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What I Saw of the Destruction of Weybridge and Shepperton
Denseblacksmokewasleapinguptominglewiththesteamfromtheriver, andastheHeat-RaywenttoandfrooverWeybridgeitsimpactwasmarkedbyflashesofincandescentwhite,thatgaveplaceatoncetoasmokydanceofluridflames. Thenearerhousesstillstoodintact,awaitingtheirfate,shadowy,faintandpallidinthesteam,withthefirebehindthemgoingtoandfro.
ForamomentperhapsIstoodthere,breast-highinthealmostboilingwater,dumbfoundedatmyposition,hopelessofescape. ThroughthereekIcouldseethepeoplewhohadbeenwithmeintheriverscramblingoutofthewaterthroughthereeds,likelittlefrogshurryingthroughgrassfromtheadvanceofaman,orrunningtoandfroinutterdismayonthetowingpath.
ThensuddenlythewhiteflashesoftheHeat-Raycameleapingtowardsme. Thehousescavedinastheydissolvedatitstouch,anddartedoutflames;thetreeschangedtofirewitharoar. TheRayflickeredupanddownthetowingpath,lickingoffthepeoplewhoranthiswayandthat,andcamedowntothewater’sedgenotfiftyyardsfromwhereIstood. ItsweptacrosstherivertoShepperton,andthewaterinitstrackroseinaboilingwealcrestedwithsteam. Iturnedshoreward.
Inanothermomentthehugewave,well-nighattheboiling-pointhadrusheduponme. Iscreamedaloud,andscalded,halfblinded,agonised,Istaggeredthroughtheleaping,hissingwatertowardstheshore. Hadmyfootstumbled,itwouldhavebeentheend. Ifellhelplessly,infullsightoftheMartians,uponthebroad,baregravellyspitthatrunsdowntomarktheangleoftheWeyandThames. Iexpectednothingbutdeath.
