Война миров
What I Saw of the Destruction of Weybridge and Shepperton
WeremainedatWeybridgeuntilmidday,andatthathourwefoundourselvesattheplacenearSheppertonLockwheretheWeyandThamesjoin.Partofthetimewespenthelpingtwooldwomentopackalittlecart. TheWeyhasatreblemouth,andatthispointboatsaretobehired,andtherewasaferryacrosstheriver. OntheSheppertonsidewasaninnwithalawn,andbeyondthatthetowerofSheppertonChurch—ithasbeenreplacedbyaspire—roseabovethetrees.
Herewefoundanexcitedandnoisycrowdoffugitives. Asyettheflighthadnotgrowntoapanic,buttherewerealreadyfarmorepeoplethanalltheboatsgoingtoandfrocouldenabletocross. Peoplecamepantingalongunderheavyburdens; onehusbandandwifewereevencarryingasmallouthousedoorbetweenthem,withsomeoftheirhouseholdgoodspiledthereon. OnemantoldushemeanttotrytogetawayfromSheppertonstation.
Therewasalotofshouting,andonemanwasevenjesting. TheideapeopleseemedtohaveherewasthattheMartiansweresimplyformidablehumanbeings,whomightattackandsackthetown,tobecertainlydestroyedintheend. EverynowandthenpeoplewouldglancenervouslyacrosstheWey,atthemeadowstowardsChertsey,buteverythingovertherewasstill.
AcrosstheThames,exceptjustwheretheboatslanded,everythingwasquiet,invividcontrastwiththeSurreyside. Thepeoplewholandedtherefromtheboatswenttrampingoffdownthelane. Thebigferryboathadjustmadeajourney. Threeorfoursoldiersstoodonthelawnoftheinn,staringandjestingatthefugitives,withoutofferingtohelp. Theinnwasclosed,asitwasnowwithinprohibitedhours.
