Война миров
In the Storm
awalkingengineofglitteringmetal,stridingnowacrosstheheather; articulateropesofsteeldanglingfromit,andtheclatteringtumultofitspassageminglingwiththeriotofthethunder. Aflash,anditcameoutvividly,heelingoveronewaywithtwofeetintheair, tovanishandreappearalmostinstantlyasitseemed,withthenextflash,ahundredyardsnearer. Canyouimagineamilkingstooltiltedandbowledviolentlyalongtheground? Thatwastheimpressionthoseinstantflashesgave. Butinsteadofamilkingstoolimagineitagreatbodyofmachineryonatripodstand.
Thensuddenlythetreesinthepinewoodaheadofmewereparted,asbrittlereedsarepartedbyamanthrustingthroughthem; theyweresnappedoffanddrivenheadlong,andasecondhugetripodappeared,rushing,asitseemed,headlongtowardsme. AndIwasgallopinghardtomeetit! Atthesightofthesecondmonstermynervewentaltogether. Notstoppingtolookagain,Iwrenchedthehorse’sheadhardroundtotherightandinanothermomentthedogcarthadheeledoveruponthehorse; theshaftssmashednoisily,andIwasflungsidewaysandfellheavilyintoashallowpoolofwater.
Icrawledoutalmostimmediately,andcrouched,myfeetstillinthewater,underaclumpoffurze. Thehorselaymotionless(hisneckwasbroken,poorbrute!)andbythelightningflashesIsawtheblackbulkoftheoverturneddogcartandthesilhouetteofthewheelstillspinningslowly. Inanothermomentthecolossalmechanismwentstridingbyme,andpasseduphilltowardsPyrford.
Seennearer,theThingwasincrediblystrange,foritwasnomereinsensatemachinedrivingonitsway. Machineitwas,witharingingmetallicpace,andlong,flexible,glitteringtentacles(oneofwhichgrippedayoungpinetree)swingingandrattlingaboutitsstrangebody.
