmyface,andhaltedawkwardly。