第7章

Thecontrastbetweentheswiftandcomplexmovementsofthesecontrivancesandtheinertpantingclumsinessoftheirmasterswasacute，andfordaysIhadtotellmyselfrepeatedlythattheselatterwereindeedthelivingofthetwothings。

Thecuratehadpossessionoftheslitwhenthefirstmenwerebroughttothepit。Iwassittingbelow，huddledup，listeningwithallmyears。

Hemadeasuddenmovementbackward，andI，fearfulthatwewereobserved，crouchedinaspasmofterror。Hecameslidingdowntherubbishandcreptbesidemeinthedarkness，inarticulate，gesticulating，andforamomentIsharedhispanic。Hisgesturesuggestedaresignationoftheslit，andafteralittlewhilemycuriositygavemecourage，andIroseup，steppedacrosshim，andclambereduptoit。AtfirstIcouldseenoreasonforhisfranticbehaviour。Thetwilighthadnowcome，thestarswerelittleandfaint，butthepitwasilluminatedbytheflickeringgreenfirethatcamefromthealuminium-making。Thewholepicturewasaflickeringschemeofgreengleamsandshiftingrustyblackshadows，strangelytryingtotheeyes。Overandthroughitallwentthebats，heedingitnotatall。ThesprawlingMartianswerenolongertobeseen，themoundofblue-greenpowderhadrisentocoverthemfromsight，andafighting-machine，withitslegscontracted，crumpled，andabbreviated，stoodacrossthecornerofthepit。

Andthen，amidtheclangourofthemachinery，cameadriftingsuspicionofhumanvoices，thatIentertainedatfirstonlytodismiss。

Icrouched，watchingthisfighting-machineclosely，satisfy-ingmyselfnowforthefirsttimethatthehooddidindeedcontainaMartian。AsthegreenflamesliftedIcouldseetheoilygleamofhisintegumentandthebrightnessofhiseyes。AndsuddenlyIheardayell，andsawalongtentaclereach-ingovertheshoulderofthemachinetothelittlecagethathuncheduponitsback。Thensomething——somethingstrug-glingviolently——wasliftedhighagainstthesky，ablack，vagueenigmaagainstthestarlight；andasthisblackobjectcamedownagain，Isawbythegreenbrightnessthatitwasaman。Foraninstanthewasclearlyvisible。Hewasastout，ruddy，middle-agedman，welldressed；threedaysbefore，hemusthavebeenwalkingtheworld，amanofconsiderableconsequence。Icouldseehisstaringeyesandgleamsoflightonhisstudsandwatchchain。Hevanishedbehindthemound，andforamomenttherewassilence。AndthenbeganashriekingandasustainedandcheerfulhootingfromtheMartians。

Isliddowntherubbish，struggledtomyfeet，clappedmyhandsovermyears，andboltedintothescullery。Thecurate，whohadbeencrouchingsilentlywithhisarmsoverhishead，lookedupasIpassed，criedoutquiteloudlyatmydesertionofhim，andcamerunningafterme。

Thatnight，aswelurkedinthescullery，balancedbetweenourhorrorandtheterriblefascinationthispeepinghad，al-thoughIfeltanurgentneedofactionItriedinvaintoconceivesomeplanofescape；butafterwards，duringthesecondday，Iwasabletoconsiderourpositionwithgreatclearness。

Thecurate，Ifound，wasquiteincapableofdis-cussion；thisnewandculminatingatrocityhadrobbedhimofallvestigesofreasonorforethought。

Practicallyhehadalreadysunktothelevelofananimal。Butasthesayinggoes，Igrippedmyselfwithbothhands。Itgrewuponmymind，onceIcouldfacethefacts，thatterribleasourposi-tionwas，therewasasyetnojustificationforabsolutedespair。OurchiefchancelayinthepossibilityoftheMartiansmakingthepitnothingmorethanatemporaryencampment。

Oreveniftheykeptitpermanently，theymightnotconsideritnecessarytoguardit，andachanceofescapemightbeaffordedus。Ialsoweighedverycarefullythepossibilityofourdiggingawayoutinadirectionawayfromthepit，butthechancesofouremergingwithinsightofsomesentinelfighting-machineseemedatfirsttoogreat。AndIshouldhavehadtodoallthediggingmyself。Thecuratewouldcertainlyhavefailedme。

Itwasonthethirdday，ifmymemoryservesmeright，thatIsawtheladkilled。ItwastheonlyoccasiononwhichIactuallysawtheMartiansfeed。AfterthatexperienceIavoidedtheholeinthewallforthebetterpartofaday。Iwentintothescullery，removedthedoor，andspentsomehoursdiggingwithmyhatchetassilentlyaspossible；butwhenIhadmadeaholeaboutacoupleoffeetdeepthelooseearthcollapsednoisily，andIdidnotdarecontinue。Ilostheart，andlaydownonthesculleryfloorforalongtime，havingnospiriteventomove。AndafterthatIabandonedaltogethertheideaofescapingbyexcavation。

ItsaysmuchfortheimpressiontheMartianshadmadeuponmethatatfirstIentertainedlittleornohopeofourescapebeingbroughtaboutbytheiroverthrowthroughanyhumaneffort。ButonthefourthorfifthnightIheardasoundlikeheavyguns。

Itwasverylateinthenight，andthemoonwasshiningbrightly。TheMartianshadtakenawaytheexcavating-machine，and，saveforafighting-machinethatstoodintheremoterbankofthepitandahandling-machinethatwasburiedoutofmysightinacornerofthepitimmedi-atelybeneathmypeephole，theplacewasdesertedbythem。Exceptforthepaleglowfromthehandling-machineandthebarsandpatchesofwhitemoonlightthepitwasindark-ness，and，exceptfortheclinkingofthehandling-machine，quitestill。Thatnightwasabeautifulserenity；saveforoneplanet，themoonseemedtohavetheskytoherself。Iheardadoghowling，andthatfamiliarsounditwasthatmademelisten。ThenIheardquitedistinctlyaboomingex-actlylikethesoundofgreatguns。SixdistinctreportsIcounted，andafteralongintervalsixagain。Andthatwasall。

TheWaroftheWorlds-Book2-Chapter4Chapter4-TheDeathoftheCurateItwasonthesixthdayofourimprisonmentthatIpeepedforthelasttime，andpresentlyfoundmyselfalone。Insteadofkeepingclosetomeandtryingtooustmefromtheslit，thecuratehadgonebackintothescullery。Iwasstruckbyasuddenthought。Iwentbackquicklyandquietlyintothescullery。InthedarknessIheardthecuratedrink-ing。Isnatchedinthedarkness，andmyfingerscaughtabottleofburgundy。

Forafewminutestherewasatussle。Thebottlestruckthefloorandbroke，andIdesistedandrose。Westoodpantingandthreateningeachother。

IntheendIplantedmyselfbetweenhimandthefood，andtoldhimofmydeterminationtobeginadiscipline。Idividedthefoodinthepantry，intorationstolastustendays。Iwouldnotlethimeatanymorethatday。Intheafternoonhemadeafeebleefforttogetatthefood。Ihadbeendozing，butinaninstantIwasawake。Alldayandallnightwesatfacetoface，Iwearybutresolute，andheweepingandcom-plainingofhisimmediatehunger。Itwas，Iknow，anightandaday，buttomeitseemed——itseemsnow——aninter-minablelengthoftime。

Andsoourwidenedincompatibilityendedatlastinopenconflict。Fortwovastdayswestruggledinundertonesandwrestlingcontests。ThereweretimeswhenIbeatandkickedhimmadly，timeswhenIcajoledandpersuadedhim，andonceItriedtobribehimwiththelastbottleofburgundy，fortherewasarain-waterpumpfromwhichIcouldgetwater。Butneitherforcenorkindnessavailed；hewasindeedbeyondreason。Hewouldneitherdesistfromhisattacksonthefoodnorfromhisnoisybabblingtohimself。Therudi-mentaryprecautionstokeepourimprisonmentendurablehewouldnotobserve。SlowlyIbegantorealisethecompleteoverthrowofhisintelligence，toperceivethatmysolecom-panioninthiscloseandsicklydarknesswasamaninsane。

FromcertainvaguememoriesIaminclinedtothinkmyownmindwanderedattimes。IhadstrangeandhideousdreamswheneverIslept。Itsoundsparadoxical，butIaminclinedtothinkthattheweaknessandinsanityofthecuratewarnedme，bracedme，andkeptmeasaneman。

Ontheeighthdayhebegantotalkaloudinsteadofwhis-pering，andnothingIcoulddowouldmoderatehisspeech。

"Itisjust，OGod！"hewouldsay，overandoveragain。"Itisjust。

Onmeandminebethepunishmentlaid。Wehavesinned，wehavefallenshort。

Therewaspoverty，sorrow；thepoorweretroddeninthedust，andIheldmypeace。Ipreachedacceptablefolly——myGod，whatfolly！——whenIshouldhavestoodup，thoughIdiedforit，andcalleduponthemtorepent-repent！……Oppressorsofthepoorandneedy……！ThewinepressofGod！"

ThenhewouldsuddenlyreverttothematterofthefoodIwithheldfromhim，praying，begging，weeping，atlastthreatening。Hebegantoraisehisvoice——Iprayedhimnotto。Heperceivedaholdonme——hethreatenedhewouldshoutandbringtheMartiansuponus。Foratimethatscaredme；

butanyconcessionwouldhaveshortenedourchanceofescapebeyondestimating。

Idefiedhim，althoughIfeltnoassurancethathemightnotdothisthing。

Butthatday，atanyrate，hedidnot。Hetalkedwithhisvoicerisingslowly，throughthegreaterpartoftheeighthandninthdays——threats，entreaties，mingledwithatorrentofhalf-saneandalwaysfrothyrepentanceforhisvacantshamofGod"sservice，suchasmademepityhim。Thenhesleptawhile，andbeganagainwithrenewedstrength，soloudlythatImustneedsmakehimdesist。

"Bestill！"Iimplored。

Herosetohisknees，forhehadbeensittinginthedark-nessnearthecopper。

"Ihavebeenstilltoolong，"hesaid，inatonethatmusthavereachedthepit，"andnowImustbearmywitness。Woeuntothisunfaithfulcity！

Woe！Woe！Woe！Woe！Woe！Totheinhabitantsoftheearthbyreasonoftheothervoicesofthetrumpet————"

"Shutup！"Isaid，risingtomyfeet，andinaterrorlesttheMartiansshouldhearus。"ForGod"ssake————"

"Nay，"shoutedthecurate，atthetopofhisvoice，stand-inglikewiseandextendinghisarms。"Speak！ThewordoftheLordisuponme！"

Inthreestrideshewasatthedoorleadingintothekitchen。

"Imustbearmywitness！Igo！Ithasalreadybeentoolongdelayed。"

Iputoutmyhandandfeltthemeatchopperhangingtothewall。InaflashIwasafterhim。Iwasfiercewithfear。BeforehewashalfwayacrossthekitchenIhadovertakenhim。WithonelasttouchofhumanityIturnedthebladebackandstruckhimwiththebutt。Hewentheadlongfor-wardandlaystretchedontheground。Istumbledoverhimandstoodpanting。Helaystill。

SuddenlyIheardanoisewithout，therunandsmashofslippingplaster，andthetriangularapertureinthewallwasdarkened。Ilookedupandsawthelowersurfaceofahandling-machinecomingslowlyacrossthehole。

Oneofitsgrippinglimbscurledamidthedebris；anotherlimbap-peared，feelingitswayoverthefallenbeams。Istoodpetrified，staring。ThenIsawthroughasortofglassplateneartheedgeofthebodytheface，aswemaycallit，andthelargedarkeyesofaMartian，peering，andthenalongmetallicsnakeoftentaclecamefeelingslowlythroughthehole。

Iturnedbyaneffort，stumbledoverthecurate，andstoppedatthescullerydoor。Thetentaclewasnowsomeway，twoyardsormore，intheroom，andtwistingandturn-ing，withqueersuddenmovements，thiswayandthat。ForawhileIstoodfascinatedbythatslow，fitfuladvance。

Then，withafaint，hoarsecry，Iforcedmyselfacrossthescullery。I

trembledviolently；Icouldscarcelystandupright。Iopenedthedoorofthecoalcellar，andstoodthereinthedarknessstaringatthefaintlylitdoorwayintothekitchen，andlisten-ing。HadtheMartianseenme？

Whatwasitdoingnow？

Somethingwasmovingtoandfrothere，veryquietly；everynowandthenittappedagainstthewall，orstartedonitsmovementswithafaintmetallicringing，likethemovementsofkeysonasplit-ring。Thenaheavybody——I

knewtoowellwhat——wasdraggedacrossthefloorofthekitchentowardstheopening。Irresistiblyattracted，Icrepttothedoorandpeepedintothekitchen。InthetriangleofbrightoutersunlightIsawtheMartian，initsBriareusofahandling-machine，scrutinizingthecurate"shead。

IthoughtatoncethatitwouldinfermypresencefromthemarkoftheblowIhadgivenhim。

Icreptbacktothecoalcellar，shutthedoor，andbegantocovermyselfupasmuchasIcould，andasnoiselesslyaspossibleinthedarkness，amongthefirewoodandcoaltherein。EverynowandthenIpaused，rigid，toheariftheMartianhadthrustitstentaclesthroughtheopeningagain。

Thenthefaintmetallicjinglereturned。Itraceditslowlyfeelingoverthekitchen。PresentlyIhearditnearer——inthescullery，asIjudged。

Ithoughtthatitslengthmightbein-sufficienttoreachme。Iprayedcopiously。Itpassed，scrap-ingfaintlyacrossthecellardoor。Anageofalmostintolerablesuspenseintervened；thenIhearditfumblingatthelatch！Ithadfoundthedoor！TheMartiansunderstooddoors！

Itworriedatthecatchforaminute，perhaps，andthenthedooropened。

InthedarknessIcouldjustseethething——likeanele-phant"strunkmorethananythingelse——wavingtowardsmeandtouchingandexaminingthewall，coals，woodandceil-ing。Itwaslikeablackwormswayingitsblindheadtoandfro。

Once，even，ittouchedtheheelofmyboot。Iwasonthevergeofscreaming；

Ibitmyhand。Foratimethetentaclewassilent。Icouldhavefanciedithadbeenwithdrawn。Presently，withanabruptclick，itgrippedsomething——I

thoughtithadme！——andseemedtogooutofthecellaragain。ForaminuteIwasnotsure。Apparentlyithadtakenalumpofcoaltoexamine。

Iseizedtheopportunityofslightlyshiftingmyposition，whichhadbecomecramped，andthenlistened。Iwhisperedpassionateprayersforsafety。

ThenIheardtheslow，deliberatesoundcreepingtowardsmeagain。Slowly，slowlyitdrewnear，scratchingagainstthewallsandtappingthefurniture。

WhileIwasstilldoubtful，itrappedsmartlyagainstthecellardoorandclosedit。Ihearditgointothepantry，andthebiscuit-tinsrattledandabottlesmashed，andthencameaheavybumpagainstthecellardoor。

Thensilencethatpassedintoaninfinityofsuspense。

Haditgone？

AtlastIdecidedthatithad。

Itcameintothescullerynomore；butIlayallthetenthdayintheclosedarkness，buriedamongcoalsandfirewood，notdaringeventocrawloutforthedrinkforwhichIcraved。ItwastheeleventhdaybeforeI

venturedsofarfrommysecurity。

TheWaroftheWorlds-Book2-Chapter5Chapter5-TheStillnessMyfirstactbeforeIwentintothepantrywastofastenthedoorbetweenthekitchenandthescullery。Butthepantrywasempty；everyscrapoffoodhadgone。Appar-ently，theMartianhadtakenitallonthepreviousday。AtthatdiscoveryIdespairedforthefirsttime。Itooknofood，ornodrinkeither，ontheeleventhorthetwelfthday。

Atfirstmymouthandthroatwereparched，andmystrengthebbedsensibly。

Isataboutinthedarknessofthescullery，inastateofdespondentwretchedness。

Mymindranoneating。IthoughtIhadbecomedeaf，forthenoisesofmovementIhadbeenaccustomedtohearfromthepithadceasedabsolutely。Ididnotfeelstrongenoughtocrawlnoiselesslytothepeephole，orIwouldhavegonethere。

Onthetwelfthdaymythroatwassopainfulthat，takingthechanceofalarmingtheMartians，Iattackedthecreakingrain-waterpumpthatstoodbythesink，andgotacoupleofglassfulsofblackenedandtaintedrainwater。Iwasgreatlyrefreshedbythis，andemboldenedbythefactthatnoenquiringtentaclefollowedthenoiseofmypumping。

Duringthesedays，inarambling，inconclusiveway，Ithoughtmuchofthecurateandofthemannerofhisdeath。

OnthethirteenthdayIdranksomemorewater，anddozedandthoughtdisjointedlyofeatingandofvagueim-possibleplansofescape。WheneverIdozedIdreamtofhorriblephantasms，ofthedeathofthecurate，orofsump-tuousdinners；but，asleeporawake，Ifeltakeenpainthaturgedmetodrinkagainandagain。Thelightthatcameintothescullerywasnolongergrey，butred。Tomydisorderedimaginationitseemedthecolourofblood。

OnthefourteenthdayIwentintothekitchen，andIwassurprisedtofindthatthefrondsoftheredweedhadgrownrightacrosstheholeinthewall，turningthehalf-lightoftheplaceintoacrimson-colouredobscurity。

ItwasearlyonthefifteenthdaythatIheardacurious，familiarsequenceofsoundsinthekitchen，and，listening，identifieditasthesnuffingandscratchingofadog。Goingintothekitchen，Isawadog"snosepeeringinthroughabreakamongtheruddyfronds。Thisgreatlysurprisedme。Atthescentofmehebarkedshortly。

IthoughtifIcouldinducehimtocomeintotheplacequietlyIshouldbeable，perhaps，tokillandeathim；andinanycase，itwouldbeadvisabletokillhim，lesthisactionsattractedtheattentionoftheMartians。

Icreptforward，saying"Gooddog！"verysoftly；buthesuddenlywithdrewhisheadanddisappeared。

Ilistened——Iwasnotdeaf——butcertainlythepitwasstill。Iheardasoundliketheflutterofabird"swings，andahoarsecroaking，butthatwasall。

ForalongwhileIlayclosetothepeephole，butnotdaringtomoveasidetheredplantsthatobscuredit。OnceortwiceIheardafaintpitter-patterlikethefeetofthedoggoinghitherandthitheronthesandfarbelowme，andthereweremorebirdlikesounds，butthatwasall。Atlength，encouragedbythesilence，Ilookedout。

Exceptinthecorner，whereamultitudeofcrowshoppedandfoughtovertheskeletonsofthedeadtheMartianshadconsumed，therewasnotalivingthinginthepit。

Istaredaboutme，scarcelybelievingmyeyes。Allthemachineryhadgone。Saveforthebigmoundofgreyish-bluepowderinonecorner，certainbarsofaluminiuminanother，theblackbirds，andtheskeletonsofthekilled，theplacewasmerelyanemptycircularpitinthesand。

SlowlyIthrustmyselfoutthroughtheredweed，andstooduponthemoundofrubble。Icouldseeinanydirectionsavebehindme，tothenorth，andneitherMartiansnorsignofMartiansweretobeseen。Thepitdroppedsheerlyfrommyfeet，butalittlewayalongtherubbishaffordedaprac-

ticableslopetothesummitoftheruins。Mychanceofescapehadcome。

Ibegantotremble。

Ihesitatedforsometime，andthen，inagustofdesperateresolution，andwithaheartthatthrobbedviolently，IscrambledtothetopofthemoundinwhichIhadbeenburiedsolong。

Ilookedaboutagain。Tothenorthward，too，noMartianwasvisible。

WhenIhadlastseenthispartofSheeninthedaylightithadbeenastragglingstreetofcomfortablewhiteandredhouses，interspersedwithabundantshadytrees。NowIstoodonamoundofsmashedbrickwork，clay，andgravel，overwhichspreadamultitudeofredcactus-shapedplants，knee-high，withoutasolitaryterrestrialgrowthtodisputetheirfooting。

Thetreesnearmeweredeadandbrown，butfurtheranetworkofredthreadscaledthestilllivingstems。

Theneighbouringhouseshadallbeenwrecked，butnonehadbeenburned；

theirwallsstood，sometimestothesecondstory，withsmashedwindowsandshattereddoors。Theredweedgrewtumultuouslyintheirrooflessrooms。

Belowmewasthegreatpit，withthecrowsstrugglingforitsrefuse。A

numberofotherbirdshoppedaboutamongtheruins。FarawayIsawagauntcatslinkcrouchinglyalongawall，buttracesofmentherewerenone。

Thedayseemed，bycontrastwithmyrecentconfinement，dazzlinglybright，theskyaglowingblue。Agentlebreezekepttheredweedthatcoveredeveryscrapofunoccupiedgroundgentlyswaying。Andoh！thesweetnessoftheair！

TheWaroftheWorlds-Book2-Chapter6Chapter6-TheWorkofFifteenDaysForsometimeIstoodtotteringonthemoundregardlessofmysafety。WithinthatnoisomedenfromwhichIhademergedIhadthoughtwithanarrowintensityonlyofourimmediatesecurity。Ihadnotrealisedwhathadbeenhap-peningtotheworld，hadnotanticipatedthisstartlingvisionofunfamiliarthings。

IhadexpectedtoseeSheeninruins——Ifoundaboutmethelandscape，weirdandlurid，ofanotherplanet。

ForthatmomentItouchedanemotionbeyondthecommonrangeofmen，yetonethatthepoorbruteswedominateknowonlytoowell。Ifeltasarabbitmightfeelreturningtohisburrowandsuddenlyconfrontedbytheworkofadozenbusynavviesdiggingthefoundationsofahouse。I

feltthefirstinklingofathingthatpresentlygrewquiteclearinmymind，thatoppressedmeformanydays，asenseofdethronement，apersuasionthatIwasnolongeramaster，butananimalamongtheanimals，undertheMartianheel。Withusitwouldbeaswiththem，tolurkandwatch，torunandhide；thefearandempireofmanhadpassedaway。

Butsosoonasthisstrangenesshadbeenrealiseditpassed，andmydominantmotivebecamethehungerofmylonganddismalfast。InthedirectionawayfromthepitIsaw，beyondared-coveredwall，apatchofgardengroundun-buried。Thisgavemeahint，andIwentknee-deep，andsometimesneck-deep，intheredweed。Thedensityoftheweedgavemeareassuringsenseofhiding。Thewallwassomesixfeethigh，andwhenIattemptedtoclamberitIfoundIcouldnotliftmyfeettothecrest。SoIwentalongbythesideofit，andcametoacornerandarockworkthatenabledmetogettothetop，andtumbleintothegardenIcoveted。HereIfoundsomeyoungonions，acoupleofgladiolusbulbs，andaquantityofimmaturecarrots，allofwhichIsecured，and，scramblingoveraruinedwall，wentonmywaythroughscarletandcrimsontreestowardsKew——itwaslikewalkingthroughanavenueofgiganticblooddrops——possessedwithtwoideas：togetmorefood，andtolimp，assoonandasfarasmystrengthpermitted，outofthisaccursedunearthlyregionofthepit。

Somewayfarther，inagrassyplace，wasagroupofmush-roomswhichalsoIdevoured，andthenIcameuponabrownsheetofflowingshallowwater，wheremeadowsusedtobe。Thesefragmentsofnourishmentservedonlytowhetmyhunger。AtfirstIwassurprisedatthisfloodinahot，drysummer，butafterwardsIdiscoveredthatitwascausedbythetropicalexuberanceoftheredweed。Directlythisextraor-dinarygrowthencounteredwateritstraightwaybecamegiganticandofunparalleledfecundity。ItsseedsweresimplypoureddownintothewateroftheWeyandThames，anditsswiftlygrowingandTitanicwaterfrondsspeedilychokedboththoserivers。

AtPutney，asIafterwardssaw，thebridgewasalmostlostinatangleofthisweed，andatRichmond，too，theThameswaterpouredinabroadandshallowstreamacrossthemeadowsofHamptonandTwickenham。Asthewaterspreadtheweedfollowedthem，untiltheruinedvillasoftheThamesvalleywereforatimelostinthisredswamp，whosemarginIexplored，andmuchofthedesolationtheMartianshadcausedwasconcealed。

Intheendtheredweedsuccumbedalmostasquicklyasithadspread。

Acankeringdisease，due，itisbelieved，totheactionofcertainbacteria，presentlyseizeduponit。Nowbytheactionofnaturalselection，allterrestrialplantshaveacquiredaresistingpoweragainstbacterialdiseases——theyneversuccumbwithoutaseverestruggle，buttheredweedrottedlikeathingalreadydead。Thefrondsbecamebleached，andthenshrivelledandbrittle。Theybrokeoffattheleasttouch，andthewatersthathadstimulatedtheirearlygrowthcarriedtheirlastvestigesouttosea。

Myfirstactoncomingtothiswaterwas，ofcourse，toslakemythirst。

Idrankagreatdealofitand，movedbyanimpulse，gnawedsomefrondsofredweed；buttheywerewatery，andhadasickly，metallictaste。I

foundthewaterwassufficientlyshallowformetowadesecurely，althoughtheredweedimpededmyfeetalittle；butthefloodevidentlygotdeepertowardstheriver，andIturnedbacktoMortlake。Imanagedtomakeouttheroadbymeansofoccasionalruinsofitsvillasandfencesandlamps，andsopresentlyIgotoutofthisspateandmademywaytothehillgoinguptowardsRoehamptonandcameoutonPutneyCommon。

Herethescenerychangedfromthestrangeandunfamiliartothewreckageofthefamiliar：patchesofgroundexhibitedthedevastationofacyclone，andinafewscoreyardsIwouldcomeuponperfectlyundisturbedspaces，houseswiththeirblindstrimlydrawnanddoorsclosed，asiftheyhadbeenleftforadaybytheowners，orasiftheirinhabitantssleptwithin。

Theredweedwaslessabundant；thetalltreesalongthelanewerefreefromtheredcreeper。Ihuntedforfoodamongthetrees，findingnothing，andIalsoraidedacoupleofsilenthouses，buttheyhadalreadybeenbrokenintoandransacked。Irestedfortheremainderoftheday-lightinashrubbery，being，inmyenfeebledcondition，toofatiguedtopushon。

AllthistimeIsawnohumanbeings，andnosignsoftheMartians。I

encounteredacoupleofhungry-lookingdogs，butbothhurriedcircuitouslyawayfromtheadvancesImadethem。NearRoehamptonIhadseentwohumanskeletons——notbodies，butskeletons，pickedclean——andinthewoodbymeIfoundthecrushedandscatteredbonesofseveralcatsandrabbitsandtheskullofasheep。ButthoughIgnawedpartsoftheseinmymouth，therewasnothingtobegotfromthem。

AftersunsetIstruggledonalongtheroadtowardsPutney，whereIthinktheHeat-Raymusthavebeenusedforsomereason。AndinthegardenbeyondRoehamptonIgotaquan-tityofimmaturepotatoes，sufficienttostaymyhunger。FromthisgardenonelookeddownuponPutneyandtheriver。

Theaspectoftheplaceintheduskwassingularlydesolate：blackenedtrees，blackened，desolateruins，anddownthehillthesheetsofthefloodedriver，red-tingedwiththeweed。Andoverall——silence。Itfilledmewithindescribableterrortothinkhowswiftlythatdesolatingchangehadcome。

ForatimeIbelievedthatmankindhadbeensweptoutofexistence，andthatIstoodtherealone，thelastmanleftalive。HardbythetopofPutneyHillIcameuponanotherskeleton，withthearmsdislocatedandremovedseveralyardsfromtherestofthebody。AsIproceededIbecamemoreandmoreconvincedthattheexterminationofmankindwas，saveforsuchstragglersasmyself，alreadyaccomplishedinthispartoftheworld。

TheMartians，Ithought，hadgoneonandleftthecountrydesolated，seekingfoodelsewhere。PerhapsevennowtheyweredestroyingBerlinorParis，oritmightbetheyhadgonenorthward。

TheWaroftheWorlds-Book2-Chapter7Chapter7-TheManonPutneyHillIspentthatnightintheinnthatstandsatthetopofPutneyHill，sleepinginamadebedforthefirsttimesincemyflighttoLeatherhead。IwillnottelltheneedlesstroubleIhadbreakingintothathouse——afterwardsIfoundthefrontdoorwasonthelatch——norhowIransackedeveryroomforfood，untiljustonthevergeofdespair，inwhatseemedtometobeaservant"sbedroom，Ifoundarat-gnawedcrustandtwotinsofpineapple。

Theplacehadbeenalreadysearchedandemptied。InthebarIafterwardsfoundsomebiscuitsandsandwichesthathadbeenover-looked。ThelatterIcouldnoteat，theyweretoorotten，buttheformernotonlystayedmyhunger，butfilledmypockets。Ilitnolamps，fearingsomeMartianmightcomebeatingthatpartofLondonforfoodinthenight。BeforeIwenttobedIhadanintervalofrestlessness，andprowledfromwindowtowindow，peeringoutforsomesignofthesemonsters。Isleptlittle。AsIlayinbedIfoundmyselfthink-ingconsecutively——athingIdonotremembertohavedonesincemylastargumentwiththecurate。Duringalltheinter-

veningtimemymentalconditionhadbeenahurryingsuc-cessionofvagueemotionalstatesorasortofstupidrecep-tivity。Butinthenightmybrain，reinforced，Isuppose，bythefoodIhadeaten，grewclearagain，andIthought。

Threethingsstruggledforpossessionofmymind：thekillingofthecurate，thewhereaboutsoftheMartians，andthepossiblefateofmywife。

Theformergavemenosensa-tionofhorrororremorsetorecall；Isawitsimplyasathingdone，amemoryinfinitelydisagreeablebutquitewithoutthequalityofremorse。IsawmyselfthenasIseemyselfnow，drivenstepbysteptowardsthathastyblow，thecreatureofasequenceofaccidentsleadinginevitablytothat。Ifeltnocondemnation；yetthememory，static，unprogressive，hauntedme。Inthesilenceofthenight，withthatsenseofthenear-nessofGodthatsometimescomesintothestillnessandthedarkness，Istoodmytrial，myonlytrial，forthatmomentofwrathandfear。IretracedeverystepofourconversationfromthemomentwhenI

hadfoundhimcrouchingbesideme，heedlessofmythirst，andpointingtothefireandsmokethatstreamedupfromtheruinsofWeybridge。Wehadbeenincapableofco-operation——grimchancehadtakennoheedofthat。

HadIforeseen，IshouldhavelefthimatHalliford。ButIdidnotforesee；

andcrimeistoforeseeanddo。AndIsetthisdownasIhavesetallthisstorydown，asitwas。Therewerenowitnesses——allthesethingsImighthavecon-cealed。ButIsetitdown，andthereadermustformhisjudgmentashewill。

Andwhen，byaneffort，Ihadsetasidethatpictureofaprostratebody，IfacedtheproblemoftheMartiansandthefateofmywife。FortheformerIhadnodata；Icouldimagineahundredthings，andso，unhappily，Icouldforthelatter。Andsuddenlythatnightbecameterrible。Ifoundmyselfsittingupinbed，staringatthedark。Ifoundmy-selfprayingthattheHeat-Raymighthavesuddenlyandpainlesslystruckheroutofbeing。SincethenightofmyreturnfromLeatherheadIhadnotprayed。

Ihadutteredprayers，fetishprayers，hadprayedasheathensmuttercharmswhenIwasinextremity；butnowIprayedindeed，plead-ingsteadfastlyandsanely，facetofacewiththedarknessofGod。Strangenight！Strangestinthis，thatsosoonasdawnhadcome，I，whohadtalkedwithGod，creptoutofthehouselikearatleavingitshidingplace——acreaturescarcelylarger，aninferioranimal，athingthatforanypassingwhimofourmastersmightbehuntedandkilled。PerhapstheyalsoprayedconfidentlytoGod。

Surely，ifwehavelearnednoth-ingelse，thiswarhastaughtuspity——pityforthosewitlesssoulsthatsufferourdominion。

Themorningwasbrightandfine，andtheeasternskyglowedpink，andwasfrettedwithlittlegoldenclouds。IntheroadthatrunsfromthetopofPutneyHilltoWimbledonwasanumberofpoorvestigesofthepanictorrentthatmusthavepouredLondonwardontheSundaynightafterthefightingbegan。Therewasalittletwo-wheeledcartinscribedwiththenameofThomasLobb，Greengrocer，NewMalden，withasmashedwheelandanabandonedtintrunk；therewasastrawhattrampledintothenowhardenedmud，andatthetopofWestHillalotofblood-stainedglassabouttheoverturnedwatertrough。Mymovementswerelanguid，myplansofthevaguest。

IhadanideaofgoingtoLeatherhead，thoughIknewthatthereIhadthepoorestchanceoffindingmywife。Certainly，unlessdeathhadovertakenthemsud-denly，mycousinsandshewouldhavefledthence；butitseemedtomeImightfindorlearntherewhithertheSurreypeoplehadfled。I

knewIwantedtofindmywife，thatmyheartachedforherandtheworldofmen，butIhadnoclearideahowthefindingmightbedone。Iwasalsosharplyawarenowofmyintenseloneliness。FromthecornerIwent，undercoverofathicketoftreesandbushes，totheedgeofWimbledonCommon，stretchingwideandfar。

Thatdarkexpansewaslitinpatchesbyyellowgorseandbroom；therewasnoredweedtobeseen，andasIprowled，hesitating，onthevergeoftheopen，thesunrose，floodingitallwithlightandvitality。Icameuponabusyswarmoflittlefrogsinaswampyplaceamongthetrees。I

stoppedtolookatthem，drawingalessonfromtheirstoutresolvetolive。

Andpresently，turningsuddenly，withanoddfeelingofbeingwatched，Ibeheldsomethingcrouchingamidaclumpofbushes。Istoodregardingthis。Imadeasteptowardsit，anditroseupandbecameamanarmedwithacutlass。Iapproachedhimslowly。Hestoodsilentandmotionless，regardingme。

AsIdrewnearerIperceivedhewasdressedinclothesasdustyandfilthyasmyown；helooked，indeed，asthoughhehadbeendraggedthroughaculvert。Nearer，Idistin-guishedthegreenslimeofditchesmixingwiththepaledrabofdriedclayandshiny，coalypatches。Hisblackhairfelloverhiseyes，andhisfacewasdarkanddirtyandsunken，sothatatfirstIdidnotrecognisehim。Therewasaredcutacrossthelowerpartofhisface。

"Stop！"hecried，whenIwaswithintenyardsofhim，andIstopped。

Hisvoicewashoarse。"Wheredoyoucomefrom？"hesaid。

Ithought，surveyinghim。

"IcomefromMortlake，"Isaid。"IwasburiednearthepittheMartiansmadeabouttheircylinder。Ihaveworkedmywayoutandescaped。"

"Thereisnofoodabouthere，"hesaid。"Thisismycoun-try。Allthishilldowntotheriver，andbacktoClapham，anduptotheedgeofthecommon。Thereisonlyfoodforone。Whichwayareyougoing？"

Iansweredslowly。

"Idon"tknow，"Isaid。"Ihavebeenburiedintheruinsofahousethirteenorfourteendays。Idon"tknowwhathashappened。"

Helookedatmedoubtfully，thenstarted，andlookedwithachangedexpression。

"I"venowishtostopabouthere，"saidI。"IthinkIshallgotoLeatherhead，formywifewasthere。"

Heshotoutapointingfinger。

"Itisyou，"saidhe；"themanfromWoking。Andyouweren"tkilledatWeybridge？"

Irecognisedhimatthesamemoment。

"Youaretheartillerymanwhocameintomygarden。"

"Goodluck！"hesaid。"Weareluckyones！FancyYOU！"Heputoutahand，andItookit。"Icrawledupadrain，"hesaid。"Buttheydidn"tkilleveryone。

AndaftertheywentawayIgotofftowardsWaltonacrossthefields。But————

It"snotsixteendaysaltogether——andyourhairisgrey。"Helookedoverhisshouldersuddenly。"Onlyarook，"hesaid。"Onegetstoknowthatbirdshaveshadowsthesedays。Thisisabitopen。Letuscrawlunderthosebushesandtalk。"

"HaveyouseenanyMartians？"Isaid。"SinceIcrawledout————"

"They"vegoneawayacrossLondon，"hesaid。"Iguessthey"vegotabiggercampthere。Ofanight，alloverthere，Hampsteadway，theskyisalivewiththeirlights。It"slikeagreatcity，andintheglareyoucanjustseethemmoving。Bydaylightyoucan"t。Butnearer——Ihaven"tseenthem——"

（hecountedonhisfingers）"fivedays。ThenIsawacoupleacrossHammersmithwaycarryingsomethingbig。Andthenightbeforelast"——hestoppedandspokeimpressively——"itwasjustamatteroflights，butitwassomethingupintheair。Ibelievethey"vebuiltaflying-machine，andarelearn-

ingtofly。"

Istopped，onhandsandknees，forwehadcometothebushes。

"Fly！"

"Yes，"hesaid，"fly。"

Iwentonintoalittlebower，andsatdown。

"Itisalloverwithhumanity，"Isaid。"Iftheycandothattheywillsimplygoroundtheworld。"

Henodded。

"Theywill。But————Itwillrelievethingsoverhereabit。Andbesides————"

Helookedatme。"Aren"tyousatisfieditISupwithhumanity？Iam。We"redown；we"rebeat。"

Istared。Strangeasitmayseem，Ihadnotarrivedatthisfact——afactperfectlyobvioussosoonashespoke。Ihadstillheldavaguehope；

rather，Ihadkeptalifelonghabitofmind。Herepeatedhiswords，"We"rebeat。"Theycarriedabsoluteconviction。

"It"sallover，"hesaid。"They"velostONE——justONE。Andthey"vemadetheirfootinggoodandcrippledthegreatestpowerintheworld。They"vewalkedoverus。ThedeathofthatoneatWeybridgewasanaccident。Andtheseareonlypioneers。Theykeptoncoming。Thesegreenstars——I"veseennonethesefiveorsixdays，butI"venodoubtthey"refallingsomewhereeverynight。Nothing"stobedone。We"reunder！We"rebeat！"

Imadehimnoanswer。Isatstaringbeforeme，tryinginvaintodevisesomecountervailingthought。

"Thisisn"tawar，"saidtheartilleryman。"Itneverwasawar，anymorethanthere"swarbetweenmanandants。"

SuddenlyIrecalledthenightintheobservatory。

"Afterthetenthshottheyfirednomore——atleast，untilthefirstcylindercame。"

"Howdoyouknow？"saidtheartilleryman。Iexplained。Hethought。"Somethingwrongwiththegun，"hesaid。"Butwhatifthereis？They"llgetitrightagain。Andevenifthere"sadelay，howcanitaltertheend？It"sjustmenandants。There"stheantsbuildstheircities，livetheirlives，havewars，revolutions，untilthemenwantthemoutoftheway，andthentheygooutoftheway。That"swhatwearenow——justants。Only————"

"Yes，"Isaid。

"We"reeatableants。"

Wesatlookingateachother。

"Andwhatwilltheydowithus？"Isaid。

"That"swhatI"vebeenthinking，"hesaid；"that"swhatI"vebeenthinking。

AfterWeybridgeIwentsouth——thinking。Isawwhatwasup。Mostofthepeoplewerehardatitsquealingandexcitingthemselves。ButI"mnotsofondofsquealing。I"vebeeninsightofdeathonceortwice；I"mnotanornamentalsoldier，andatthebestandworst，death——it"sjustdeath。

Andit"sthemanthatkeepsonthinkingcomesthrough。Isaweveryonetrackingawaysouth。SaysI，"Foodwon"tlastthisway，"andIturnedrightback。

IwentfortheMartianslikeasparrowgoesforman。Allround"——hewavedahandtothehorizon——"they"restarvinginheaps，bolting，treadingoneachother……"

Hesawmyface，andhaltedawkwardly。