Війна світів
The “Thunder Child”
Andbeyond,overthebluehillsthatrisesouthwardoftheriver,theglitteringMartianswenttoandfro,calmlyandmethodicallyspreadingtheirpoisoncloudoverthispatchofcountryandthenoverthat,layingitagainwiththeirsteamjetswhenithadserveditspurpose,andtakingpossessionoftheconqueredcountry. Theydonotseemtohaveaimedatexterminationsomuchasatcompletedemoralisationandthedestructionofanyopposition. Theyexplodedanystoresofpowdertheycameupon,cuteverytelegraph,andwreckedtherailwayshereandthere. Theywerehamstringingmankind. Theyseemedinnohurrytoextendthefieldoftheiroperations,anddidnotcomebeyondthecentralpartofLondonallthatday. ItispossiblethataveryconsiderablenumberofpeopleinLondonstucktotheirhousesthroughMondaymorning. CertainitisthatmanydiedathomesuffocatedbytheBlackSmoke.
UntilaboutmiddaythePoolofLondonwasanastonishingscene. Steamboatsandshippingofallsortslaythere,temptedbytheenormoussumsofmoneyofferedbyfugitives,anditissaidthatmanywhoswamouttothesevesselswerethrustoffwithboathooksanddrowned. Aboutoneo’clockintheafternoonthethinningremnantofacloudoftheblackvapourappearedbetweenthearchesofBlackfriarsBridge. AtthatthePoolbecameasceneofmadconfusion,fighting,andcollision,andforsometimeamultitudeofboatsandbargesjammedinthenorthernarchoftheTowerBridge,andthesailorsandlightermenhadtofightsavagelyagainstthepeoplewhoswarmeduponthemfromtheriverfront. Peoplewereactuallyclamberingdownthepiersofthebridgefromabove.
When,anhourlater,aMartianappearedbeyondtheClockTowerandwadeddowntheriver,nothingbutwreckagefloatedaboveLimehouse.
