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The falling star
Hefanciedeventhenthatthecoolingofthebodymightaccountforthis,butwhatdisturbedthatideawasthefactthattheashwasfallingonlyfromtheendofthecylinder.
Andthenheperceivedthat,veryslowly,thecirculartopofthecylinderwasrotatingonitsbody. Itwassuchagradualmovementthathediscovereditonlythroughnoticingthatablackmarkthathadbeennearhimfiveminutesagowasnowattheothersideofthecircumference. Eventhenhescarcelyunderstoodwhatthisindicated,untilheheardamuffledgratingsoundandsawtheblackmarkjerkforwardaninchorso. Thenthethingcameuponhiminaflash. Thecylinderwasartificial—hollow—withanendthatscrewedout! Somethingwithinthecylinderwasunscrewingthetop!
‘Goodheavens! ’saidOgilvy. ‘There’samaninit—meninit! Halfroastedtodeath! Tryingtoescape!’
Atonce,withaquickmentalleap,helinkedtheThingwiththeflashuponMars.
Thethoughtoftheconfinedcreaturewassodreadfultohimthatheforgottheheatandwentforwardtothecylindertohelpturn. Butluckilythedullradiationarrestedhimbeforehecouldburnhishandsonthestillglowingmetal. Atthathestoodirresoluteforamoment,thenturned,scrambledoutofthepit,andsetoffrunningwildlyintoWoking. Thetimethenmusthavebeensomewhereaboutsixo’clock. Hemetawaggonerandtriedtomakehimunderstand,butthetalehetoldandhisappearanceweresowild—hishathadfallenoffinthepit—thatthemansimplydroveon. Hewasequallyunsuccessfulwiththepotmanwhowasjustunlockingthedoorsofthepublic-housebyHorsellBridge.
