Война миров
At the Window
ThegiantsavedWokingstationanditsclusterofhousesuntilthelast; theninamomenttheHeat-Raywasbroughttobear,andthetownbecameaheapoffieryruins. ThentheThingshutofftheHeat-Ray,andturningitsbackupontheartilleryman,begantowaddleawaytowardsthesmoulderingpinewoodsthatshelteredthesecondcylinder. AsitdidsoasecondglitteringTitanbuiltitselfupoutofthepit.
Thesecondmonsterfollowedthefirst,andatthattheartillerymanbegantocrawlverycautiouslyacrossthehotheatherashtowardsHorsell. Hemanagedtogetaliveintotheditchbythesideoftheroad,andsoescapedtoWoking. Therehisstorybecameejaculatory. Theplacewasimpassable. Itseemstherewereafewpeoplealivethere,franticforthemostpartandmanyburnedandscalded. Hewasturnedasidebythefire,andhidamongsomealmostscorchingheapsofbrokenwallasoneoftheMartiangiantsreturned. Hesawthisonepursueaman,catchhimupinoneofitssteelytentacles,andknockhisheadagainstthetrunkofapinetree. Atlast,afternightfall,theartillerymanmadearushforitandgotovertherailwayembankment.
SincethenhehadbeenskulkingalongtowardsMaybury,inthehopeofgettingoutofdangerLondonward. Peoplewerehidingintrenchesandcellars,andmanyofthesurvivorshadmadeofftowardsWokingvillageandSend. Hehadbeenconsumedwiththirstuntilhefoundoneofthewatermainsneartherailwayarchsmashed,andthewaterbubblingoutlikeaspringupontheroad.
ThatwasthestoryIgotfromhim,bitbybit. Hegrewcalmertellingmeandtryingtomakemeseethethingshehadseen. Hehadeatennofoodsincemidday,hetoldmeearlyinhisnarrative,andIfoundsomemuttonandbreadinthepantryandbroughtitintotheroom.
