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AsthedawngrewbrighterwewithdrewfromthewindowfromwhichwehadwatchedtheMartians,andwentveryquietlydownstairs.
Theartillerymanagreedwithmethatthehousewasnoplacetostayin.
Heproposed,hesaid,tomakehiswayLondonward,andthencerejoinhisbattery—No.12,oftheHorseArtillery.
MyplanwastoreturnatoncetoLeatherhead;andsogreatlyhadthestrengthoftheMartiansimpressedmethatIhaddeterminedtotakemywifetoNewhaven,andgowithheroutofthecountryforthwith.
ForIalreadyperceivedclearlythatthecountryaboutLondonmustinevitablybethesceneofadisastrousstrugglebeforesuchcreaturesasthesecouldbedestroyed.
BetweenusandLeatherhead,however,laythethirdcylinder,withitsguardinggiants.
HadIbeenalone,IthinkIshouldhavetakenmychanceandstruckacrosscountry.
Buttheartillerymandissuadedme:"It'snokindnesstotherightsortofwife,"hesaid,"tomakeherawidow";andintheendIagreedtogowithhim,undercoverofthewoods,northwardasfarasStreetCobhambeforeIpartedwithhim.
ThenceIwouldmakeabigdetourbyEpsomtoreachLeatherhead.
Ishouldhavestartedatonce,butmycompanionhadbeeninactiveserviceandheknewbetterthanthat.
Hemademeransackthehouseforaflask,whichhefilledwithwhiskey;andwelinedeveryavailablepocketwithpacketsofbiscuitsandslicesofmeat.
Thenwecreptoutofthehouse,andranasquicklyaswecoulddowntheill–maderoadbywhichIhadcomeovernight.Thehousesseemeddeserted.
Intheroadlayagroupofthreecharredbodiesclosetogether,struckdeadbytheHeat–Ray;andhereandtherewerethingsthatpeoplehaddropped—aclock,aslipper,asilverspoon,andthelikepoorvaluables.
Atthecornerturninguptowardsthepostofficealittlecart,filledwithboxesandfurniture,andhorseless,heeledoveronabrokenwheel.
Acashboxhadbeenhastilysmashedopenandthrownunderthedebris.
ExceptthelodgeattheOrphanage,whichwasstillonfire,noneofthehouseshadsufferedverygreatlyhere.
TheHeat–Rayhadshavedthechimneytopsandpassed.
Yet,saveourselves,theredidnotseemtobealivingsoulonMayburyHill.
Themajorityoftheinhabitantshadescaped,Isuppose,bywayoftheOldWokingroad—theroadIhadtakenwhenIdrovetoLeatherhead—ortheyhadhidden.
Wewentdownthelane,bythebodyofthemaninblack,soddennowfromtheovernighthail,andbrokeintothewoodsatthefootofthehill.
Wepushedthroughthesetowardstherailwaywithoutmeetingasoul.
Thewoodsacrossthelinewerebutthescarredandblackenedruinsofwoods;forthemostpartthetreeshadfallen,butacertainproportionstillstood,dismalgreystems,withdarkbrownfoliageinsteadofgreen.
Onoursidethefirehaddonenomorethanscorchthenearertrees;ithadfailedtosecureitsfooting.
InoneplacethewoodmenhadbeenatworkonSaturday;trees,felledandfreshlytrimmed,layinaclearing,withheapsofsawdustbythesawing–machineanditsengine.Hardbywasatemporaryhut,deserted.
Therewasnotabreathofwindthismorning,andeverythingwasstrangelystill.
Eventhebirdswerehushed,andaswehurriedalongIandtheartillerymantalkedinwhispersandlookednowandagainoverourshoulders.Onceortwicewestoppedtolisten.
Afteratimewedrewneartheroad,andaswedidsoweheardtheclatterofhoofsandsawthroughthetreestemsthreecavalrysoldiersridingslowlytowardsWoking.
Wehailedthem,andtheyhaltedwhilewehurriedtowardsthem.
Itwasalieutenantandacoupleofprivatesofthe8thHussars,withastandlikeatheodolite,whichtheartillerymantoldmewasaheliograph.
"YouarethefirstmenI'veseencomingthiswaythismorning,"saidthelieutenant."What'sbrewing?"
Hisvoiceandfacewereeager.Themenbehindhimstaredcuriously.Theartillerymanjumpeddownthebankintotheroadandsaluted.
"Gundestroyedlastnight,sir.Havebeenhiding.Tryingtorejoinbattery,sir.You'llcomeinsightoftheMartians,Iexpect,abouthalfamilealongthisroad."
"Whatthedickensaretheylike?"askedthelieutenant.
"Giantsinarmour,sir.Hundredfeethigh.Threelegsandabodylike'luminium,withamightygreatheadinahood,sir."
"Getout!"saidthelieutenant."Whatconfoundednonsense!"
"You'llsee,sir.Theycarryakindofbox,sir,thatshootsfireandstrikesyoudead."
"Whatd'yemean—agun?"
"No,sir,"andtheartillerymanbeganavividaccountoftheHeat–Ray.Halfwaythrough,thelieutenantinterruptedhimandlookedupatme.Iwasstillstandingonthebankbythesideoftheroad.
"It'sperfectlytrue,"Isaid.
"Well,"saidthelieutenant,"Isupposeit'smybusinesstoseeittoo.
Lookhere"—totheartilleryman—"we'redetailedhereclearingpeopleoutoftheirhouses.
You'dbettergoalongandreportyourselftoBrigadier–GeneralMarvin,andtellhimallyouknow.He'satWeybridge.Knowtheway?"
"Ido,"Isaid;andheturnedhishorsesouthwardagain.
"Halfamile,yousay?"saidhe.
"Atmost,"Ianswered,andpointedoverthetreetopssouthward.Hethankedmeandrodeon,andwesawthemnomore.
Fartheralongwecameuponagroupofthreewomenandtwochildrenintheroad,busyclearingoutalabourer'scottage.
Theyhadgotholdofalittlehandtruck,andwerepilingitupwithunclean–lookingbundlesandshabbyfurniture.
Theywerealltooassiduouslyengagedtotalktousaswepassed.
ByByfleetstationweemergedfromthepinetrees,andfoundthecountrycalmandpeacefulunderthemorningsunlight.
WewerefarbeyondtherangeoftheHeat–Raythere,andhaditnotbeenforthesilentdesertionofsomeofthehouses,thestirringmovementofpackinginothers,andtheknotofsoldiersstandingonthebridgeovertherailwayandstaringdownthelinetowardsWoking,thedaywouldhaveseemedverylikeanyotherSunday.
SeveralfarmwaggonsandcartsweremovingcreakilyalongtheroadtoAddlestone,andsuddenlythroughthegateofafieldwesaw,acrossastretchofflatmeadow,sixtwelve–poundersstandingneatlyatequaldistancespointingtowardsWoking.
Thegunnersstoodbythegunswaiting,andtheammunitionwaggonswereatabusiness–likedistance.
Themenstoodalmostasifunderinspection.
"That'sgood!"saidI."Theywillgetonefairshot,atanyrate."
Theartillerymanhesitatedatthegate.
"Ishallgoon,"hesaid.
FartherontowardsWeybridge,justoverthebridge,therewereanumberofmeninwhitefatiguejacketsthrowingupalongrampart,andmoregunsbehind.
"It'sbowsandarrowsagainstthelightning,anyhow,"saidtheartilleryman."They'aven'tseenthatfire–beamyet."
Theofficerswhowerenotactivelyengagedstoodandstaredoverthetreetopssouthwestward,andthemendiggingwouldstopeverynowandagaintostareinthesamedirection.
Byfleetwasinatumult;peoplepacking,andascoreofhussars,someofthemdismounted,someonhorseback,werehuntingthemabout.
Threeorfourblackgovernmentwaggons,withcrossesinwhitecircles,andanoldomnibus,amongothervehicles,werebeingloadedinthevillagestreet.
Therewerescoresofpeople,mostofthemsufficientlysabbaticaltohaveassumedtheirbestclothes.
Thesoldierswerehavingthegreatestdifficultyinmakingthemrealisethegravityoftheirposition.
Wesawoneshrivelledoldfellowwithahugeboxandascoreormoreofflowerpotscontainingorchids,angrilyexpostulatingwiththecorporalwhowouldleavethembehind.Istoppedandgrippedhisarm.
"Doyouknowwhat'soverthere?"Isaid,pointingatthepinetopsthathidtheMartians.
"Eh?"saidhe,turning."Iwasexplainin'theseisvallyble."
"Death!"Ishouted."Deathiscoming!Death!"
andleavinghimtodigestthatifhecould,Ihurriedonaftertheartillery–man.AtthecornerIlookedback.
Thesoldierhadlefthim,andhewasstillstandingbyhisbox,withthepotsoforchidsonthelidofit,andstaringvaguelyoverthetrees.
NooneinWeybridgecouldtelluswheretheheadquarterswereestablished;thewholeplacewasinsuchconfusionasIhadneverseeninanytownbefore.
Carts,carriageseverywhere,themostastonishingmiscellanyofconveyancesandhorseflesh.
Therespectableinhabitantsoftheplace,meningolfandboatingcostumes,wivesprettilydressed,werepacking,river–sideloafersenergeticallyhelping,childrenexcited,and,forthemostpart,highlydelightedatthisastonishingvariationoftheirSundayexperiences.
Inthemidstofitalltheworthyvicarwasverypluckilyholdinganearlycelebration,andhisbellwasjanglingoutabovetheexcitement.
Iandtheartilleryman,seatedonthestepofthedrinkingfountain,madeaverypassablemealuponwhatwehadbroughtwithus.
Patrolsofsoldiers—herenolongerhussars,butgrenadiersinwhite—werewarningpeopletomovenowortotakerefugeintheircellarsassoonasthefiringbegan.
Wesawaswecrossedtherailwaybridgethatagrowingcrowdofpeoplehadassembledinandabouttherailwaystation,andtheswarmingplatformwaspiledwithboxesandpackages.
Theordinarytraffichadbeenstopped,Ibelieve,inordertoallowofthepassageoftroopsandgunstoChertsey,andIhaveheardsincethatasavagestruggleoccurredforplacesinthespecialtrainsthatwereputonatalaterhour.
WeremainedatWeybridgeuntilmidday,andatthathourwefoundourselvesattheplacenearSheppertonLockwheretheWeyandThamesjoin.
Partofthetimewespenthelpingtwooldwomentopackalittlecart.
TheWeyhasatreblemouth,andatthispointboatsaretobehired,andtherewasaferryacrosstheriver.
OntheSheppertonsidewasaninnwithalawn,andbeyondthatthetowerofSheppertonChurch—ithasbeenreplacedbyaspire—roseabovethetrees.
Herewefoundanexcitedandnoisycrowdoffugitives.
Asyettheflighthadnotgrowntoapanic,buttherewerealreadyfarmorepeoplethanalltheboatsgoingtoandfrocouldenabletocross.
Peoplecamepantingalongunderheavyburdens;onehusbandandwifewereevencarryingasmallouthousedoorbetweenthem,withsomeoftheirhouseholdgoodspiledthereon.
OnemantoldushemeanttotrytogetawayfromSheppertonstation.
Therewasalotofshouting,andonemanwasevenjesting.
TheideapeopleseemedtohaveherewasthattheMartiansweresimplyformidablehumanbeings,whomightattackandsackthetown,tobecertainlydestroyedintheend.
EverynowandthenpeoplewouldglancenervouslyacrosstheWey,atthemeadowstowardsChertsey,buteverythingovertherewasstill.
AcrosstheThames,exceptjustwheretheboatslanded,everythingwasquiet,invividcontrastwiththeSurreyside.
Thepeoplewholandedtherefromtheboatswenttrampingoffdownthelane.
Thebigferryboathadjustmadeajourney.
Threeorfoursoldiersstoodonthelawnoftheinn,staringandjestingatthefugitives,withoutofferingtohelp.
Theinnwasclosed,asitwasnowwithinprohibitedhours.
"What'sthat?"criedaboatman,and"Shutup,youfool!"saidamannearmetoayelpingdog.Thenthesoundcameagain,thistimefromthedirectionofChertsey,amuffledthud—thesoundofagun.
Thefightingwasbeginning.Almostimmediatelyunseenbatteriesacrosstherivertoourright,unseenbecauseofthetrees,tookupthechorus,firingheavilyoneaftertheother.Awomanscreamed.
Everyonestoodarrestedbythesuddenstirofbattle,nearusandyetinvisibletous.
Nothingwastobeseensaveflatmeadows,cowsfeedingunconcernedlyforthemostpart,andsilverypollardwillowsmotionlessinthewarmsunlight.
"Thesojers'llstop'em,"saidawomanbesideme,doubtfully.Ahazinessroseoverthetreetops.
Thensuddenlywesawarushofsmokefarawayuptheriver,apuffofsmokethatjerkedupintotheairandhung;andforthwiththegroundheavedunderfootandaheavyexplosionshooktheair,smashingtwoorthreewindowsinthehousesnear,andleavingusastonished.
"Heretheyare!"shoutedamaninabluejersey."Yonder!D'yerseethem?Yonder!"
Quickly,oneaftertheother,one,two,three,fourofthearmouredMartiansappeared,farawayoverthelittletrees,acrosstheflatmeadowsthatstretchedtowardsChertsey,andstridinghurriedlytowardstheriver.
Littlecowledfigurestheyseemedatfirst,goingwitharollingmotionandasfastasflyingbirds.
Then,advancingobliquelytowardsus,cameafifth.
Theirarmouredbodiesglitteredinthesunastheysweptswiftlyforwardupontheguns,growingrapidlylargerastheydrewnearer.
Oneontheextremeleft,theremotestthatis,flourishedahugecasehighintheair,andtheghostly,terribleHeat–RayIhadalreadyseenonFridaynightsmotetowardsChertsey,andstruckthetown.
Atsightofthesestrange,swift,andterriblecreaturesthecrowdnearthewater'sedgeseemedtometobeforamomenthorror–struck.
Therewasnoscreamingorshouting,butasilence.
Thenahoarsemurmurandamovementoffeet—asplashingfromthewater.
Aman,toofrightenedtodroptheportmanteauhecarriedonhisshoulder,swungroundandsentmestaggeringwithablowfromthecornerofhisburden.
Awomanthrustatmewithherhandandrushedpastme.
Iturnedwiththerushofthepeople,butIwasnottooterrifiedforthought.TheterribleHeat–Raywasinmymind.Togetunderwater!Thatwasit!
"Getunderwater!"Ishouted,unheeded.
Ifacedaboutagain,andrushedtowardstheapproachingMartian,rushedrightdownthegravellybeachandheadlongintothewater.Othersdidthesame.
AboatloadofpeopleputtingbackcameleapingoutasIrushedpast.
Thestonesundermyfeetweremuddyandslippery,andtheriverwassolowthatIranperhapstwentyfeetscarcelywaist–deep.
Then,astheMartiantoweredoverheadscarcelyacoupleofhundredyardsaway,Iflungmyselfforwardunderthesurface.
Thesplashesofthepeopleintheboatsleapingintotheriversoundedlikethunderclapsinmyears.
Peoplewerelandinghastilyonbothsidesoftheriver.
ButtheMartianmachinetooknomorenoticeforthemomentofthepeoplerunningthiswayandthatthanamanwouldoftheconfusionofantsinanestagainstwhichhisfoothaskicked.
When,halfsuffocated,Iraisedmyheadabovewater,theMartian'shoodpointedatthebatteriesthatwerestillfiringacrosstheriver,andasitadvanceditswungloosewhatmusthavebeenthegeneratoroftheHeat–Ray.
Inanothermomentitwasonthebank,andinastridewadinghalfwayacross.
Thekneesofitsforemostlegsbentatthefartherbank,andinanothermomentithadraiseditselftoitsfullheightagain,closetothevillageofShepperton.
Forthwiththesixgunswhich,unknowntoanyoneontherightbank,hadbeenhiddenbehindtheoutskirtsofthatvillage,firedsimultaneously.
Thesuddennearconcussion,thelastcloseuponthefirst,mademyheartjump.
ThemonsterwasalreadyraisingthecasegeneratingtheHeat–Rayasthefirstshellburstsixyardsabovethehood.
Igaveacryofastonishment.IsawandthoughtnothingoftheotherfourMartianmonsters;myattentionwasriveteduponthenearerincident.
Simultaneouslytwoothershellsburstintheairnearthebodyasthehoodtwistedroundintimetoreceive,butnotintimetododge,thefourthshell.
TheshellburstcleaninthefaceoftheThing.Thehoodbulged,flashed,waswhirledoffinadozentatteredfragmentsofredfleshandglitteringmetal.
"Hit!"shoutedI,withsomethingbetweenascreamandacheer.
Iheardansweringshoutsfromthepeopleinthewateraboutme.Icouldhaveleapedoutofthewaterwiththatmomentaryexultation.
Thedecapitatedcolossusreeledlikeadrunkengiant;butitdidnotfallover.
Itrecovereditsbalancebyamiracle,and,nolongerheedingitsstepsandwiththecamerathatfiredtheHeat–Raynowrigidlyupheld,itreeledswiftlyuponShepperton.
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.
Enormousquantitiesofaruddy–brownfluidwerespurtingupinnoisyjetsoutofthemachine.
Myattentionwasdivertedfromthisdeathflurrybyafuriousyelling,likethatofthethingcalledasireninourmanufacturingtowns.
Aman,knee–deepnearthetowingpath,shoutedinaudiblytomeandpointed.
Lookingback,IsawtheotherMartiansadvancingwithgiganticstridesdowntheriverbankfromthedirectionofChertsey.
TheSheppertongunsspokethistimeunavailingly.
AtthatIduckedatonceunderwater,and,holdingmybreathuntilmovementwasanagony,blunderedpainfullyaheadunderthesurfaceaslongasIcould.
Thewaterwasinatumultaboutme,andrapidlygrowinghotter.
WhenforamomentIraisedmyheadtotakebreathandthrowthehairandwaterfrommyeyes,thesteamwasrisinginawhirlingwhitefogthatatfirsthidtheMartiansaltogether.Thenoisewasdeafening.
ThenIsawthemdimly,colossalfiguresofgrey,magnifiedbythemist.
Theyhadpassedbyme,andtwowerestoopingoverthefrothing,tumultuousruinsoftheircomrade.
Thethirdandfourthstoodbesidehiminthewater,oneperhapstwohundredyardsfromme,theothertowardsLaleham.
ThegeneratorsoftheHeat–Rayswavedhigh,andthehissingbeamssmotedownthiswayandthat.
Theairwasfullofsound,adeafeningandconfusingconflictofnoises—theclangorousdinoftheMartians,thecrashoffallinghouses,thethudoftrees,fences,shedsflashingintoflame,andthecracklingandroaringoffire.
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.
IhaveadimmemoryofthefootofaMartiancomingdownwithinascoreofyardsofmyhead,drivingstraightintotheloosegravel,whirlingitthiswayandthatandliftingagain;ofalongsuspense,andthenofthefourcarryingthedebrisoftheircomradebetweenthem,nowclearandthenpresentlyfaintthroughaveilofsmoke,recedinginterminably,asitseemedtome,acrossavastspaceofriverandmeadow.
Andthen,veryslowly,IrealisedthatbyamiracleIhadescaped.
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