Війна світів
The Fighting Begins
"Ain’ttheygotanynecks,then? "saidathird,abruptly—alittle,contemplative,darkman,smokingapipe.
Irepeatedmydescription.
"Octopuses,"saidhe,"that’swhatIcalls’em. Talkaboutfishersofmen—fightersoffishitisthistime!"
"Itain’tnomurderkillingbeastslikethat,"saidthefirstspeaker.
"Whynotshellthedarnedthingsstriteoffandfinish’em?"saidthelittledarkman. "Youcarntellwhattheymightdo."
"Where’syourshells?"saidthefirstspeaker. "Thereain’tnotime. Doitinarush,that’smytip,anddoitatonce."
Sotheydiscussedit. AfterawhileIleftthem,andwentontotherailwaystationtogetasmanymorningpapersasIcould.
ButIwillnotwearythereaderwithadescriptionofthatlongmorningandofthelongerafternoon. Ididnotsucceedingettingaglimpseofthecommon,forevenHorsellandChobhamchurchtowerswereinthehandsofthemilitaryauthorities. ThesoldiersIaddresseddidn’tknowanything; theofficersweremysteriousaswellasbusy. Ifoundpeopleinthetownquitesecureagaininthepresenceofthemilitary,andIheardforthefirsttimefromMarshall,thetobacconist,thathissonwasamongthedeadonthecommon. ThesoldiershadmadethepeopleontheoutskirtsofHorselllockupandleavetheirhouses.
Igotbacktolunchabouttwo,verytiredfor,asIhavesaid,thedaywasextremelyhotanddull; andinordertorefreshmyselfItookacoldbathintheafternoon.
