Война миров
In London
Hemadeuphismindtorundownthatnighttome,inorder,ashesays,toseetheThingsbeforetheywerekilled. Hedispatchedatelegram,whichneverreachedme,aboutfouro’clock,andspenttheeveningatamusichall.
InLondon,also,onSaturdaynighttherewasathunderstorm,andmybrotherreachedWaterlooinacab. Ontheplatformfromwhichthemidnighttrainusuallystartshelearned,aftersomewaiting,thatanaccidentpreventedtrainsfromreachingWokingthatnight. Thenatureoftheaccidenthecouldnotascertain; indeed,therailwayauthoritiesdidnotclearlyknowatthattime. Therewasverylittleexcitementinthestation,astheofficials,failingtorealisethatanythingfurtherthanabreakdownbetweenByfleetandWokingjunctionhadoccurred,wererunningthetheatretrainswhichusuallypassedthroughWokingroundbyVirginiaWaterorGuildford. TheywerebusymakingthenecessaryarrangementstoaltertherouteoftheSouthamptonandPortsmouthSundayLeagueexcursions. Anocturnalnewspaperreporter,mistakingmybrotherforthetrafficmanager,towhomhebearsaslightresemblance,waylaidandtriedtointerviewhim. Fewpeople,exceptingtherailwayofficials,connectedthebreakdownwiththeMartians.
Ihaveread,inanotheraccountoftheseevents,thatonSundaymorning"allLondonwaselectrifiedbythenewsfromWoking." Asamatteroffact,therewasnothingtojustifythatveryextravagantphrase. PlentyofLondonersdidnothearoftheMartiansuntilthepanicofMondaymorning. ThosewhodidtooksometimetorealiseallthatthehastilywordedtelegramsintheSundaypapersconveyed. ThemajorityofpeopleinLondondonotreadSundaypapers.
