Война миров
What I Saw of the Destruction of Weybridge and Shepperton
Atthecornerturninguptowardsthepostofficealittlecart,filledwithboxesandfurniture,andhorseless,heeledoveronabrokenwheel. Acashboxhadbeenhastilysmashedopenandthrownunderthedebris.
ExceptthelodgeattheOrphanage,whichwasstillonfire,noneofthehouseshadsufferedverygreatlyhere. TheHeat-Rayhadshavedthechimneytopsandpassed. Yet,saveourselves,theredidnotseemtobealivingsoulonMayburyHill. Themajorityoftheinhabitantshadescaped,Isuppose,bywayoftheOldWokingroad—theroadIhadtakenwhenIdrovetoLeatherhead—ortheyhadhidden.
Wewentdownthelane,bythebodyofthemaninblack,soddennowfromtheovernighthail,andbrokeintothewoodsatthefootofthehill. Wepushedthroughthesetowardstherailwaywithoutmeetingasoul. Thewoodsacrossthelinewerebutthescarredandblackenedruinsofwoods;forthemostpartthetreeshadfallen,butacertainproportionstillstood,dismalgreystems,withdarkbrownfoliageinsteadofgreen.
Onoursidethefirehaddonenomorethanscorchthenearertrees;ithadfailedtosecureitsfooting. InoneplacethewoodmenhadbeenatworkonSaturday; trees,felledandfreshlytrimmed,layinaclearing,withheapsofsawdustbythesawing-machineanditsengine. Hardbywasatemporaryhut,deserted. Therewasnotabreathofwindthismorning,andeverythingwasstrangelystill. Eventhebirdswerehushed,andaswehurriedalongIandtheartillerymantalkedinwhispersandlookednowandagainoverourshoulders. Onceortwicewestoppedtolisten.
Afteratimewedrewneartheroad,andaswedidsoweheardtheclatterofhoofsandsawthroughthetreestemsthreecavalrysoldiersridingslowlytowardsWoking.
