Война миров
The cylinder opens
Ithadtoppledoverthebrimofthecylinderandfallenintothepit,withathudlikethefallofagreatmassofleather. Ihearditgiveapeculiarthickcry,andforthwithanotherofthesecreaturesappeareddarklyinthedeepshadowoftheaperture. Iturnedand,runningmadly,madeforthefirstgroupoftrees,perhapsahundredyardsaway; butIranslantinglyandstumbling,forIcouldnotavertmyfacefromthesethings.
There,amongsomeyoungpinetreesandfurzebushes,Istopped,panting,andwaitedfurtherdevelopments. Thecommonroundthesandpitswasdottedwithpeople,standinglikemyselfinahalf-fascinatedterror,staringatthesecreatures,orratherattheheapedgravelattheedgeofthepitinwhichtheylay. Andthen,witharenewedhorror,Isawaround,blackobjectbobbingupanddownontheedgeofthepit. Itwastheheadoftheshopmanwhohadfallenin,butshowingasalittleblackobjectagainstthehotwesternsun. Nowhegothisshoulderandkneeup,andagainheseemedtoslipbackuntilonlyhisheadwasvisible. Suddenlyhevanished,andIcouldhavefanciedafaintshriekhadreachedme. Ihadamomentaryimpulsetogobackandhelphimthatmyfearsoverruled.
Everythingwasthenquiteinvisible,hiddenbythedeeppitandtheheapofsandthatthefallofthecylinderhadmade. AnyonecomingalongtheroadfromChobhamorWokingwouldhavebeenamazedatthesight —adwindlingmultitudeofperhapsahundredpeopleormorestandinginagreatirregularcircle,inditches,behindbushes,behindgatesandhedges, sayinglittletooneanotherandthatinshort,excitedshouts,andstaring,staringhardatafewheapsofsand. Thebarrowofgingerbeerstood,aqueerderelict,blackagainsttheburningsky,andinthesandpitswasarowofdesertedvehicleswiththeirhorsesfeedingoutofnosebagsorpawingtheground.
