Война миров
The Heat-Ray in the Chobham Road
Asthesefolkscameoutbytwosandthreesupontheopen,theyfoundlittleknotsofpeopletalkingexcitedlyandpeeringatthespinningmirroroverthesandpits, andthenew-comerswere,nodoubt,sooninfectedbytheexcitementoftheoccasion.
Byhalfpasteight,whentheDeputationwasdestroyed,theremayhavebeenacrowdofthreehundredpeopleormoreatthisplace,besidesthosewhohadlefttheroadtoapproachtheMartiansnearer. Therewerethreepolicementoo,oneofwhomwasmounted,doingtheirbest,underinstructionsfromStent,tokeepthepeoplebackanddeterthemfromapproachingthecylinder. Therewassomebooingfromthosemorethoughtlessandexcitablesoulstowhomacrowdisalwaysanoccasionfornoiseandhorseplay.
StentandOgilvy,anticipatingsomepossibilitiesofacollision,hadtelegraphedfromHorselltothebarracksassoonastheMartiansemerged,forthehelpofacompanyofsoldierstoprotectthesestrangecreaturesfromviolence. Afterthattheyreturnedtoleadthatill-fatedadvance. Thedescriptionoftheirdeath,asitwasseenbythecrowd,talliesverycloselywithmyownimpressions: thethreepuffsofgreensmoke,thedeephummingnote,andtheflashesofflame.
Butthatcrowdofpeoplehadafarnarrowerescapethanmine. OnlythefactthatahummockofheatherysandinterceptedthelowerpartoftheHeat-Raysavedthem. Hadtheelevationoftheparabolicmirrorbeenafewyardshigher,nonecouldhavelivedtotellthetale.
