Война миров
What I Saw of the Destruction of Weybridge and Shepperton
Oneontheextremeleft,theremotestthatis,flourishedahugecasehighintheair,andtheghostly,terribleHeat-RayIhadalreadyseenonFridaynightsmotetowardsChertsey,andstruckthetown.
Atsightofthesestrange,swift,andterriblecreaturesthecrowdnearthewater’sedgeseemedtometobeforamomenthorror-struck. Therewasnoscreamingorshouting,butasilence. Thenahoarsemurmurandamovementoffeet—asplashingfromthewater. Aman,toofrightenedtodroptheportmanteauhecarriedonhisshoulder,swungroundandsentmestaggeringwithablowfromthecornerofhisburden. Awomanthrustatmewithherhandandrushedpastme. Iturnedwiththerushofthepeople,butIwasnottooterrifiedforthought. TheterribleHeat-Raywasinmymind. Togetunderwater! Thatwasit!
"Getunderwater!"Ishouted,unheeded.
Ifacedaboutagain,andrushedtowardstheapproachingMartian,rushedrightdownthegravellybeachandheadlongintothewater. Othersdidthesame. AboatloadofpeopleputtingbackcameleapingoutasIrushedpast. Thestonesundermyfeetweremuddyandslippery,andtheriverwassolowthatIranperhapstwentyfeetscarcelywaist-deep. Then,astheMartiantoweredoverheadscarcelyacoupleofhundredyardsaway,Iflungmyselfforwardunderthesurface. Thesplashesofthepeopleintheboatsleapingintotheriversoundedlikethunderclapsinmyears. Peoplewerelandinghastilyonbothsidesoftheriver. ButtheMartianmachinetooknomorenoticeforthemomentofthepeoplerunningthiswayandthatthanamanwouldoftheconfusionofantsinanestagainstwhichhisfoothaskicked.
