Война миров

           "Ido.I’mgoingon,undertheirfeet. I’vegotitplanned;I’vethoughtitout. Wemenarebeat. Wedon’tknowenough. We’vegottolearnbeforewe’vegotachance. Andwe’vegottoliveandkeepindependentwhilewelearn. See! That’swhathastobedone." 

           Istared,astonished,andstirredprofoundlybytheman’sresolution. 

           "GreatGod!,"criedI. "Butyouareamanindeed!" AndsuddenlyIgrippedhishand. 

           "Eh!"hesaid,withhiseyesshining. "I’vethoughtitout,eh?" 

           "Goon,"Isaid. 

           "Well,thosewhomeantoescapetheircatchingmustgetready. I’mgettingready. Mindyou,itisn’tallofusthataremadeforwildbeasts;andthat’swhatit’sgottobe. That’swhyIwatchedyou. Ihadmydoubts. You’reslender. Ididn’tknowthatitwasyou,yousee,orjusthowyou’dbeenburied. Allthese—thesortofpeoplethatlivedinthesehouses,andallthosedamnlittleclerksthatusedtolivedownthatway—they’dbenogood. Theyhaven’tanyspiritinthem—noprouddreamsandnoproudlusts; andamanwhohasn’toneortheother—Lord!Whatishebutfunkandprecautions? Theyjustusedtoskedaddleofftowork—I’veseenhundredsof’em,bitofbreakfastinhand,runningwildandshiningtocatchtheirlittleseason-tickettrain,forfearthey’dgetdismissediftheydidn’t; workingatbusinessestheywereafraidtotakethetroubletounderstand; skedaddlingbackforfeartheywouldn’tbeintimefordinner; keepingindoorsafterdinnerforfearofthebackstreets,andsleepingwiththewivestheymarried,notbecausetheywantedthem,butbecausetheyhadabitofmoneythatwouldmakeforsafetyintheironelittlemiserableskedaddlethroughtheworld.