Війна світів
The Exodus From London
HesawMissElphinstonecoveringhereyes,andalittlechild,withallachild’swantofsympatheticimagination,staringwithdilatedeyesatadustysomethingthatlayblackandstill,groundandcrushedundertherollingwheels. "Letusgoback!"heshouted,andbeganturningtheponyround. "Wecannotcrossthis—hell,"hesaidandtheywentbackahundredyardsthewaytheyhadcome,untilthefightingcrowdwashidden. Astheypassedthebendinthelanemybrothersawthefaceofthedyingmanintheditchundertheprivet,deadlywhiteanddrawn,andshiningwithperspiration. Thetwowomensatsilent,crouchingintheirseatandshivering.
Thenbeyondthebendmybrotherstoppedagain. MissElphinstonewaswhiteandpale,andhersister-in-lawsatweeping,toowretchedeventocallupon"George." Mybrotherwashorrifiedandperplexed. Sosoonastheyhadretreatedherealisedhowurgentandunavoidableitwastoattemptthiscrossing. HeturnedtoMissElphinstone,suddenlyresolute.
"Wemustgothatway,"hesaid,andledtheponyroundagain.
Forthesecondtimethatdaythisgirlprovedherquality. Toforcetheirwayintothetorrentofpeople,mybrotherplungedintothetrafficandheldbackacabhorse,whileshedrovetheponyacrossitshead. Awaggonlockedwheelsforamomentandrippedalongsplinterfromthechaise. Inanothermomenttheywerecaughtandsweptforwardbythestream. Mybrother,withthecabman’swhipmarksredacrosshisfaceandhands,scrambledintothechaiseandtookthereinsfromher.
"Pointtherevolveratthemanbehind,"hesaid,givingittoher,"ifhepressesustoohard. No!—pointitathishorse."
