Війна світів
Dead London
Thetormentwasover. Eventhatdaythehealingwouldbegin. Thesurvivorsofthepeoplescatteredoverthecountry—leaderless,lawless,foodless,likesheepwithoutashepherd—thethousandswhohadfledbysea,wouldbegintoreturn; thepulseoflife,growingstrongerandstronger,wouldbeatagainintheemptystreetsandpouracrossthevacantsquares. Whateverdestructionwasdone,thehandofthedestroyerwasstayed. Allthegauntwrecks,theblackenedskeletonsofhousesthatstaredsodismallyatthesunlitgrassofthehill,wouldpresentlybeechoingwiththehammersoftherestorersandringingwiththetappingoftheirtrowels. AtthethoughtIextendedmyhandstowardstheskyandbeganthankingGod. Inayear,thoughtI—inayear...
Withoverwhelmingforcecamethethoughtofmyself,ofmywife,andtheoldlifeofhopeandtenderhelpfulnessthathadceasedforever.