Война миров

           Troubledastheywerewiththeirownaffairs,thesepeople,whosename,muchasIwouldliketoexpressmygratitudetothem,Imaynotevengivehere,neverthelesscumberedthemselveswithme,shelteredme,andprotectedmefrommyself. Apparentlytheyhadlearnedsomethingofmystoryfrommeduringthedaysofmylapse. 

           Verygently,whenmymindwasassuredagain,didtheybreaktomewhattheyhadlearnedofthefateofLeatherhead. TwodaysafterIwasimprisonedithadbeendestroyed,witheverysoulinit,byaMartian. Hehadsweptitoutofexistence,asitseemed,withoutanyprovocation,asaboymightcrushananthill,inthemerewantonnessofpower. 

           Iwasalonelyman,andtheywereverykindtome. Iwasalonelymanandasadone,andtheyborewithme. Iremainedwiththemfourdaysaftermyrecovery. AllthattimeIfeltavague,agrowingcravingtolookoncemoreonwhateverremainedofthelittlelifethatseemedsohappyandbrightinmypast. Itwasamerehopelessdesiretofeastuponmymisery. Theydissuadedme. Theydidalltheycouldtodivertmefromthismorbidity. ButatlastIcouldresisttheimpulsenolonger,and,promisingfaithfullytoreturntothem,andparting,asIwillconfess,fromthesefour-dayfriendswithtears,Iwentoutagainintothestreetsthathadlatelybeensodarkandstrangeandempty. 

           Alreadytheywerebusywithreturningpeople;inplaceseventherewereshopsopen,andIsawadrinkingfountainrunningwater. 

           IrememberhowmockinglybrightthedayseemedasIwentbackonmymelancholypilgrimagetothelittlehouseatWoking,howbusythestreetsandvividthemovinglifeaboutme.