Война миров
The Fighting Begins
Heturned,stared,bawledsomethingabout"crawlingoutinathinglikeadishcover,"andranontothegateofthehouseatthecrest. Asuddenwhirlofblacksmokedrivingacrosstheroadhidhimforamoment. Irantomyneighbour’sdoorandrappedtosatisfymyselfofwhatIalreadyknew,thathiswifehadgonetoLondonwithhimandhadlockeduptheirhouse. Iwentinagain,accordingtomypromise,togetmyservant’sbox,luggeditout,clappeditbesideheronthetailofthedogcart,andthencaughtthereinsandjumpedupintothedriver’sseatbesidemywife. Inanothermomentwewereclearofthesmokeandnoise,andspankingdowntheoppositeslopeofMayburyHilltowardsOldWoking.
Infrontwasaquietsunnylandscape,awheatfieldaheadoneithersideoftheroad,andtheMayburyInnwithitsswingingsign. Isawthedoctor’scartaheadofme. AtthebottomofthehillIturnedmyheadtolookatthehillsideIwasleaving. Thickstreamersofblacksmokeshotwiththreadsofredfireweredrivingupintothestillair,andthrowingdarkshadowsuponthegreentreetopseastward. Thesmokealreadyextendedfarawaytotheeastandwest—totheByfleetpinewoodseastward,andtoWokingonthewest. Theroadwasdottedwithpeoplerunningtowardsus. Andveryfaintnow,butverydistinctthroughthehot,quietair,oneheardthewhirrofamachine-gunthatwaspresentlystilled,andanintermittentcrackingofrifles. ApparentlytheMartiansweresettingfiretoeverythingwithinrangeoftheirHeat-Ray.
Iamnotanexpertdriver,andIhadimmediatelytoturnmyattentiontothehorse. WhenIlookedbackagainthesecondhillhadhiddentheblacksmoke.
