第4章
"Whatdoesitmean？"hesaid。"Whatdothesethingsmean？"
Istaredathimandmadenoanswer。
Heextendedathinwhitehandandspokeinalmostacomplainingtone。
"Whyarethesethingspermitted？Whatsinshavewedone？Themorningservicewasover，Iwaswalkingthroughtheroadstoclearmybrainfortheafternoon，andthen——fire，earthquake，death！AsifitwereSodomandGomorrah！Allourworkundone，allthework————WhataretheseMar-tians？"
"Whatarewe？"Ianswered，clearingmythroat。
Hegrippedhiskneesandturnedtolookatmeagain。Forhalfaminute，perhaps，hestaredsilently。
"Iwaswalkingthroughtheroadstoclearmybrain，"hesaid。"Andsuddenly——fire，earthquake，death！"
Herelapsedintosilence，withhischinnowsunkenalmosttohisknees。
Presentlyhebeganwavinghishand。
"Allthework——alltheSundayschools————Whathavewedone——whathasWeybridgedone？Everythinggone——every-thingdestroyed。Thechurch！Werebuiltitonlythreeyearsago。Gone！Sweptoutofexistence！Why？"
Anotherpause，andhebrokeoutagainlikeonede-mented。
"Thesmokeofherburninggoethupforeverandever！"heshouted。
Hiseyesflamed，andhepointedaleanfingerinthedirec-tionofWeybridge。
BythistimeIwasbeginningtotakehismeasure。Thetremendoustragedyinwhichhehadbeeninvolved——itwasevidenthewasafugitivefromWeybridge——haddrivenhimtotheveryvergeofhisreason。
"ArewefarfromSunbury？"Isaid，inamatter-of-facttone。
"Whatarewetodo？"heasked。"Arethesecreaturesevery-where？Hastheearthbeengivenovertothem？"
"ArewefarfromSunbury？"
"OnlythismorningIofficiatedatearlycelebration————"
"Thingshavechanged，"Isaid，quietly。"Youmustkeepyourhead。Thereisstillhope。"
"Hope！"
"Yes。Plentifulhope——forallthisdestruction！"
Ibegantoexplainmyviewofourposition。Helistenedatfirst，butasIwentontheinterestdawninginhiseyesgaveplacetotheirformerstare，andhisregardwanderedfromme。
"Thismustbethebeginningoftheend，"hesaid，inter-ruptingme。
"Theend！ThegreatandterribledayoftheLord！Whenmenshallcalluponthemountainsandtherockstofalluponthemandhidethem——hidethemfromthefaceofHimthatsittethuponthethrone！"
Ibegantounderstandtheposition。Iceasedmylabouredreasoning，struggledtomyfeet，and，standingoverhim，laidmyhandonhisshoulder。
"Beaman！"saidI。"Youarescaredoutofyourwits！Whatgoodisreligionifitcollapsesundercalamity？Thinkofwhatearthquakesandfloods，warsandvolcanoes，havedonebeforetomen！DidyouthinkGodhadexemptedWeybridge？Heisnotaninsuranceagent。"
Foratimehesatinblanksilence。
"Buthowcanweescape？"heasked，suddenly。"Theyareinvulnerable，theyarepitiless。"
"Neithertheonenor，perhaps，theother，"Ianswered。"Andthemightiertheyarethemoresaneandwaryshouldwebe。Oneofthemwaskilledyondernotthreehoursago。"
"Killed！"hesaid，staringabouthim。"HowcanGod"smin-istersbekilled？"
"Isawithappen。"Iproceededtotellhim。"Wehavechancedtocomeinforthethickofit，"saidI，"andthatisall。"
"Whatisthatflickerinthesky？"heaskedabruptly。
Itoldhimitwastheheliographsignalling——thatitwasthesignofhumanhelpandeffortinthesky。
"Weareinthemidstofit，"Isaid，"quietasitis。Thatflickerintheskytellsofthegatheringstorm。Yonder，ItakeitaretheMartians，andLondonward，wherethosehillsriseaboutRichmondandKingstonandthetreesgivecover，earth-worksarebeingthrownupandgunsarebeingplaced。Pres-entlytheMartianswillbecomingthiswayagain。"
AndevenasIspokehesprangtohisfeetandstoppedmebyagesture。
"Listen！"hesaid。
Frombeyondthelowhillsacrossthewatercamethedullresonanceofdistantgunsandaremoteweirdcrying。Theneverythingwasstill。Acockchafercamedroningoverthehedgeandpastus。HighinthewestthecrescentmoonhungfaintandpaleabovethesmokeofWeybridgeandShepper-tonandthehot，stillsplendourofthesunset。
"Wehadbetterfollowthispath，"Isaid，"northward。"
TheWaroftheWorlds-Book1-Chapter14Chapter14-InLondonMyyoungerbrotherwasinLondonwhentheMartiansfellatWoking。Hewasamedicalstudentworkingforanimminentexamination，andheheardnothingofthearrivaluntilSaturdaymorning。ThemorningpapersonSaturdaycontained，inadditiontolengthyspecialarticlesontheplanetMars，onlifeintheplanets，andsoforth，abriefandvaguelywordedtelegram，allthemorestrikingforitsbrevity。
TheMartians，alarmedbytheapproachofacrowd，hadkilledanumberofpeoplewithaquick-firinggun，sothestoryran。Thetelegramconcludedwiththewords："Formi-dableastheyseemtobe，theMartianshavenotmovedfromthepitintowhichtheyhavefallen，and，indeed，seemincapa-
bleofdoingso。Probablythisisduetotherelativestrengthoftheearth"sgravitationalenergy。"Onthatlasttexttheirleader-writerexpandedverycomfortingly。
Ofcourseallthestudentsinthecrammer"sbiologyclass，towhichmybrotherwentthatday，wereintenselyinterested，buttherewerenosignsofanyunusualexcitementinthestreets。Theafternoonpaperspuffedscrapsofnewsunderbigheadlines。Theyhadnothingtotellbeyondthemovementsoftroopsaboutthecommon，andtheburningofthepinewoodsbetweenWokingandWeybridge，untileight。ThentheST。JAMES"SGAZETTE，inanextra-specialedition，announcedthebarefactoftheinterruptionoftelegraphiccommunica-tion。Thiswasthoughttobeduetothefallingofburningpinetreesacrosstheline。Nothingmoreofthefightingwasknownthatnight，thenightofmydrivetoLeatherheadandback。
Mybrotherfeltnoanxietyaboutus，asheknewfromthedescriptioninthepapersthatthecylinderwasagoodtwomilesfrommyhouse。Hemadeuphismindtorundownthatnighttome，inorder，ashesays，toseetheThingsbeforetheywerekilled。Hedespatchedatelegram，whichneverreachedme，aboutfouro"clock，andspenttheeveningatamusichall。
InLondon，also，onSaturdaynighttherewasathunder-storm，andmybrotherreachedWaterlooinacab。Ontheplatformfromwhichthemidnighttrainusuallystartshelearned，aftersomewaiting，thatanaccidentpreventedtrainsfromreachingWokingthatnight。Thenatureoftheaccidenthecouldnotascertain；indeed，therailwayauthoritiesdidnotclearlyknowatthattime。Therewasverylittleexcitementinthestation，astheofficials，failingtorealisethatanythingfurtherthanabreakdownbetweenByfleetandWokingjunctionhadoccurred，wererunningthetheatretrainswhichusuallypassedthroughWokingroundbyVirginiaWaterorGuildford。Theywerebusymakingthenecessaryarrange-mentstoaltertherouteoftheSouthamptonandPortsmouthSundayLeagueexcursions。Anocturnalnewspaperreporter，mistakingmybrotherforthetrafficmanager，towhomhebearsaslightresemblance，waylaidandtriedtointerviewhim。Fewpeople，exceptingtherailwayofficials，connectedthebreakdownwiththeMartians。
Ihaveread，inanotheraccountoftheseevents，thatonSundaymorning"allLondonwaselectrifiedbythenewsfromWoking。"Asamatteroffact，therewasnothingtojustifythatveryextravagantphrase。PlentyofLondonersdidnothearoftheMartiansuntilthepanicofMondaymorn-ing。ThosewhodidtooksometimetorealiseallthatthehastilywordedtelegramsintheSundaypapersconveyed。ThemajorityofpeopleinLondondonotreadSundaypapers。
Thehabitofpersonalsecurity，moreover，issodeeplyfixedintheLondoner"smind，andstartlingintelligencesomuchamatterofcourseinthepapers，thattheycouldreadwithoutanypersonaltremors："Aboutseveno"clocklastnighttheMartianscameoutofthecylinder，and，movingaboutunderanarmourofmetallicshields，havecompletelywreckedWokingstationwiththeadjacenthouses，andmassacredanentirebattalionoftheCardiganRegiment。Nodetailsareknown。Maximshavebeenabsolutelyuselessagainsttheirarmour；thefieldgunshavebeendisabledbythem。
FlyinghussarshavebeengallopingintoChertsey。TheMartiansappeartobemovingslowlytowardsChertseyorWindsor。GreatanxietyprevailsinWestSurrey，andearthworksarebeingthrownuptochecktheadvanceLondonward。"
ThatwashowtheSundaySUNputit，andacleverandremarkablyprompt"handbook"articleintheREFEREEcomparedtheaffairtoamenageriesuddenlyletlooseinavillage。
NooneinLondonknewpositivelyofthenatureofthearmouredMartians，andtherewasstillafixedideathatthesemonstersmustbesluggish：
"crawling，""creepingpainfully"——suchexpressionsoccurredinalmostalltheearlierreports。Noneofthetelegramscouldhavebeenwrittenbyaneye-witnessoftheiradvance。TheSundaypapersprintedseparateeditionsasfurthernewscametohand，someevenindefaultofit。Buttherewaspracticallynothingmoretotellpeopleuntillateintheafternoon，whentheauthoritiesgavethepressagenciesthenewsintheirpossession。
ItwasstatedthatthepeopleofWaltonandWeybridge，andallthedistrictwerepouringalongtheroadsLondonward，andthatwasall。
MybrotherwenttochurchattheFoundlingHospitalinthemorning，stillinignoranceofwhathadhappenedonthepreviousnight。Thereheheardallusionsmadetotheinvasion，andaspecialprayerforpeace。Comingout，heboughtaREFEREE。Hebecamealarmedatthenewsinthis，andwentagaintoWaterloostationtofindoutifcommunicationwererestored。Theomnibuses，carriages，cyclists，andinnumerablepeoplewalkingintheirbestclothesseemedscarcelyaffectedbythestrangeintelligencethatthenewsvendersweredis-seminating。Peoplewereinterested，or，ifalarmed，alarmedonlyonaccountofthelocalresidents。AtthestationheheardforthefirsttimethattheWindsorandChertseylineswerenowinterrupted。
Theporterstoldhimthatseveralremark-abletelegramshadbeenreceivedinthemorningfromByfleetandChertseystations，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。WeheardgunsfiringatHamptonCourtstation，butwethoughtitwasthunder。Whatthedickensdoesitallmean？TheMartianscan"tgetoutoftheirpit，canthey？"
Mybrothercouldnottellhim。
Afterwardshefoundthatthevaguefeelingofalarmhadspreadtotheclientsoftheundergroundrailway，andthattheSundayexcursionistsbegantoreturnfromallovertheSouth-Western"lung"——Barnes，Wimbledon，RichmondPark，Kew，andsoforth——atunnaturallyearlyhours；butnotasoulhadanythingmorethanvaguehearsaytotellof。Every-oneconnectedwiththeterminusseemedill-tempered。
Aboutfiveo"clockthegatheringcrowdinthestationwasimmenselyexcitedbytheopeningofthelineofcommunica-tion，whichisalmostinvariablyclosed，betweentheSouth-EasternandtheSouth-Westernstations，andthepassageofcarriagetrucksbearinghugegunsandcarriagescrammedwithsoldiers。ThesewerethegunsthatwerebroughtupfromWoolwichandChathamtocoverKingston。Therewasanexchangeofpleasantries："You"llgeteaten！""We"rethebeast-tamers！"andsoforth。Alittlewhileafterthatasquadofpolicecameintothestationandbegantoclearthepublicofftheplatforms，andmybrotherwentoutintothestreetagain。
Thechurchbellswereringingforevensong，andasquadofSalvationArmylassiescamesingingdownWaterlooRoad。Onthebridgeanumberofloaferswerewatchingacuriousbrownscumthatcamedriftingdownthestreaminpatches。Thesunwasjustsetting，andtheClockTowerandtheHousesofParliamentroseagainstoneofthemostpeacefulskiesitispossibletoimagine，askyofgold，barredwithlongtrans-versestripesofreddish-purplecloud。Therewastalkofafloatingbody。Oneofthementhere，areservisthesaidhewas，toldmybrotherhehadseentheheliographflickeringinthewest。
InWellingtonStreetmybrothermetacoupleofsturdyroughswhohadjustbeenrushedoutofFleetStreetwithstill-wetnewspapersandstaringplacards。"Dreadfulcatastrophe！"theybawledonetotheotherdownWellingtonStreet。"FightingatWeybridge！Fulldescription！RepulseoftheMartians！
LondoninDanger！"Hehadtogivethreepenceforacopyofthatpaper。
Thenitwas，andthenonly，thatherealisedsomethingofthefullpowerandterrorofthesemonsters。Helearnedthattheywerenotmerelyahandfulofsmallsluggishcreatures，butthattheyweremindsswayingvastmechanicalbodies；andthattheycouldmoveswiftlyandsmitewithsuchpowerthateventhemightiestgunscouldnotstandagainstthem。
Theyweredescribedas"vastspiderlikemachines，nearlyahundredfeethigh，capableofthespeedofanexpresstrain，andabletoshootoutabeamofintenseheat。"Maskedbatter-ies，chieflyoffieldguns，hadbeenplantedinthecountryaboutHorsellCommon，andespeciallybetweentheWokingdistrictandLondon。FiveofthemachineshadbeenseenmovingtowardstheThames，andone，byahappychance，hadbeendestroyed。Intheothercasestheshellshadmissed，andthebatterieshadbeenatonceannihilatedbytheHeat-Rays。Heavylossesofsoldierswerementioned，butthetoneofthedespatchwasoptimistic。
TheMartianshadbeenrepulsed；theywerenotinvulnera-ble。Theyhadretreatedtotheirtriangleofcylindersagain，inthecircleaboutWoking。
Signallerswithheliographswerepushingforwarduponthemfromallsides。
GunswereinrapidtransitfromWindsor，Portsmouth，Aldershot，Woolwich——
evenfromthenorth；amongothers，longwire-gunsofninety-fivetonsfromWoolwich。Altogetheronehundredandsixteenwereinpositionorbeinghastilyplaced，chieflycoveringLon-don。NeverbeforeinEnglandhadtherebeensuchavastorrapidconcentrationofmilitarymaterial。
Anyfurthercylindersthatfell，itwashoped，couldbedestroyedatoncebyhighexplosives，whichwerebeingrap-idlymanufacturedanddistributed。
Nodoubt，ranthereport，thesituationwasofthestrangestandgravestdescription，butthepublicwasexhortedtoavoidanddiscouragepanic。
NodoubttheMartianswerestrangeandterribleintheextreme，butattheoutsidetherecouldnotbemorethantwentyofthemagainstourmillions。
Theauthoritieshadreasontosuppose，fromthesizeofthecylinders，thatattheoutsidetherecouldnotbemorethanfiveineachcylinder——fifteenaltogether。Andoneatleastwasdisposedof——perhapsmore。Thepublicwouldbefairlywarnedoftheapproachofdanger，andelaboratemeasureswerebeingtakenfortheprotectionofthepeopleinthethreatenedsouthwesternsuburbs。Andso，withreiteratedassurancesofthesafetyofLondonandtheabilityoftheauthoritiestocopewiththedifficulty，thisquasi-proclamationclosed。
Thiswasprintedinenormoustypeonpapersofreshthatitwasstillwet，andtherehadbeennotimetoaddawordofcomment。Itwascurious，mybrothersaid，toseehowruth-lesslytheusualcontentsofthepaperhadbeenhackedandtakenouttogivethisplace。
AlldownWellingtonStreetpeoplecouldbeseenflutteringoutthepinksheetsandreading，andtheStrandwassuddenlynoisywiththevoicesofanarmyofhawkersfollowingthesepioneers。Mencamescramblingoffbusestosecurecopies。Certainlythisnewsexcitedpeopleintensely，whatevertheirpreviousapathy。TheshuttersofamapshopintheStrandwerebeingtakendown，mybrothersaid，andamaninhisSundayraiment，lemon-yellowgloveseven，wasvisi-bleinsidethewindowhastilyfasteningmapsofSurreytotheglass。
GoingonalongtheStrandtoTrafalgarSquare，thepaperinhishand，mybrothersawsomeofthefugitivesfromWestSurrey。Therewasamanwithhiswifeandtwoboysandsomearticlesoffurnitureinacartsuchasgreengrocersuse。HewasdrivingfromthedirectionofWestminsterBridge；
andclosebehindhimcameahaywaggonwithfiveorsixrespectable-lookingpeopleinit，andsomeboxesandbundles。Thefacesofthesepeoplewerehaggard，andtheirentireappearancecontrastedconspicuouslywiththeSabbath-bestappearanceofthepeopleontheomnibuses。Peopleinfash-
ionableclothingpeepedatthemoutofcabs。TheystoppedattheSquareasifundecidedwhichwaytotake，andfinallyturnedeastwardalongtheStrand。Somewaybehindthesecameamaninworkdayclothes，ridingoneofthoseold-fashionedtricycleswithasmallfrontwheel。Hewasdirtyandwhiteintheface。
MybrotherturneddowntowardsVictoria，andmetanum-berofsuchpeople。Hehadavagueideathathemightseesomethingofme。Henoticedanunusualnumberofpoliceregulatingthetraffic。Someoftherefugeeswereexchangingnewswiththepeopleontheomnibuses。OnewasprofessingtohaveseentheMartians。"Boilersonstilts，Itellyou，stridingalonglikemen。"Mostofthemwereexcitedandanimatedbytheirstrangeexperience。
BeyondVictoriathepublic-housesweredoingalivelytradewiththesearrivals。Atallthestreetcornersgroupsofpeoplewerereadingpapers，talkingexcitedly，orstaringattheseunusualSundayvisitors。Theyseemedtoincreaseasnightdrewon，untilatlasttheroads，mybrothersaid，werelikeEpsomHighStreetonaDerbyDay。Mybrotheraddressedseveralofthesefugitivesandgotunsatisfactoryanswersfrommost。
NoneofthemcouldtellhimanynewsofWokingexceptoneman，whoassuredhimthatWokinghadbeenentirelydestroyedonthepreviousnight。
"IcomefromByfleet，"hesaid；"manonabicyclecamethroughtheplaceintheearlymorning，andranfromdoortodoorwarningustocomeaway。
Thencamesoldiers。Wewentouttolook，andtherewerecloudsofsmoketothesouth——nothingbutsmoke，andnotasoulcomingthatway。ThenweheardthegunsatChertsey，andfolkscomingfromWey-bridge。SoI"velockedupmyhouseandcomeon。"
Atthetimetherewasastrongfeelinginthestreetsthattheauthoritiesweretoblamefortheirincapacitytodisposeoftheinvaderswithoutallthisinconvenience。
Abouteighto"clockanoiseofheavyfiringwasdistinctlyaudiblealloverthesouthofLondon。Mybrothercouldnothearitforthetrafficinthemainthoroughfares，butbystrik-ingthroughthequietbackstreetstotheriverhewasabletodistinguishitquiteplainly。
HewalkedfromWestminstertohisapartmentsnearRe-gent"sPark，abouttwo。Hewasnowveryanxiousonmyaccount，anddisturbedattheevidentmagnitudeofthetrouble。Hismindwasinclinedtorun，evenasminehadrunonSaturday，onmilitarydetails。Hethoughtofallthosesilent，expectantguns，ofthesuddenlynomadiccountryside；hetriedtoimagine"boilersonstilts"ahundredfeethigh。
TherewereoneortwocartloadsofrefugeespassingalongOxfordStreet，andseveralintheMaryleboneRoad，butsoslowlywasthenewsspreadingthatRegentStreetandPort-landPlacewerefulloftheirusualSunday-nightpromenaders，albeittheytalkedingroups，andalongtheedgeofRegent"sParktherewereasmanysilentcouples"walkingout"togetherunderthescatteredgaslampsasevertherehadbeen。Thenightwaswarmandstill，andalittleoppressive；thesoundofgunscontinuedintermittently，andaftermidnightthereseemedtobesheetlightninginthesouth。
Hereadandre-readthepaper，fearingtheworsthadhap-penedtome。
Hewasrestless，andaftersupperprowledoutagainaimlessly。Hereturnedandtriedinvaintodiverthisattentiontohisexaminationnotes。Hewenttobedalittleaftermidnight，andwasawakenedfromluriddreamsinthesmallhoursofMondaybythesoundofdoorknockers，feetrunninginthestreet，distantdrumming，andaclamourofbells。Redreflectionsdancedontheceiling。Foramomenthelayastonished，wonderingwhetherdayhadcomeortheworldgonemad。Thenhejumpedoutofbedandrantothewindow。
Hisroomwasanatticandashethrusthisheadout，upanddownthestreettherewereadozenechoestothenoiseofhiswindowsash，andheadsineverykindofnightdisarrayappeared。Enquirieswerebeingshouted。
"Theyarecoming！"bawledapoliceman，hammeringatthedoor；"theMartiansarecoming！"andhurriedtothenextdoor。
ThesoundofdrummingandtrumpetingcamefromtheAlbanyStreetBarracks，andeverychurchwithinearshotwashardatworkkillingsleepwithavehementdisorderlytocsin。Therewasanoiseofdoorsopening，andwindowafterwin-dowinthehousesoppositeflashedfromdarknessintoyellowillumination。
Upthestreetcamegallopingaclosedcarriage，burstingabruptlyintonoiseatthecorner，risingtoaclatteringclimaxunderthewindow，anddyingawayslowlyinthedistance。Closeontherearofthiscameacoupleofcabs，theforerun-nersofalongprocessionofflyingvehicles，goingforthemostparttoChalkFarmstation，wheretheNorth-Westernspecialtrainswereloadingup，insteadofcomingdownthegradientintoEuston。
Foralongtimemybrotherstaredoutofthewindowinblankastonishment，watchingthepolicemenhammeringatdoorafterdoor，anddeliveringtheirincomprehensiblemes-sage。Thenthedoorbehindhimopened，andthemanwholodgedacrossthelandingcamein，dressedonlyinshirt，trousers，andslippers，hisbraceslooseabouthiswaist，hishairdisorderedfromhispillow。
"Whatthedevilisit？"heasked。"Afire？Whatadevilofarow！"
Theybothcranedtheirheadsoutofthewindow，strainingtohearwhatthepolicemenwereshouting。Peoplewerecom-ingoutofthesidestreets，andstandingingroupsatthecornerstalking。
"Whatthedevilisitallabout？"saidmybrother"sfellowlodger。
Mybrotheransweredhimvaguelyandbegantodress，runningwitheachgarmenttothewindowinordertomissnothingofthegrowingexcitement。
Andpresentlymensellingunnaturallyearlynewspaperscamebawlingintothestreet：
"Londonindangerofsuffocation！TheKingstonandRich-monddefencesforced！FearfulmassacresintheThamesValley！"
Andallabouthim——intheroomsbelow，inthehousesoneachsideandacrosstheroad，andbehindintheParkTer-racesandinthehundredotherstreetsofthatpartofMaryle-bone，andtheWestbourneParkdistrictandSt。Pancras，andwestwardandnorthwardinKilburnandSt。John"sWoodandHampstead，andeastwardinShoreditchandHighburyandHaggerstonandHoxton，and，indeed，throughallthevastnessofLondonfromEalingtoEastHam——peoplewererubbingtheireyes，andopeningwindowstostareoutandaskaimlessquestions，dressinghastilyasthefirstbreathofthecomingstormofFearblewthroughthestreets。Itwasthedawnofthegreatpanic。London，whichhadgonetobedonSundaynightobliviousandinert，wasawakened，inthesmallhoursofMondaymorning，toavividsenseofdanger。
Unablefromhiswindowtolearnwhatwashappening，mybrotherwentdownandoutintothestreet，justastheskybetweentheparapetsofthehousesgrewpinkwiththeearlydawn。Theflyingpeopleonfootandinvehiclesgrewmorenumerouseverymoment。"BlackSmoke！"heheardpeoplecrying，andagain"BlackSmoke！"Thecontagionofsuchaunanimousfearwasinevitable。Asmybrotherhesitatedonthedoor-step，hesawanothernewsvenderapproaching，andgotapaperforthwith。Themanwasrunningawaywiththerest，andsellinghispapersforashillingeachasheran——agrotesqueminglingofprofitandpanic。
AndfromthispapermybrotherreadthatcatastrophicdespatchoftheCommander-in-Chief：
"TheMartiansareabletodischargeenormouscloudsofablackandpoisonousvapourbymeansofrockets。Theyhavesmotheredourbatteries，destroyedRichmond，Kingston，andWimbledon，andareadvancingslowlytowardsLondon，de-stroyingeverythingontheway。Itisimpossibletostopthem。ThereisnosafetyfromtheBlackSmokebutininstantflight。"
Thatwasall，butitwasenough。Thewholepopulationofthegreatsix-millioncitywasstirring，slipping，running；pres-entlyitwouldbepouringEN
MASSEnorthward。
"BlackSmoke！"thevoicescried。"Fire！"
Thebellsoftheneighbouringchurchmadeajanglingtumult，acartcarelesslydrivensmashed，amidshrieksandcurses，againstthewatertroughupthestreet。Sicklyyellowlightswenttoandfrointhehouses，andsomeofthepassingcabsflauntedunextinguishedlamps。Andoverheadthedawnwasgrowingbrighter，clearandsteadyandcalm。
Heheardfootstepsrunningtoandfrointherooms，andupanddownstairsbehindhim。Hislandladycametothedoor，looselywrappedindressinggownandshawl；herhus-bandfollowedejaculating。
Asmybrotherbegantorealisetheimportofallthesethings，heturnedhastilytohisownroom，putallhisavailablemoney——sometenpoundsaltogether——intohispockets，andwentoutagainintothestreets。
TheWaroftheWorlds-Book1-Chapter15Chapter15-WhatHadHappenedInSurreyItwaswhilethecuratehadsatandtalkedsowildlytomeunderthehedgeintheflatmeadowsnearHalliford，andwhilemybrotherwaswatchingthefugitivesstreamoverWestminsterBridge，thattheMartianshadresumedtheof-fensive。Sofarasonecanascertainfromtheconflictingaccountsthathavebeenputforth，themajorityofthemremainedbusiedwithpreparationsintheHorsellpituntilninethatnight，hurryingonsomeoperationthatdisengagedhugevolumesofgreensmoke。
Butthreecertainlycameoutabouteighto"clockand，advancingslowlyandcautiously，madetheirwaythroughByfleetandPyrfordtowardsRipleyandWeybridge，andsocameinsightoftheexpectantbatteriesagainstthesettingsun。TheseMartiansdidnotadvanceinabody，butinaline，eachperhapsamileandahalffromhisnearestfellow。Theycommunicatedwithoneanotherbymeansofsirenlikehowls，runningupanddownthescalefromonenotetoanother。
ItwasthishowlingandfiringofthegunsatRipleyandSt。George"sHillthatwehadheardatUpperHalliford。TheRipleygunners，unseasonedartilleryvolunteerswhooughtnevertohavebeenplacedinsuchaposition，firedonewild，premature，ineffectualvolley，andboltedonhorseandfootthroughthedesertedvillage，whiletheMartian，withoutusinghisHeat-Ray，walkedserenelyovertheirguns，steppedgin-gerlyamongthem，passedinfrontofthem，andsocameunexpectedlyuponthegunsinPainshillPark，whichhedestroyed。
TheSt。George"sHillmen，however，werebetterledorofabettermettle。
Hiddenbyapinewoodastheywere，theyseemtohavebeenquiteunsuspectedbytheMartiannearesttothem。Theylaidtheirgunsasdeliberatelyasiftheyhadbeenonparade，andfiredataboutathousandyards"range。
Theshellsflashedallroundhim，andhewasseentoadvanceafewpaces，stagger，andgodown。Everybodyyelledtogether，andthegunswerereloadedinfrantichaste。TheoverthrownMartiansetupaprolongedululation，andimme-diatelyasecondglitteringgiant，answeringhim，appearedoverthetreestothesouth。Itwouldseemthatalegofthetripodhadbeensmashedbyoneoftheshells。ThewholeofthesecondvolleyflewwideoftheMartianontheground，and，simultaneously，bothhiscompanionsbroughttheirHeat-Raystobearonthebattery。Theammunitionblewup，thepinetreesallaboutthegunsflashedintofire，andonlyoneortwoofthemenwhowerealreadyrunningoverthecrestofthehillescaped。
Afterthisitwouldseemthatthethreetookcounselto-getherandhalted，andthescoutswhowerewatchingthemreportthattheyremainedabsolutelystationaryforthenexthalfhour。TheMartianwhohadbeenoverthrowncrawledtediouslyoutofhishood，asmallbrownfigure，oddlysugges-tivefromthatdistanceofaspeckofblight，andapparentlyengagedintherepairofhissupport。Aboutninehehadfinished，forhiscowlwasthenseenabovethetreesagain。
ItwasafewminutespastninethatnightwhenthesethreesentinelswerejoinedbyfourotherMartians，eachcarryingathickblacktube。A
similartubewashandedtoeachofthethree，andthesevenproceededtodistributethemselvesatequaldistancesalongacurvedlinebetweenSt。
George"sHill，Weybridge，andthevillageofSend，southwestofRipley。
Adozenrocketssprangoutofthehillsbeforethemsosoonastheybegantomove，andwarnedthewaitingbatteriesaboutDittonandEsher。
Atthesametimefouroftheirfightingmachines，similarlyarmedwithtubes，crossedtheriver，andtwoofthem，blackagainstthewesternsky，cameintosightofmyselfandthecurateaswehurriedwearilyandpainfullyalongtheroadthatrunsnorthwardoutofHalliford。Theymoved，asitseemedtous，uponacloud，foramilkymistcoveredthefieldsandrosetoathirdoftheirheight。
Atthissightthecuratecriedfaintlyinhisthroat，andbeganrunning；
butIknewitwasnogoodrunningfromaMartian，andIturnedasideandcrawledthroughdewynettlesandbramblesintothebroadditchbythesideoftheroad。Helookedback，sawwhatIwasdoing，andturnedtojoinme。
Thetwohalted，thenearertousstandingandfacingSun-bury，theremoterbeingagreyindistinctnesstowardstheeveningstar，awaytowardsStaines。
TheoccasionalhowlingoftheMartianshadceased；theytookuptheirpositionsinthehugecrescentabouttheircylindersinabsolutesilence。
Itwasacrescentwithtwelvemilesbetweenitshorns。Neversincethedevisingofgun-powderwasthebeginningofabattlesostill。TousandtoanobserveraboutRipleyitwouldhavehadpreciselythesameeffect——theMartiansseemedinsolitarypossessionofthedarklingnight，litonlyasitwasbytheslendermoon，thestars，theafterglowofthedaylight，andtheruddyglarefromSt。George"sHillandthewoodsofPainshill。
Butfacingthatcrescenteverywhere——atStaines，Hounslow，Ditton，Esher，Ockham，behindhillsandwoodssouthoftheriver，andacrosstheflatgrassmeadowstothenorthofit，whereveraclusteroftreesorvillagehousesgavesufficientcover——thegunswerewaiting。Thesignalrocketsburstandrainedtheirsparksthroughthenightandvanished，andthespiritofallthosewatchingbatteriesrosetoatenseexpecta-tion。TheMartianshadbuttoadvanceintothelineoffire，andinstantlythosemotionlessblackformsofmen，thosegunsglitteringsodarklyintheearlynight，wouldexplodeintoathunderousfuryofbattle。
Nodoubtthethoughtthatwasuppermostinathousandofthosevigilantminds，evenasitwasuppermostinmine，wastheriddle——howmuchtheyunderstoodofus。Didtheygraspthatweinourmillionswereorganized，disciplined，workingtogether？Ordidtheyinterpretourspurtsoffire，thesuddenstingingofourshells，oursteadyinvestmentoftheirencampment，asweshouldthefuriousunanimityofonslaughtinadisturbedhiveofbees？Didtheydreamtheymightexterminateus？（Atthattimenooneknewwhatfoodtheyneeded。）AhundredsuchquestionsstruggledtogetherinmymindasIwatchedthatvastsentinelshape。AndinthebackofmymindwasthesenseofallthehugeunknownandhiddenforcesLondonward。Hadtheypreparedpitfalls？WerethepowdermillsatHounslowreadyasasnare？
WouldtheLondonershavetheheartandcouragetomakeagreaterMoscowoftheirmightyprovinceofhouses？
Then，afteraninterminabletime，asitseemedtous，crouchingandpeeringthroughthehedge，cameasoundlikethedistantconcussionofagun。Anothernearer，andthenanother。AndthentheMartianbesideusraisedhistubeonhighanddischargedit，gunwise，withaheavyreportthatmadethegroundheave。TheonetowardsStainesansweredhim。Therewasnoflash，nosmoke，simplythatloadeddetonation。
Iwassoexcitedbytheseheavyminute-gunsfollowingoneanotherthatIsofarforgotmypersonalsafetyandmyscaldedhandsastoclamberupintothehedgeandstaretowardsSunbury。AsIdidsoasecondreportfollowed，andabigprojectilehurtledoverheadtowardsHounslow。Iex-pectedatleasttoseesmokeorfire，orsomesuchevidenceofitswork。ButallIsawwasthedeepblueskyabove，withonesolitarystar，andthewhitemistspreadingwideandlowbeneath。Andtherehadbeennocrash，noansweringex-plosion。Thesilencewasrestored；theminutelengthenedtothree。
"Whathashappened？"saidthecurate，standingupbesideme。
"Heavenknows！"saidI。
Abatflickeredbyandvanished。Adistanttumultofshoutingbeganandceased。IlookedagainattheMartian，andsawhewasnowmovingeastwardalongtheriverbank，withaswift，rollingmotion，EverymomentIexpectedthefireofsomehiddenbatterytospringuponhim；buttheeveningcalmwasunbroken。ThefigureoftheMartiangrewsmallerashereceded，andpresentlythemistandthegatheringnighthadswallowedhimup。Byacommonimpulseweclamberedhigher。TowardsSunburywasadarkappearance，asthoughaconicalhillhadsuddenlycomeintobeingthere，hidingourviewofthefarthercountry；andthen，remoteracrosstheriver，overWalton，wesawanothersuchsummit。Thesehill-likeformsgrewlowerandbroaderevenaswestared。
Movedbyasuddenthought，Ilookednorthward，andthereIperceivedathirdofthesecloudyblackkopjeshadrisen。
Everythinghadsuddenlybecomeverystill。Farawaytothesoutheast，markingthequiet，weheardtheMartianshootingtooneanother，andthentheairquiveredagainwiththedistantthudoftheirguns。Buttheearthlyartillerymadenoreply。
Nowatthetimewecouldnotunderstandthesethings，butlaterIwastolearnthemeaningoftheseominouskopjesthatgatheredinthetwilight。
EachoftheMartians，standinginthegreatcrescentIhavedescribed，haddischarged，bymeansofthegunliketubehecarried，ahugecanisteroverwhateverhill，copse，clusterofhouses，orotherpossiblecoverforguns，chancedtobeinfrontofhim。Somefiredonlyoneofthese，sometwo——asinthecaseoftheonewehadseen；theoneatRipleyissaidtohavedischargednofewerthanfiveatthattime。Thesecanisterssmashedonstrikingtheground——theydidnotexplode——andincontinentlydisengagedanenormousvolumeofheavy，inkyvapour，coilingandpour-ingupwardinahugeandebonycumuluscloud，agaseoushillthatsankandspreaditselfslowlyoverthesurroundingcountry。Andthetouchofthatvapour，theinhalingofitspungentwisps，wasdeathtoallthatbreathes。
Itwasheavy，thisvapour，heavierthanthedensestsmoke，sothat，afterthefirsttumultuousuprushandoutflowofitsimpact，itsankdownthroughtheairandpouredoverthegroundinamannerratherliquidthangaseous，abandoningthehills，andstreamingintothevalleysandditchesandwatercoursesevenasIhaveheardthecarbonic-acidgasthatpoursfromvolcaniccleftsiswonttodo。Andwhereitcameuponwatersomechemicalactionoccurred，andthesurfacewouldbeinstantlycoveredwithapowderyscumthatsankslowlyandmadewayformore。Thescumwasabsolutelyinsoluble，anditisastrangething，seeingtheinstanteffectofthegas，thatonecoulddrinkwithouthurtthewaterfromwhichithadbeenstrained。Thevapourdidnotdiffuseasatruegaswoulddo。Ithungtogetherinbanks，flowingslug-gishlydowntheslopeofthelandanddrivingreluctantlybeforethewind，andveryslowlyitcombinedwiththemistandmoistureoftheair，andsanktotheearthintheformofdust。Savethatanunknownelementgivingagroupoffourlinesintheblueofthespectrumisconcerned，wearestillentirelyignorantofthenatureofthissubstance。
Oncethetumultuousupheavalofitsdispersionwasover，theblacksmokeclungsocloselytotheground，evenbeforeitsprecipitation，thatfiftyfeetupintheair，ontheroofsandupperstoriesofhighhousesandongreattrees，therewasachanceofescapingitspoisonaltogether，aswasprovedeventhatnightatStreetCobhamandDitton。
Themanwhoescapedattheformerplacetellsawonderfulstoryofthestrangenessofitscoilingflow，andhowhelookeddownfromthechurchspireandsawthehousesofthevillagerisinglikeghostsoutofitsinkynothingness。Foradayandahalfheremainedthere，weary，starvingandsun-scorched，theearthundertheblueskyandagainsttheprospectofthedistanthillsavelvet-blackexpanse，withredroofs，greentrees，and，later，black-veiledshrubsandgates，barns，out-houses，andwalls，risinghereandthereintothesunlight。
ButthatwasatStreetCobham，wheretheblackvapourwasallowedtoremainuntilitsankofitsownaccordintotheground。AsaruletheMartians，whenithadserveditspurpose，clearedtheairofitagainbywadingintoitanddirectingajetofsteamuponit。
Thistheydidwiththevapourbanksnearus，aswesawinthestarlightfromthewindowofadesertedhouseatUpperHalliford，whitherwehadreturned。FromtherewecouldseethesearchlightsonRichmondHillandKingstonHillgoingtoandfro，andabouteleventhewindowsrattled，andweheardthesoundofthehugesiegegunsthathadbeenputinpositionthere。Thesecontinuedintermittentlyforthespaceofaquarterofanhour，sendingchanceshotsattheinvisibleMartiansatHamptonandDitton，andthenthepalebeamsoftheelectriclightvanished，andwerereplacedbyabrightredglow。
Thenthefourthcylinderfell——abrilliantgreenmeteor——asIlearnedafterwards，inBusheyPark。BeforethegunsontheRichmondandKingstonlineofhillsbegan，therewasafitfulcannonadefarawayinthesouthwest，due，Ibelieve，togunsbeingfiredhaphazardbeforetheblackvapourcouldover-whelmthegunners。
So，settingaboutitasmethodicallyasmenmightsmokeoutawasps"
nest，theMartiansspreadthisstrangestiflingvapourovertheLondonwardcountry。Thehornsofthecrescentslowlymovedapart，untilatlasttheyformedalinefromHanwelltoCoombeandMalden。Allnightthroughtheirdestructivetubesadvanced。Neveronce，aftertheMartianatSt。George"sHillwasbroughtdown，didtheygivetheartillerytheghostofachanceagainstthem。Wherevertherewasapossibilityofgunsbeinglaidforthemunseen，afreshcanisteroftheblackvapourwasdischarged，andwherethegunswereopenlydisplayedtheHeat-Raywasbroughttobear。
BymidnighttheblazingtreesalongtheslopesofRich-mondParkandtheglareofKingstonHillthrewtheirlightuponanetworkofblacksmoke，blottingoutthewholevalleyoftheThamesandextendingasfarastheeyecouldreach。AndthroughthistwoMartiansslowlywaded，andturnedtheirhissingsteamjetsthiswayandthat。
TheyweresparingoftheHeat-Raythatnight，eitherbe-causetheyhadbutalimitedsupplyofmaterialforitsproductionorbecausetheydidnotwishtodestroythecountrybutonlytocrushandoverawetheoppositiontheyhadaroused。Inthelatteraimtheycertainlysucceeded。Sun-daynightwastheendoftheorganisedoppositiontotheirmovements。Afterthatnobodyofmenwouldstandagainstthem，sohopelesswastheenterprise。