Война миров
What I Saw of the Destruction of Weybridge and Shepperton
Enormousquantitiesofaruddy-brownfluidwerespurtingupinnoisyjetsoutofthemachine.
Myattentionwasdivertedfromthisdeathflurrybyafuriousyelling,likethatofthethingcalledasireninourmanufacturingtowns. Aman,knee-deepnearthetowingpath,shoutedinaudiblytomeandpointed. Lookingback,IsawtheotherMartiansadvancingwithgiganticstridesdowntheriverbankfromthedirectionofChertsey. TheSheppertongunsspokethistimeunavailingly.
AtthatIduckedatonceunderwater,and,holdingmybreathuntilmovementwasanagony,blunderedpainfullyaheadunderthesurfaceaslongasIcould. Thewaterwasinatumultaboutme,andrapidlygrowinghotter.
WhenforamomentIraisedmyheadtotakebreathandthrowthehairandwaterfrommyeyes,thesteamwasrisinginawhirlingwhitefogthatatfirsthidtheMartiansaltogether. Thenoisewasdeafening. ThenIsawthemdimly,colossalfiguresofgrey,magnifiedbythemist. Theyhadpassedbyme,andtwowerestoopingoverthefrothing,tumultuousruinsoftheircomrade.
Thethirdandfourthstoodbesidehiminthewater,oneperhapstwohundredyardsfromme,theothertowardsLaleham. ThegeneratorsoftheHeat-Rayswavedhigh,andthehissingbeamssmotedownthiswayandthat.
Theairwasfullofsound,adeafeningandconfusingconflictofnoises—theclangorousdinoftheMartians,thecrashoffallinghouses,thethudoftrees,fences,shedsflashingintoflame,andthecracklingandroaringoffire.
