Война миров
The “Thunder Child”
OfthefallingofthefifthcylinderIhavepresentlytotell.ThesixthstarfellatWimbledon. Mybrother,keepingwatchbesidethewomeninthechaiseinameadow,sawthegreenflashofitfarbeyondthehills. OnTuesdaythelittleparty,stillsetupongettingacrossthesea,madeitswaythroughtheswarmingcountrytowardsColchester. ThenewsthattheMartianswerenowinpossessionofthewholeofLondonwasconfirmed. TheyhadbeenseenatHighgate,andeven,itwassaid,atNeasden. Buttheydidnotcomeintomybrother’sviewuntilthemorrow.
Thatdaythescatteredmultitudesbegantorealisetheurgentneedofprovisions. Astheygrewhungrytherightsofpropertyceasedtoberegarded. Farmerswereouttodefendtheircattle-sheds,granaries,andripeningrootcropswitharmsintheirhands. Anumberofpeoplenow,likemybrother,hadtheirfaceseastward,andthereweresomedesperatesoulsevengoingbacktowardsLondontogetfood. Thesewerechieflypeoplefromthenorthernsuburbs,whoseknowledgeoftheBlackSmokecamebyhearsay. HeheardthatabouthalfthemembersofthegovernmenthadgatheredatBirmingham,andthatenormousquantitiesofhighexplosiveswerebeingpreparedtobeusedinautomaticminesacrosstheMidlandcounties.
HewasalsotoldthattheMidlandRailwayCompanyhadreplacedthedesertionsofthefirstday’spanic,hadresumedtraffic,andwasrunningnorthwardtrainsfromSt.Albanstorelievethecongestionofthehomecounties. TherewasalsoaplacardinChippingOngarannouncingthatlargestoresofflourwereavailableinthenortherntownsandthatwithintwenty-fourhoursbreadwouldbedistributedamongthestarvingpeopleintheneighbourhood.
