Война миров
The Exodus From London
Severalwayfarerscamealongthelane,andofthesemybrothergatheredsuchnewsashecould.
Everybrokenanswerhehaddeepenedhisimpressionofthegreatdisasterthathadcomeonhumanity,deepenedhispersuasionoftheimmediatenecessityforprosecutingthisflight. Heurgedthematteruponthem.
"Wehavemoney,"saidtheslenderwoman,andhesitated.
Hereyesmetmybrother’s,andherhesitationended.
"SohaveI,"saidmybrother.
Sheexplainedthattheyhadasmuchasthirtypoundsingold,besidesafive-poundnote,andsuggestedthatwiththattheymightgetuponatrainatSt.AlbansorNewBarnet. Mybrotherthoughtthatwashopeless,seeingthefuryoftheLondonerstocrowduponthetrains,andbroachedhisownideaofstrikingacrossEssextowardsHarwichandthenceescapingfromthecountryaltogether.
Mrs.Elphinstone—thatwasthenameofthewomaninwhite—wouldlistentonoreasoning,andkeptcallingupon"George"; buthersister-in-lawwasastonishinglyquietanddeliberate,andatlastagreedtomybrother’ssuggestion. So,designingtocrosstheGreatNorthRoad,theywentontowardsBarnet,mybrotherleadingtheponytosaveitasmuchaspossible. Asthesuncreptuptheskythedaybecameexcessivelyhot,andunderfootathick,whitishsandgrewburningandblinding,sothattheytravelledonlyveryslowly. Thehedgesweregreywithdust. AndastheyadvancedtowardsBarnetatumultuousmurmuringgrewstronger.
Theybegantomeetmorepeople. Forthemostpartthesewerestaringbeforethem,murmuringindistinctquestions,jaded,haggard,unclean. Onemanineveningdresspassedthemonfoot,hiseyesontheground.
