Война миров
In London
Comingout,heboughtaReferee. Hebecamealarmedatthenewsinthis,andwentagaintoWaterloostationtofindoutifcommunicationwererestored. Theomnibuses,carriages,cyclists,andinnumerablepeoplewalkingintheirbestclothesseemedscarcelyaffectedbythestrangeintelligencethatthenewsvendersweredisseminating. Peoplewereinterested,or,ifalarmed,alarmedonlyonaccountofthelocalresidents. AtthestationheheardforthefirsttimethattheWindsorandChertseylineswerenowinterrupted. TheporterstoldhimthatseveralremarkabletelegramshadbeenreceivedinthemorningfromByfleetandChertseystations,butthatthesehadabruptlyceased. Mybrothercouldgetverylittleprecisedetailoutofthem.
"There’sfightinggoingonaboutWeybridge"wastheextentoftheirinformation.
Thetrainservicewasnowverymuchdisorganised. QuiteanumberofpeoplewhohadbeenexpectingfriendsfromplacesontheSouth-Westernnetworkwerestandingaboutthestation. Onegrey-headedoldgentlemancameandabusedtheSouth-WesternCompanybitterlytomybrother. "Itwantsshowingup,"hesaid.
OneortwotrainscameinfromRichmond,Putney,andKingston,containingpeoplewhohadgoneoutforaday’sboatingandfoundthelocksclosedandafeelingofpanicintheair. Amaninablueandwhiteblazeraddressedmybrother,fullofstrangetidings.
"There’shostsofpeopledrivingintoKingstonintrapsandcartsandthings,withboxesofvaluablesandallthat,"hesaid. "TheycomefromMoleseyandWeybridgeandWalton,andtheysaythere’sbeengunsheardatChertsey,heavyfiring,andthatmountedsoldiershavetoldthemtogetoffatoncebecausetheMartiansarecoming.
