Война миров
The “Thunder Child”
Itwaswiththegreatestdifficultytheycouldgetherdowntothebeach,wherepresentlymybrothersucceededinattractingtheattentionofsomemenonapaddlesteamerfromtheThames. Theysentaboatanddroveabargainforthirty-sixpoundsforthethree. Thesteamerwasgoing,thesemensaid,toOstend.
Itwasabouttwoo’clockwhenmybrother,havingpaidtheirfaresatthegangway,foundhimselfsafelyaboardthesteamboatwithhischarges. Therewasfoodaboard,albeitatexorbitantprices,andthethreeofthemcontrivedtoeatamealononeoftheseatsforward.
Therewerealreadyacoupleofscoreofpassengersaboard,someofwhomhadexpendedtheirlastmoneyinsecuringapassage, butthecaptainlayofftheBlackwateruntilfiveintheafternoon,pickinguppassengersuntiltheseateddeckswereevendangerouslycrowded. Hewouldprobablyhaveremainedlongerhaditnotbeenforthesoundofgunsthatbeganaboutthathourinthesouth. Asifinanswer,theironcladseawardfiredasmallgunandhoistedastringofflags. Ajetofsmokesprangoutofherfunnels.
SomeofthepassengerswereofopinionthatthisfiringcamefromShoeburyness,untilitwasnoticedthatitwasgrowinglouder. Atthesametime,farawayinthesoutheastthemastsandupperworksofthreeironcladsroseoneaftertheotheroutofthesea,beneathcloudsofblacksmoke. Butmybrother’sattentionspeedilyrevertedtothedistantfiringinthesouth. Hefanciedhesawacolumnofsmokerisingoutofthedistantgreyhaze.
Thelittlesteamerwasalreadyflappingherwayeastwardofthebigcrescentofshipping,andthelowEssexcoastwasgrowingblueandhazy,whenaMartianappeared, smallandfaintintheremotedistance,advancingalongthemuddycoastfromthedirectionofFoulness.
