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What I Saw of the Destruction of Weybridge and Shepperton
Thelivingintelligence,theMartianwithinthehood,wasslainandsplashedtothefourwindsofheaven,andtheThingwasnowbutamereintricatedeviceofmetalwhirlingtodestruction. Itdrovealonginastraightline,incapableofguidance.ItstruckthetowerofSheppertonChurch,smashingitdownastheimpactofabatteringrammighthavedone,swervedaside,blunderedonandcollapsedwithtremendousforceintotheriveroutofmysight.
Aviolentexplosionshooktheair,andaspoutofwater,steam,mud,andshatteredmetalshotfarupintothesky. AsthecameraoftheHeat-Rayhitthewater,thelatterhadimmediatelyflashedintosteam. Inanothermomentahugewave,likeamuddytidalborebutalmostscaldinglyhot,camesweepingroundthebendupstream. Isawpeoplestrugglingshorewards,andheardtheirscreamingandshoutingfaintlyabovetheseethingandroaroftheMartian’scollapse.
ForamomentIheedednothingoftheheat,forgotthepatentneedofself-preservation.Isplashedthroughthetumultuouswater,pushingasideamaninblacktodoso,untilIcouldseeroundthebend. Halfadozendesertedboatspitchedaimlesslyupontheconfusionofthewaves. ThefallenMartiancameintosightdownstream,lyingacrosstheriver,andforthemostpartsubmerged.
Thickcloudsofsteamwerepouringoffthewreckage,andthroughthetumultuouslywhirlingwispsIcouldsee,intermittentlyandvaguely,thegiganticlimbschurningthewaterandflingingasplashandsprayofmudandfrothintotheair. Thetentaclesswayedandstrucklikelivingarms,and,saveforthehelplesspurposelessnessofthesemovements,itwasasifsomewoundedthingwerestrugglingforitslifeamidthewaves.
