Война миров
The “Thunder Child”
Atthatthecaptainonthebridgesworeatthetopofhisvoicewithfearandangerathisowndelay,andthepaddlesseemedinfectedwithhisterror. Everysoulaboardstoodatthebulwarksorontheseatsofthesteamerandstaredatthatdistantshape,higherthanthetreesorchurchtowersinland,andadvancingwithaleisurelyparodyofahumanstride.
ItwasthefirstMartianmybrotherhadseen,andhestood,moreamazedthanterrified,watchingthisTitanadvancingdeliberatelytowardstheshipping,wadingfartherandfartherintothewaterasthecoastfellaway. Then,farawaybeyondtheCrouch,cameanother,stridingoversomestuntedtrees,andthenyetanother,stillfartheroff,wadingdeeplythroughashinymudflatthatseemedtohanghalfwayupbetweenseaandsky. Theywereallstalkingseaward,asiftointercepttheescapeofthemultitudinousvesselsthatwerecrowdedbetweenFoulnessandtheNaze. Inspiteofthethrobbingexertionsoftheenginesofthelittlepaddle-boat,andthepouringfoamthatherwheelsflungbehindher,sherecededwithterrifyingslownessfromthisominousadvance.
Glancingnorthwestward,mybrothersawthelargecrescentofshippingalreadywrithingwiththeapproachingterror; oneshippassingbehindanother,anothercomingroundfrombroadsidetoendon,steamshipswhistlingandgivingoffvolumesofsteam,sailsbeingletout,launchesrushinghitherandthither. Hewassofascinatedbythisandbythecreepingdangerawaytotheleftthathehadnoeyesforanythingseaward. Andthenaswiftmovementofthesteamboat(shehadsuddenlycomeroundtoavoidbeingrundown)flunghimheadlongfromtheseatuponwhichhewasstanding. Therewasashoutingallabouthim,atramplingoffeet,andacheerthatseemedtobeansweredfaintly. Thesteamboatlurchedandrolledhimoveruponhishands.
