Війна світів
The Fighting Begins
Thewoods,hesaid,werestillburning,andpointedoutahazeofsmoketome. "Theywillbehotunderfootfordays,onaccountofthethicksoilofpineneedlesandturf,"hesaid,andthengrewseriousover"poorOgilvy."
Afterbreakfast,insteadofworking,Idecidedtowalkdowntowardsthecommon. UndertherailwaybridgeIfoundagroupofsoldiers—sappers,Ithink,meninsmallroundcaps,dirtyredjacketsunbuttoned,andshowingtheirblueshirts,darktrousers,andbootscomingtothecalf. Theytoldmenoonewasallowedoverthecanal,and,lookingalongtheroadtowardsthebridge,IsawoneoftheCardiganmenstandingsentinelthere. Italkedwiththesesoldiersforatime;ItoldthemofmysightoftheMartiansonthepreviousevening. NoneofthemhadseentheMartians,andtheyhadbutthevaguestideasofthem,sothattheypliedmewithquestions. Theysaidthattheydidnotknowwhohadauthorisedthemovementsofthetroops; theirideawasthatadisputehadarisenattheHorseGuards. Theordinarysapperisagreatdealbettereducatedthanthecommonsoldier,andtheydiscussedthepeculiarconditionsofthepossiblefightwithsomeacuteness. IdescribedtheHeat-Raytothem,andtheybegantoargueamongthemselves.
"Crawlupundercoverandrush’em,sayI,"saidone.
"Getaht!,"saidanother. "What’scoveragainstthis’ere’eat?Stickstocookyer! Whatwegottodoistogoasnearastheground’llletus,andthendriveatrench."
"Blowyertrenches!Youalwayswanttrenches; yououghttoha’beenbornarabbitSnippy."
