Война миров
Under Foot
TheBlackSmokedriftedslowlyriverwardallthroughMondaymorning,creepingnearerandnearertous,drivingatlastalongtheroadwayoutsidethehousethathidus.
AMartiancameacrossthefieldsaboutmidday,layingthestuffwithajetofsuperheatedsteamthathissedagainstthewalls,smashedallthewindowsittouched,andscaldedthecurate’shandashefledoutofthefrontroom. Whenatlastwecreptacrossthesoddenroomsandlookedoutagain,thecountrynorthwardwasasthoughablacksnowstormhadpassedoverit. Lookingtowardstheriver,wewereastonishedtoseeanunaccountablerednessminglingwiththeblackofthescorchedmeadows.
Foratimewedidnotseehowthischangeaffectedourposition,savethatwewererelievedofourfearoftheBlackSmoke. ButlaterIperceivedthatwewerenolongerhemmedin,thatnowwemightgetaway. SosoonasIrealisedthatthewayofescapewasopen,mydreamofactionreturned. Butthecuratewaslethargic,unreasonable.
"Wearesafehere,"herepeated;"safehere."
Iresolvedtoleavehim—wouldthatIhad!Wisernowfortheartilleryman’steaching,Isoughtoutfoodanddrink. Ihadfoundoilandragsformyburns,andIalsotookahatandaflannelshirtthatIfoundinoneofthebedrooms. WhenitwascleartohimthatImeanttogoalone—hadreconciledmyselftogoingalone—hesuddenlyrousedhimselftocome. Andallbeingquietthroughouttheafternoon,westartedaboutfiveo’clock,asIshouldjudge,alongtheblackenedroadtoSunbury.
InSunbury,andatintervalsalongtheroad,weredeadbodieslyingincontortedattitudes,horsesaswellasmen,overturnedcartsandluggage,allcoveredthicklywithblackdust.
