Війна світів
The Fighting Begins
Thesun,shiningthroughthesmokethatdroveupfromthetopsofthetrees,seemedbloodred,andthrewanunfamiliarluridlightuponeverything.
"Stophere,"saidI;"youaresafehere"; andIstartedoffatoncefortheSpottedDog,forIknewthelandlordhadahorseanddogcart. Iran,forIperceivedthatinamomenteveryoneuponthissideofthehillwouldbemoving. Ifoundhiminhisbar,quiteunawareofwhatwasgoingonbehindhishouse. Amanstoodwithhisbacktome,talkingtohim.
"Imusthaveapound,"saidthelandlord,"andI’venoonetodriveit."
"I’llgiveyoutwo,"saidI,overthestranger’sshoulder.
"Whatfor?"
"AndI’llbringitbackbymidnight,"Isaid.
"Lord!"saidthelandlord;"what’sthehurry?I’msellingmybitofapig. Twopounds,andyoubringitback? What’sgoingonnow?"
IexplainedhastilythatIhadtoleavemyhome,andsosecuredthedogcart. Atthetimeitdidnotseemtomenearlysourgentthatthelandlordshouldleavehis. Itookcaretohavethecartthereandthen,droveitoffdowntheroad,and,leavingitinchargeofmywifeandservant,rushedintomyhouseandpackedafewvaluables,suchplateaswehad,andsoforth. ThebeechtreesbelowthehousewereburningwhileIdidthis,andthepalingsuptheroadglowedred. WhileIwasoccupiedinthisway,oneofthedismountedhussarscamerunningup. Hewasgoingfromhousetohouse,warningpeopletoleave. HewasgoingonasIcameoutofmyfrontdoor,luggingmytreasures,doneupinatablecloth.Ishoutedafterhim:
"Whatnews?"
