Война миров
Under Foot
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.
