Война миров

           Inthesilenceofthenight,withthatsenseofthenearnessofGodthatsometimescomesintothestillnessandthedarkness,Istoodmytrial,myonlytrial,forthatmomentofwrathandfear. IretracedeverystepofourconversationfromthemomentwhenIhadfoundhimcrouchingbesideme,heedlessofmythirst,andpointingtothefireandsmokethatstreamedupfromtheruinsofWeybridge. Wehadbeenincapableofco-operation—grimchancehadtakennoheedofthat. HadIforeseen,IshouldhavelefthimatHalliford. ButIdidnotforesee;andcrimeistoforeseeanddo. AndIsetthisdownasIhavesetallthisstorydown,asitwas. Therewerenowitnesses—allthesethingsImighthaveconcealed. ButIsetitdown,andthereadermustformhisjudgmentashewill. 

           Andwhen,byaneffort,Ihadsetasidethatpictureofaprostratebody,IfacedtheproblemoftheMartiansandthefateofmywife. FortheformerIhadnodata;Icouldimagineahundredthings,andso,unhappily,Icouldforthelatter. Andsuddenlythatnightbecameterrible. Ifoundmyselfsittingupinbed,staringatthedark. IfoundmyselfprayingthattheHeat-Raymighthavesuddenlyandpainlesslystruckheroutofbeing. SincethenightofmyreturnfromLeatherheadIhadnotprayed. Ihadutteredprayers,fetishprayers,hadprayedasheathensmuttercharmswhenIwasinextremity; butnowIprayedindeed,pleadingsteadfastlyandsanely,facetofacewiththedarknessofGod. Strangenight! Strangestinthis,thatsosoonasdawnhadcome,I,whohadtalkedwithGod,creptoutofthehouselikearatleavingitshidingplace—acreaturescarcelylarger,aninferioranimal,athingthatforanypassingwhimofourmastersmightbehuntedandkilled. PerhapstheyalsoprayedconfidentlytoGod. Surely,ifwehavelearnednothingelse,thiswarhastaughtuspity—pityforthosewitlesssoulsthatsufferourdominion.