Война миров
The cylinder opens
Ifoundmyselfalone,andsawthepeopleontheothersideofthepitrunningoff,Stentamongthem. Ilookedagainatthecylinder,andungovernableterrorgrippedme. Istoodpetrifiedandstaring.
Abiggreyishroundedbulk,thesize,perhaps,ofabear,wasrisingslowlyandpainfullyoutofthecylinder. Asitbulgedupandcaughtthelight,itglistenedlikewetleather.
Twolargedark-colouredeyeswereregardingmesteadfastly. Themassthatframedthem,theheadofthething,wasrounded,andhad,onemightsay,aface. Therewasamouthundertheeyes,theliplessbrimofwhichquiveredandpanted,anddroppedsaliva. Thewholecreatureheavedandpulsatedconvulsively. Alanktentacularappendagegrippedtheedgeofthecylinder,anotherswayedintheair.
ThosewhohaveneverseenalivingMartiancanscarcelyimaginethestrangehorrorofitsappearance. ThepeculiarV-shapedmouthwithitspointedupperlip,theabsenceofbrowridges,theabsenceofachinbeneaththewedgelikelowerlip, theincessantquiveringofthismouth,theGorgongroupsoftentacles,thetumultuousbreathingofthelungsinastrangeatmosphere,theevidentheavinessandpainfulnessofmovementduetothegreatergravitationalenergyoftheearth —aboveall,theextraordinaryintensityoftheimmenseeyes—wereatoncevital,intense,inhuman,crippledandmonstrous. Therewassomethingfungoidintheoilybrownskin,somethingintheclumsydeliberationofthetediousmovementsunspeakablynasty. Evenatthisfirstencounter,thisfirstglimpse,Iwasovercomewithdisgustanddread.
Suddenlythemonstervanished.
