第8章
"NodoubtlotswhohadmoneyhavegoneawaytoFrance，"hesaid。Heseemedtohesitatewhethertoapolo-gise，metmyeyes，andwenton："There"sfoodallabouthere。Cannedthingsinshops；wines，spirits，mineralwaters；
andthewatermainsanddrainsareempty。Well，IwastellingyouwhatIwasthinking。"Here"sintelligentthings，"Isaid，"anditseemstheywantusforfood。First，they"llsmashusup——ships，machines，guns，cities，alltheorderandorganisa-tion。Allthatwillgo。Ifwewerethesizeofantswemightpullthrough。Butwe"renot。It"salltoobulkytostop。
That"sthefirstcertainty。"Eh？"
Iassented。
"Itis；I"vethoughtitout。Verywell，then——next；atpresentwe"recaughtaswe"rewanted。AMartianhasonlytogoafewmilestogetacrowdontherun。AndIsawone，oneday，outbyWandsworth，pickinghousestopiecesandroutingamongthewreckage。Buttheywon"tkeepondoingthat。
Sosoonasthey"vesettledallourgunsandships，andsmashedourrailways，anddoneallthethingstheyaredoingoverthere，theywillbegincatchingussystematic，pick-ingthebestandstoringusincagesandthings。That"swhattheywillstartdoinginabit。Lord！Theyhaven"tbegunonusyet。
Don"tyouseethat？"
"Notbegun！"Iexclaimed。
"Notbegun。Allthat"shappenedsofaristhroughournothavingthesensetokeepquiet——worryingthemwithgunsandsuchfoolery。Andlosingourheads，andrushingoffincrowdstowheretherewasn"tanymoresafetythanwherewewere。Theydon"twanttobotherusyet。They"remakingtheirthings——makingallthethingstheycouldn"tbringwiththem，gettingthingsreadyfortherestoftheirpeople。Verylikelythat"swhythecylindershavestoppedforabit，forfearofhittingthosewhoarehere。Andinsteadofourrush-ingaboutblind，onthehowl，orgettingdynamiteonthechanceofbustingthemup，we"vegottofixourselvesupaccordingtothenewstateofaffairs。That"showIfigureitout。Itisn"tquiteaccordingtowhatamanwantsforhisspecies，butit"saboutwhatthefactspointto。Andthat"stheprincipleIactedupon。Cities，nations，civilisation，progress——it"sallover。Thatgame"sup。We"rebeat。"
"Butifthatisso，whatistheretolivefor？"
Theartillerymanlookedatmeforamoment。
"Therewon"tbeanymoreblessedconcertsforamillionyearsorso；
therewon"tbeanyRoyalAcademyofArts，andnonicelittlefeedsatrestaurants。
Ifit"samusementyou"reafter，Ireckonthegameisup。Ifyou"vegotanydrawing-roommannersoradisliketoeatingpeaswithaknifeordroppingaitches，you"dbetterchuck"emaway。Theyain"tnofurtheruse。"
"Youmean————"
"Imeanthatmenlikemearegoingonliving——forthesakeofthebreed。
Itellyou，I"mgrimsetonliving。AndifI"mnotmistaken，you"llshowwhatinsidesYOU"VEgot，too，beforelong。Wearen"tgoingtobeexterminated。
AndIdon"tmeantobecaughteither，andtamedandfattenedandbredlikeathunderingox。Ugh！Fancythosebrowncreepers！"
"Youdon"tmeantosay————"
"Ido。I"mgoingon，undertheirfeet。I"vegotitplanned；I"vethoughtitout。Wemenarebeat。Wedon"tknowenough。We"vegottolearnbeforewe"vegotachance。Andwe"vegottoliveandkeepindependentwhilewelearn。See！That"swhathastobedone。"
Istared，astonished，andstirredprofoundlybytheman"sresolution。
"GreatGod！，"criedI。"Butyouareamanindeed！"AndsuddenlyIgrippedhishand。
"Eh！"hesaid，withhiseyesshining。"I"vethoughtitout，eh？"
"Goon，"Isaid。
"Well，thosewhomeantoescapetheircatchingmustgetready。I"mgettingready。Mindyou，itisn"tallofusthataremadeforwildbeasts；andthat"swhatit"sgottobe。That"swhyIwatchedyou。Ihadmydoubts。
You"reslender。Ididn"tknowthatitwasyou，yousee，orjusthowyou"dbeenburied。Allthese——thesortofpeoplethatlivedinthesehouses，andallthosedamnlittleclerksthatusedtolivedownthatway——they"dbenogood。Theyhaven"tanyspiritinthem——noprouddreamsandnoproudlusts；andamanwhohasn"toneortheother——Lord！Whatishebutfunkandprecautions？Theyjustusedtoskedaddleofftowork——I"veseenhundredsof"em，bitofbreakfastinhand，runningwildandshiningtocatchtheirlittleseason-tickettrain，forfearthey"dgetdismissediftheydidn"t；
workingatbusinessestheywereafraidtotakethetroubletounder-stand；
skedaddlingbackforfeartheywouldn"tbeintimefordinner；keepingindoorsafterdinnerforfearofthebackstreets，andsleepingwiththewivestheymarried，notbe-causetheywantedthem，butbecausetheyhadabitofmoneythatwouldmakeforsafetyintheironelittlemis-erableskedaddlethroughtheworld。Livesinsuredandabitinvestedforfearofaccidents。AndonSundays——fearofthehereafter。Asifhellwasbuiltforrabbits！Well，theMar-tianswilljustbeagodsendtothese。Niceroomycages，fat-teningfood，carefulbreeding，noworry。Afteraweekorsochasingaboutthefieldsandlandsonemptystomachs，they"llcomeandbecaughtcheerful。They"llbequitegladafterabit。They"llwonderwhatpeopledidbeforetherewereMartianstotakecareofthem。Andthebarloafers，andmashers，andsingers——Icanimaginethem。Icanimaginethem，"hesaid，withasortofsombregratification。"There"llbeanyamountofsentimentandreligionlooseamongthem。There"shundredsofthingsIsawwithmyeyesthatI"veonlybeguntoseeclearlytheselastfewdays。
There"slotswilltakethingsastheyare——fatandstupid；andlotswillbeworriedbyasortoffeelingthatit"sallwrong，andthattheyoughttobedoingsomething。Nowwheneverthingsaresothatalotofpeoplefeeltheyoughttobedoingsome-thing，theweak，andthosewhogoweakwithalotofcom-plicatedthinking，alwaysmakeforasortofdo-nothingreligion，verypiousandsuperior，andsubmittopersecutionandthewilloftheLord。Verylikelyyou"veseenthesamething。It"senergyinagaleoffunk，andturnedcleaninsideout。Thesecageswillbefullofpsalmsandhymnsandpiety。Andthoseofalesssimplesortwillworkinabitof——whatisit？——eroticism。"
Hepaused。
"VerylikelytheseMartianswillmakepetsofsomeofthem；trainthemtodotricks——whoknows？——getsentimentaloverthepetboywhogrewupandhadtobekilled。Andsome，maybe，theywilltraintohuntus。"
"No，"Icried，"that"simpossible！Nohumanbeing————"
"What"sthegoodofgoingonwithsuchlies？"saidtheartilleryman。
"There"smenwho"ddoitcheerful。Whatnon-sensetopretendthereisn"t！"
AndIsuccumbedtohisconviction。
"Iftheycomeafterme，"hesaid；"Lord，iftheycomeafterme！"andsubsidedintoagrimmeditation。
Isatcontemplatingthesethings。Icouldfindnothingtobringagainstthisman"sreasoning。Inthedaysbeforetheinvasionnoonewouldhavequestionedmyintellectualsuperioritytohis——I，aprofessedandrecognisedwriteronphilosophicalthemes，andhe，acommonsoldier；andyethehadalreadyformulatedasituationthatIhadscarcelyrealised。
"Whatareyoudoing？"Isaidpresently。"Whatplanshaveyoumade？"
Hehesitated。
"Well，it"slikethis，"hesaid。"Whathavewetodo？Wehavetoinventasortoflifewheremencanliveandbreed，andbesufficientlysecuretobringthechildrenup。Yes——waitabit，andI"llmakeitclearerwhatIthinkoughttobedone。Thetameoneswillgolikealltamebeasts；inafewgenera-tionsthey"llbebig，beautiful，rich-blooded，stupid——rubbish！
Theriskisthatwewhokeepwildwillgosavage——de-generateintoasortofbig，savagerat……Yousee，howImeantoliveisunderground。I"vebeenthinkingaboutthedrains。Ofcoursethosewhodon"tknowdrainsthinkhorriblethings；butunderthisLondonaremilesandmiles——hundredsofmiles——andafewdays"rainandLondonemptywillleavethemsweetandclean。Themaindrainsarebigenoughandairyenoughforanyone。Thenthere"scellars，vaults，stores，fromwhichboltingpassagesmaybemadetothedrains。Andtherailwaytunnelsandsubways。Eh？Youbegintosee？
Andweformaband——able-bodied，clean-mindedmen。We"renotgoingtopickupanyrubbishthatdriftsin。Weaklingsgooutagain。"
"Asyoumeantmetogo？"
"Well——lparleyed，didn"tI？"
"Wewon"tquarrelaboutthat。Goon。"
"Thosewhostopobeyorders。Able-bodied，clean-mindedwomenwewantalso——mothersandteachers。Nolackadaisicalladies——noblastedrollingeyes。Wecan"thaveanyweakorsilly。Lifeisrealagain，andtheuselessandcumbersomeandmischievoushavetodie。Theyoughttodie。Theyoughttobewillingtodie。It"sasortofdisloyalty，afterall，toliveandtainttherace。Andtheycan"tbehappy。Moreover，dying"snonesodreadful；
it"sthefunkingmakesitbad。Andinallthoseplacesweshallgather。
OurdistrictwillbeLondon。Andwemayevenbeabletokeepawatch，andrunaboutintheopenwhentheMartianskeepaway。Playcricket，per-haps。
That"showweshallsavetherace。Eh？It"sapossiblething？Butsavingtheraceisnothinginitself。AsIsay，that"sonlybeingrats。It"ssavingourknowledgeandaddingtoitisthething。Theremenlikeyoucomein。
There"sbooks，there"smodels。Wemustmakegreatsafeplacesdowndeep，andgetallthebookswecan；notnovelsandpoetryswipes，butideas，sciencebooks。That"swheremenlikeyoucomein。WemustgototheBritishMuseumandpickallthosebooksthrough。Especiallywemustkeepupourscience——learnmore。WemustwatchtheseMartians。Someofusmustgoasspies。Whenit"sallworking，perhapsIwill。Getcaught，Imean。Andthegreatthingis，wemustleavetheMartiansalone。Wemustn"tevensteal。
Ifwegetintheirway，weclearout。Wemustshowthemwemeannoharm。
Yes，Iknow。Butthey"reintelligentthings，andtheywon"thuntusdowniftheyhavealltheywant，andthinkwe"rejustharmlessvermin。"
Theartillerymanpausedandlaidabrownhanduponmyarm。
"Afterall，itmaynotbesomuchwemayhavetolearnbefore——Justimaginethis：fourorfiveoftheirfightingmachinessuddenlystartingoff——Heat-Raysrightandleft，andnotaMartianin"em。NotaMartianin"em，butmen——menwhohavelearnedthewayhow。Itmaybeinmytime，even——thosemen。Fancyhavingoneofthemlovelythings，withitsHeat-Raywideandfree！Fancyhavingitincontrol！Whatwoulditmatterifyousmashedtosmithereensattheendoftherun，afterabustlikethat？I
reckontheMartians"llopentheirbeautifuleyes！Can"tyouseethem，man？
Can"tyouseethemhurrying，hurrying——puffingandblowingandhootingtotheirothermechanicalaffairs？Somethingoutofgearineverycase。
Andswish，bang，rattle，swish！Justastheyarefum-blingoverit，SWISH
comestheHeat-Ray，and，behold！manhascomebacktohisown。"
Forawhiletheimaginativedaringoftheartilleryman，andthetoneofassuranceandcourageheassumed，com-pletelydominatedmymind。I
believedunhesitatinglybothinhisforecastofhumandestinyandinthepracticabilityofhisastonishingscheme，andthereaderwhothinksmesus-ceptibleandfoolishmustcontrasthisposition，readingsteadilywithallhisthoughtsabouthissubject，andmine，crouchingfearfullyinthebushesandlistening，distractedbyapprehension。Wetalkedinthismannerthroughtheearlymorningtime，andlatercreptoutofthebushes，and，afterscanningtheskyforMartians，hurriedprecipitatelytothehouseonPutneyHillwherehehadmadehislair。Itwasthecoalcellaroftheplace，andwhenIsawtheworkhehadspentaweekupon——itwasaburrowscarcelytenyardslong，whichhedesignedtoreachtothemaindrainonPutneyHill——Ihadmyfirstinklingofthegulfbetweenhisdreamsandhispowers。SuchaholeIcouldhaveduginaday。ButIbelievedinhimsufficientlytoworkwithhimallthatmorninguntilpastmiddayathisdigging。Wehadagardenbarrowandshottheearthweremovedagainstthekitchenrange。Werefreshedourselveswithatinofmock-turtlesoupandwinefromtheneighbouringpantry。Ifoundacuriousrelieffromtheachingstrangenessoftheworldinthissteadylabour。Asweworked，I
turnedhisprojectoverinmymind，andpresentlyobjectionsanddoubtsbegantoarise；butIworkedthereallthemorning，sogladwasItofindmyselfwithapurposeagain。AfterworkinganhourIbegantospeculateonthedistanceonehadtogobeforethecloacawasreached，thechanceswehadofmissingitaltogether。Myimmediatetroublewaswhyweshoulddigthislongtunnel，whenitwaspossibletogetintothedrainatoncedownoneofthemanholes，andworkbacktothehouse。Itseemedtome，too，thatthehousewasinconvenientlychosen，andrequiredaneedlesslengthoftunnel。AndjustasIwasbeginningtofacethesethings，theartillerymanstoppeddigging，andlookedatme。
"We"reworkingwell，"hesaid。Heputdownhisspade。"Letusknockoffabit"hesaid。"Ithinkit"stimewerecon-noitredfromtheroofofthehouse。"
Iwasforgoingon，andafteralittlehesitationheresumedhisspade；
andthensuddenlyIwasstruckbyathought。Istopped，andsodidheatonce。
"Whywereyouwalkingaboutthecommon，"Isaid，"insteadofbeinghere？"
"Takingtheair，"hesaid。"Iwascomingback。It"ssaferbynight。"
"Butthework？"
"Oh，onecan"talwayswork，"hesaid，andinaflashIsawthemanplain。
Hehesitated，holdinghisspade。"Weoughttoreconnoitrenow，"hesaid，"becauseifanycomeneartheymayhearthespadesanddropuponusunawares。"
Iwasnolongerdisposedtoobject。Wewenttogethertotheroofandstoodonaladderpeepingoutoftheroofdoor。NoMartiansweretobeseen，andweventuredoutonthetiles，andslippeddownundershelteroftheparapet。
FromthispositionashrubberyhidthegreaterportionofPutney，butwecouldseetheriverbelow，abubblymassofredweed，andthelowpartsofLambethfloodedandred。Theredcreeperswarmedupthetreesabouttheoldpalace，andtheirbranchesstretchedgauntanddead，andsetwithshrivelledleaves，fromamiditsclusters。Itwasstrangehowentirelydependentboththesethingswereuponflowingwaterfortheirpropagation。
Aboutusneitherhadgainedafooting；laburnums，pinkmays，snowballs，andtreesofarbor-vitae，roseoutoflaurelsandhydrangeas，greenandbrilliantintothesunlight。BeyondKensingtondensesmokewasrising，andthatandabluehazehidthenorthwardhills。
TheartillerymanbegantotellmeofthesortofpeoplewhostillremainedinLondon。
"Onenightlastweek，"hesaid，"somefoolsgottheelectriclightinorder，andtherewasallRegentStreetandtheCircusablaze，crowdedwithpaintedandraggeddrunkards，menandwomen，dancingandshoutingtilldawn。Amanwhowastheretoldme。Andasthedaycametheybecameawareofafighting-machinestandingnearbytheLanghamandlook-ingdownatthem。Heavenknowshowlonghehadbeenthere。Itmusthavegivensomeofthemanastyturn。Hecamedowntheroadtowardsthem，andpickedupnearlyahundredtoodrunkorfrightenedtorunaway。"
Grotesquegleamofatimenohistorywilleverfullydescribe！
Fromthat，inanswertomyquestions，hecameroundtohisgrandioseplansagain。Hegrewenthusiastic。Hetalkedsoeloquentlyofthepossibilityofcapturingafighting-machinethatImorethanhalfbelievedinhimagain。ButnowthatIwasbeginningtounderstandsomethingofhisquality，Icoulddivinethestresshelaidondoingnothingprecipitately。AndI
notedthatnowtherewasnoquestionthathepersonallywastocaptureandfightthegreatmachine。
Afteratimewewentdowntothecellar。Neitherofusseemeddisposedtoresumedigging，andwhenhesuggestedameal，Iwasnothingloath。Hebecamesuddenlyverygenerous，andwhenwehadeatenhewentawayandreturnedwithsomeexcellentcigars。Welitthese，andhisoptimismglowed。Hewasinclinedtoregardmycomingasagreatoccasion。
"There"ssomechampagneinthecellar，"hesaid。
"WecandigbetteronthisThames-sideburgundy，"saidI。
"No，"saidhe；"Iamhosttoday。Champagne！GreatGod！We"veaheavyenoughtaskbeforeus！Letustakearestandgatherstrengthwhilewemay。Lookattheseblisteredhands！"
Andpursuanttothisideaofaholiday，heinsisteduponplayingcardsafterwehadeaten。Hetaughtmeeuchre，andafterdividingLondonbetweenus，Itakingthenorthernsideandhethesouthern，weplayedforparishpoints。Grotesqueandfoolishasthiswillseemtothesoberreader，itisabso-lutelytrue，andwhatismoreremarkable，Ifoundthecardgameandseveralothersweplayedextremelyinteresting。
Strangemindofman！that，withourspeciesupontheedgeofexterminationorappallingdegradation，withnoclearprospectbeforeusbutthechanceofahorribledeath，wecouldsitfollowingthechanceofthispaintedpasteboard，andplayingthe"joker"withvividdelight。Afterwardshetaughtmepoker，andIbeathimatthreetoughchessgames。Whendarkcamewedecidedtotaketherisk，andlitalamp。
Afteraninterminablestringofgames，wesupped，andtheartillerymanfinishedthechampagne。Wewentonsmokingthecigars。HewasnolongertheenergeticregeneratorofhisspeciesIhadencounteredinthemorning。
Hewasstilloptimistic，butitwasalesskinetic，amorethoughtfuloptimism。
Irememberhewoundupwithmyhealth，proposedinaspeechofsmallvarietyandconsiderableintermittence。Itookacigar，andwentupstairstolookatthelightsofwhichhehadspokenthatblazedsogreenlyalongtheHighgatehills。
AtfirstIstaredunintelligentlyacrosstheLondonvalley。Thenorthernhillswereshroudedindarkness；thefiresnearKensingtonglowedredly，andnowandthenanorange-redtongueofflameflashedupandvanishedinthedeepbluenight。AlltherestofLondonwasblack。Then，nearer，Iperceivedastrangelight，apale，violet-purplefluorescentglow，quiveringunderthenightbreeze。ForaspaceIcouldnotunderstandit，andthenIknewthatitmustbetheredweedfromwhichthisfaintirradiationproceeded。
Withthatrealisationmydormantsenseofwonder，mysenseoftheproportionofthings，awokeagain。IglancedfromthattoMars，redandclear，glowinghighinthewest，andthengazedlongandearnestlyatthedarknessofHampsteadandHighgate。
Iremainedaverylongtimeupontheroof，wonderingatthegrotesquechangesoftheday。Irecalledmymentalstatesfromthemidnightprayertothefoolishcard-playing。Ihadaviolentrevulsionoffeeling。IrememberIflungawaythecigarwithacertainwastefulsymbolism。Myfollycametomewithglaringexaggeration。Iseemedatraitortomywifeandtomykind；Iwasfilledwithremorse。Iresolvedtoleavethisstrangeundisciplineddreamerofgreatthingstohisdrinkandgluttony，andtogoonintoLondon。
There，itseemedtome，IhadthebestchanceoflearningwhattheMartiansandmyfellowmenweredoing。Iwasstillupontheroofwhenthelatemoonrose。
TheWaroftheWorlds-Book2-Chapter8Chapter8-DeadLondonAfterIhadpartedfromtheartilleryman，Iwentdownthehill，andbytheHighStreetacrossthebridgetoFulham。Theredweedwastumultuousatthattime，andnearlychokedthebridgeroadway；butitsfrondswerealreadywhitenedinpatchesbythespreadingdiseasethatpresentlyremoveditsoswiftly。
AtthecornerofthelanethatrunstoPutneyBridgestationIfoundamanlying。Hewasasblackasasweepwiththeblackdust，alive，buthelplesslyandspeechlesslydrunk。Icouldgetnothingfromhimbutcursesandfuriouslungesatmyhead。IthinkIshouldhavestayedbyhimbutforthebrutalexpressionofhisface。
Therewasblackdustalongtheroadwayfromthebridgeonwards，anditgrewthickerinFulham。Thestreetswerehorriblyquiet。Igotfood——sour，hard，andmouldy，butquiteeatable——inabaker"sshophere。SomewaytowardsWalhamGreenthestreetsbecameclearofpowder，andIpassedawhiteterraceofhousesonfire；thenoiseoftheburningwasanabsoluterelief。GoingontowardsBrompton，thestreetswerequietagain。
HereIcameoncemoreupontheblackpowderinthestreetsandupondeadbodies。IsawaltogetheraboutadozeninthelengthoftheFulhamRoad。Theyhadbeendeadmanydays，sothatIhurriedquicklypastthem。
Theblackpowdercoveredthemover，andsoftenedtheiroutlines。Oneortwohadbeendisturbedbydogs。
Wheretherewasnoblackpowder，itwascuriouslylikeaSundayintheCity，withtheclosedshops，thehouseslockedupandtheblindsdrawn，thedesertion，andthestillness。Insomeplacesplunderershadbeenatwork，butrarelyatotherthantheprovisionandwineshops。Ajeweller"swindowhadbeenbrokenopeninoneplace，butapparentlythethiefhadbeendisturbed，andanumberofgoldchainsandawatchlayscatteredonthepavement。Ididnottroubletotouchthem。Fartheronwasatatteredwomaninaheaponadoorstep；thehandthathungoverherkneewasgashedandbleddownherrustybrowndress，andasmashedmagnumofchampagneformedapoolacrossthepavement。Sheseemedasleep，butshewasdead。
ThefartherIpenetratedintoLondon，theprofoundergrewthestillness。
Butitwasnotsomuchthestillnessofdeath——itwasthestillnessofsuspense，ofexpectation。Atanytimethedestructionthathadalreadysingedthenorthwesternbordersofthemetropolis，andhadannihilatedEalingandKilburn，mightstrikeamongthesehousesandleavethemsmokingruins。Itwasacitycondemnedandderelict……
InSouthKensingtonthestreetswereclearofdeadandofblackpowder。
ItwasnearSouthKensingtonthatIfirstheardthehowling。Itcreptalmostimperceptiblyuponmysenses。Itwasasobbingalternationoftwonotes，"Ulla，ulla，ulla，ulla，"keepingonperpetually。WhenIpassedstreetsthatrannorthwarditgrewinvolume，andhousesandbuildingsseemedtodeadenandcutitoffagain。ItcameinafulltidedownExhibitionRoad。
Istopped，staringtowardsKensingtonGardens，wonderingatthisstrange，remotewailing。Itwasasifthatmightydesertofhouseshadfoundavoiceforitsfearandsolitude。
"Ulla，ulla，ulla，ulla，"wailedthatsuperhumannote——greatwavesofsoundsweepingdownthebroad，sunlitroad-way，betweenthetallbuildingsoneachside。Iturnednorth-wards，marvelling，towardstheirongatesofHydePark。IhadhalfamindtobreakintotheNaturalHistoryMuseumandfindmywayuptothesummitsofthetowers，inordertoseeacrossthepark。ButIdecidedtokeeptotheground，wherequickhidingwaspossible，andsowentonuptheExhibitionRoad。Allthelargemansionsoneachsideoftheroadwereemptyandstill，andmyfootstepsechoedagainstthesidesofthehouses。Atthetop，neartheparkgate，Icameuponastrangesight——abusoverturned，andtheskeletonofahorsepickedclean。Ipuzzledoverthisforatime，andthenwentontothebridgeovertheSerpentine。Thevoicegrewstrongerandstronger，thoughIcouldseenothingabovethehousetopsonthenorthsideofthepark，saveahazeofsmoketothenorthwest。
"Ulla，ulla，ulla，ulla，"criedthevoice，coming，asitseemedtome，fromthedistrictaboutRegent"sPark。Thedesolatingcryworkeduponmymind。Themoodthathadsustainedmepassed。Thewailingtookpossessionofme。IfoundIwasintenselyweary，footsore，andnowagainhungryandthirsty。
Itwasalreadypastnoon。WhywasIwanderingaloneinthiscityofthedead？WhywasIalonewhenallLondonwaslyinginstate，andinitsblackshroud？Ifeltintolerablylonely。MymindranonoldfriendsthatIhadforgottenforyears。Ithoughtofthepoisonsinthechemists"shops，oftheliquorsthewinemerchantsstored；Irecalledthetwosoddencreaturesofdespair，whosofarasIknew，sharedthecitywithmyself……
IcameintoOxfordStreetbytheMarbleArch，andhereagainwereblackpowderandseveralbodies，andanevil，ominoussmellfromthegratingsofthecellarsofsomeofthehouses。Igrewverythirstyaftertheheatofmylongwalk。WithinfinitetroubleImanagedtobreakintoapublic-houseandgetfoodanddrink。Iwaswearyaftereating，andwentintotheparlourbehindthebar，andsleptonablackhorse-hairsofaIfoundthere。
Iawoketofindthatdismalhowlingstillinmyears，"Ulla，ulla，ulla，ulla。"Itwasnowdusk，andafterIhadroutedoutsomebiscuitsandacheeseinthebar——therewasameatsafe，butitcontainednothingbutmaggots——Iwan-deredonthroughthesilentresidentialsquarestoBakerStreet——PortmanSquareistheonlyoneIcanname——andsocameoutatlastuponRegent"sPark。AndasIemergedfromthetopofBakerStreet，IsawfarawayoverthetreesintheclearnessofthesunsetthehoodoftheMartiangiantfromwhichthishowlingproceeded。Iwasnotterrified。
Icameuponhimasifitwereamatterofcourse。Iwatchedhimforsometime，buthedidnotmove。Heappearedtobestandingandyelling，fornoreasonthatIcoulddiscover。
Itriedtoformulateaplanofaction。Thatperpetualsoundof"Ulla，ulla，ulla，ulla，"confusedmymind。PerhapsIwastootiredtobeveryfearful。CertainlyIwasmorecurioustoknowthereasonofthismonotonouscryingthanafraid。IturnedbackawayfromtheparkandstruckintoParkRoad，intendingtoskirtthepark，wentalongundertheshelteroftheterraces，andgotaviewofthisstationary，howlingMartianfromthedirectionofSt。John"sWood。AcoupleofhundredyardsoutofBakerStreetIheardayelpingchorus，andsaw，firstadogwithapieceofputrescentredmeatinhisjawscomingheadlongtowardsme，andthenapackofstarvingmongrelsinpursuitofhim。Hemadeawidecurvetoavoidme，asthoughhefearedImightproveafreshcompetitor。Astheyelpingdiedawaydownthesilentroad，thewailingsoundof"Ulla，ulla，ulla，ulla，"reasserteditself。
Icameuponthewreckedhandling-machinehalfwaytoSt。John"sWoodstation。AtfirstIthoughtahousehadfallenacrosstheroad。ItwasonlyasIclamberedamongtheruinsthatIsaw，withastart，thismechanicalSamsonlying，withitstentaclesbentandsmashedandtwisted，amongtheruinsithadmade。Theforepartwasshattered。Itseemedasifithaddrivenblindlystraightatthehouse，andhadbeenover-whelmedinitsoverthrow。
Itseemedtomethenthatthismighthavehappenedbyahandling-machineescapingfromtheguidanceofitsMartian。Icouldnotclamberamongtheruinstoseeit，andthetwilightwasnowsofaradvancedthatthebloodwithwhichitsseatwassmeared，andthegnawedgristleoftheMartianthatthedogshadleft，wereinvisibletome。
WonderingstillmoreatallthatIhadseen，IpushedontowardsPrimroseHill。Faraway，throughagapinthetrees，IsawasecondMartian，asmotionlessasthefirst，standingintheparktowardstheZoologicalGardens，andsilent。Alittlebeyondtheruinsaboutthesmashedhandling-machineIcameupontheredweedagain，andfoundtheRegent"sCanal，aspongymassofdark-redvegetation。
AsIcrossedthebridge，thesoundof"Ulla，ulla，ulla，ulla，"ceased。
Itwas，asitwere，cutoff。Thesilencecamelikeathunderclap。
Theduskyhousesaboutmestoodfaintandtallanddim；thetreestowardstheparkweregrowingblack。Allaboutmetheredweedclamberedamongtheruins，writhingtogetabovemeinthedimness。Night，themotheroffearandmystery，wascominguponme。Butwhilethatvoicesoundedthesolitude，thedesolation，hadbeenendurable；byvirtueofitLondonhadstillseemedalive，andthesenseoflifeaboutmehadupheldme。Thensuddenlyachange，thepassingofsomething——Iknewnotwhat——andthenastillnessthatcouldbefelt。Nothingbutthisgauntquiet。
Londonaboutmegazedatmespectrally。Thewindowsinthewhitehouseswereliketheeyesocketsofskulls。Aboutmemyimaginationfoundathousandnoiselessenemiesmoving。Terrorseizedme，ahorrorofmytemerity。Infrontofmetheroadbecamepitchyblackasthoughitwastarred，andI
sawacontortedshapelyingacrossthepathway。Icouldnotbringmyselftogoon。IturneddownSt。John"sWoodRoad，andranheadlongfromthisunendurablestillnesstowardsKilburn。Ihidfromthenightandthesilence，untillongaftermidnight，inacabmen"sshelterinHarrowRoad。Butbeforethedawnmycouragereturned，andwhilethestarswerestillintheskyIturnedoncemoretowardsRegent"sPark。Imissedmywayamongthestreets，andpresentlysawdownalongavenue，inthehalf-lightoftheearlydawn，thecurveofPrimroseHill。Onthesummit，toweringuptothefadingstars，wasathirdMartian，erectandmotionlessliketheothers。
Aninsaneresolvepossessedme。Iwoulddieandendit。AndIwouldsavemyselfeventhetroubleofkillingmyself。ImarchedonrecklesslytowardsthisTitan，andthen，asIdrewnearerandthelightgrew，Isawthatamultitudeofblackbirdswascirclingandclusteringaboutthehood。
Atthatmyheartgaveabound，andIbeganrunningalongtheroad。
IhurriedthroughtheredweedthatchokedSt。Edmund"sTerrace（Iwadedbreast-highacrossatorrentofwaterthatwasrushingdownfromthewaterworkstowardstheAlbertRoad），andemergeduponthegrassbeforetherisingofthesun。Greatmoundshadbeenheapedaboutthecrestofthehill，makingahugeredoubtofit——itwasthefinalandlargestplacetheMartianshadmade——andfrombehindtheseheapsthereroseathinsmokeagainstthesky。
Againsttheskylineaneagerdogrananddisappeared。Thethoughtthathadflashedintomymindgrewreal，grewcredible。Ifeltnofear，onlyawild，tremblingexultation，asIranupthehilltowardsthemotionlessmonster。Outofthehoodhunglankshredsofbrown，atwhichthehungrybirdspeckedandtore。
InanothermomentIhadscrambleduptheearthenram-partandstooduponitscrest，andtheinterioroftheredoubtwasbelowme。Amightyspaceitwas，withgiganticmachineshereandtherewithinit，hugemoundsofmaterialandstrangeshelterplaces。Andscatteredaboutit，someintheirover-turnedwar-machines，someinthenowrigidhandling-machines，andadozenofthemstarkandsilentandlaidinarow，weretheMartians——DEAD！——slainbytheputrefactiveanddiseasebacteriaagainstwhichtheirsystemswereunpre-pared；slainastheredweedwasbeingslain；slain，afterallman"sdeviceshadfailed，bythehumblestthingsthatGod，inhiswisdom，hasputuponthisearth。
Forsoithadcomeabout，asindeedIandmanymenmighthaveforeseenhadnotterroranddisasterblindedourminds。Thesegermsofdiseasehavetakentollofhumanitysincethebeginningofthings——takentollofourprehumanancestorssincelifebeganhere。Butbyvirtueofthisnaturalselectionofourkindwehavedevelopedresistingpower；tonogermsdowesuccumbwithoutastruggle，andtomany——thosethatcauseputrefactionindeadmatter，forinstance——ourlivingframesarealtogetherimmune。
ButtherearenobacteriainMars，anddirectlytheseinvadersarrived，directlytheydrankandfed，ourmicroscopicalliesbegantoworktheiroverthrow。AlreadywhenIwatchedthemtheywereirrevocablydoomed，dyingandrottingevenastheywenttoandfro。Itwasinevitable。Bythetollofabilliondeathsmanhasboughthisbirthrightoftheearth，anditishisagainstallcomers；itwouldstillbehisweretheMartianstentimesasmightyastheyare。Forneitherdomenlivenordieinvain。
Hereandtheretheywerescattered，nearlyfiftyaltogether，inthatgreatgulftheyhadmade，overtakenbyadeaththatmusthaveseemedtothemasincomprehensibleasanydeathcouldbe。Tomealsoatthattimethisdeathwasincompre-hensible。AllIknewwasthatthesethingsthathadbeenaliveandsoterribletomenweredead。ForamomentIbelievedthatthedestructionofSennacheribhadbeenrepeated，thatGodhadrepented，thattheAngelofDeathhadslaintheminthenight。
Istoodstaringintothepit，andmyheartlightenedglori-ously，evenastherisingsunstrucktheworldtofireaboutmewithhisrays。Thepitwasstillindarkness；themightyengines，sogreatandwonderfulintheirpowerandcom-plexity，sounearthlyintheirtortuousforms，roseweirdandvagueandstrangeoutoftheshadowstowardsthelight。Amultitudeofdogs，Icouldhear，foughtoverthebodiesthatlaydarklyinthedepthofthepit，farbelowme。Acrossthepitonitsfartherlip，flatandvastandstrange，laythegreatflying-machinewithwhichtheyhadbeenexperimentinguponourdenseratmospherewhendecayanddeatharrestedthem。Deathhadcomenotadaytoosoon。AtthesoundofacawingoverheadIlookedupatthehugefighting-machinethatwouldfightnomoreforever，atthetatteredredshredsoffleshthatdrippeddownupontheoverturnedseatsonthesummitofPrimroseHill。
Iturnedandlookeddowntheslopeofthehilltowhere，enhaloednowinbirds，stoodthoseothertwoMartiansthatIhadseenovernight，justasdeathhadovertakenthem。Theonehaddied，evenasithadbeencryingtoitscompanions；perhapsitwasthelasttodie，anditsvoicehadgoneonperpetuallyuntiltheforceofitsmachinerywasexhausted。Theyglitterednow，harmlesstripodtowersofshiningmetal，inthebrightnessoftherisingsun。
Allaboutthepit，andsavedasbyamiraclefromever-lastingdestruction，stretchedthegreatMotherofCities。ThosewhohaveonlyseenLondonveiledinhersombrerobesofsmokecanscarcelyimaginethenakedclearnessandbeautyofthesilentwildernessofhouses。
Eastward，overtheblackenedruinsoftheAlbertTerraceandthesplinteredspireofthechurch，thesunblazeddaz-zlinginaclearsky，andhereandtheresomefacetinthegreatwildernessofroofscaughtthelightandglaredwithawhiteintensity。
NorthwardwereKilburnandHampsted，blueandcrowdedwithhouses；westwardthegreatcitywasdimmed；andsouthward，beyondtheMartians，thegreenwavesofRegent"sPark，theLanghamHotel，thedomeoftheAlbertHall，theImperialInstitute，andthegiantmansionsoftheBromptonRoadcameoutclearandlittleinthesunrise，thejaggedruinsofWestminsterrisinghazilybeyond。FarawayandblueweretheSurreyhills，andthetowersoftheCrystalPalaceglitteredliketwosilverrods。ThedomeofSt。Paul"swasdarkagainstthesunrise，andinjured，Isawforthefirsttime，byahugegapingcavityonitswesternside。
AndasIlookedatthiswideexpanseofhousesandfac-toriesandchurches，silentandabandoned；asIthoughtofthemultitudinoushopesandefforts，theinnumerablehostsoflivesthathadgonetobuildthishumanreef，andoftheswiftandruthlessdestructionthathadhungoveritall；whenIrealisedthattheshadowhadbeenrolledback，andthatmenmightstillliveinthestreets，andthisdearvastdeadcityofminebeoncemorealiveandpowerful，Ifeltawaveofemotionthatwasnearakintotears。
Thetormentwasover。Eventhatdaythehealingwouldbegin。Thesurvivorsofthepeoplescatteredoverthecoun-try——leaderless，lawless，foodless，likesheepwithoutashep-herd——thethousandswhohadfledbysea，wouldbegintoreturn；thepulseoflife，growingstrongerandstronger，wouldbeatagainintheemptystreetsandpouracrossthevacantsquares。Whateverdestructionwasdone，thehandofthedestroyerwasstayed。Allthegauntwrecks，theblack-enedskeletonsofhousesthatstaredsodismallyatthesunlitgrassofthehill，wouldpresentlybeechoingwiththeham-
mersoftherestorersandringingwiththetappingoftheirtrowels。AtthethoughtIextendedmyhandstowardstheskyandbeganthankingGod。
Inayear，thoughtI——inayear……
Withoverwhelmingforcecamethethoughtofmyself，ofmywife，andtheoldlifeofhopeandtenderhelpfulnessthathadceasedforever。
TheWaroftheWorlds-Book2-Chapter9Chapter9-WreckageAndnowcomesthestrangestthinginmystory。Yet，perhaps，itisnotaltogetherstrange。Iremember，clearlyandcoldlyandvividly，allthatIdidthatdayuntilthetimethatIstoodweepingandpraisingGoduponthesummitofPrim-roseHill。AndthenIforget。
OfthenextthreedaysIknownothing。Ihavelearnedsincethat，sofarfrommybeingthefirstdiscovereroftheMartianoverthrow，severalsuchwanderersasmyselfhadalreadydiscoveredthisonthepreviousnight。
Oneman——thefirst——hadgonetoSt。Martin"s-le-Grand，and，whileIshelteredinthecabmen"shut，hadcontrivedtotelegraphtoParis。Thencethejoyfulnewshadflashedallovertheworld；athousandcities，chilledbyghastlyapprehensions，sud-denlyflashedintofranticilluminations；theyknewofitinDublin，Edinburgh，Manchester，Birmingham，atthetimewhenI
stooduponthevergeofthepit。Alreadymen，weep-ingwithjoy，asI
haveheard，shoutingandstayingtheirworktoshakehandsandshout，weremakinguptrains，evenasnearasCrewe，todescenduponLondon。Thechurchbellsthathadceasedafortnightsincesuddenlycaughtthenews，untilallEnglandwasbell-ringing。Menoncycles，lean-faced，unkempt，scorchedalongeverycountrylaneshoutingofunhopeddeliverance，shoutingtogaunt，staringfiguresofdespair。Andforthefood！AcrosstheChannel，acrosstheIrishSea，acrosstheAtlantic，corn，bread，andmeatweretearingtoourrelief。AlltheshippingintheworldseemedgoingLondonwardinthosedays。ButofallthisIhavenomemory。Idrifted——adementedman。
Ifoundmyselfinahouseofkindlypeople，whohadfoundmeonthethirddaywandering，weeping，andravingthroughthestreetsofSt。John"sWood。
TheyhavetoldmesincethatIwassingingsomeinsanedoggerelabout"TheLastManLeftAlive！Hurrah！TheLastManLeftAlive！"Troubledastheywerewiththeirownaffairs，thesepeople，whosename，muchasIwouldliketoexpressmygratitudetothem，Imaynotevengivehere，neverthelesscumberedthemselveswithme，shelteredme，andprotectedmefrommyself。
Apparentlytheyhadlearnedsomethingofmystoryfrommeduringthedaysofmylapse。
Verygently，whenmymindwasassuredagain，didtheybreaktomewhattheyhadlearnedofthefateofLeather-head。TwodaysafterIwasimprisonedithadbeendestroyed，witheverysoulinit，byaMartian。Hehadsweptitoutofexistence，asitseemed，withoutanyprovocation，asaboymightcrushananthill，inthemerewantonnessofpower。
Iwasalonelyman，andtheywereverykindtome。Iwasalonelymanandasadone，andtheyborewithme。Iremainedwiththemfourdaysaftermyrecovery。AllthattimeIfeltavague，agrowingcravingtolookoncemoreonwhateverremainedofthelittlelifethatseemedsohappyandbrightinmypast。Itwasamerehopelessdesiretofeastuponmymisery。Theydissuadedme。Theydidalltheycouldtodivertmefromthismorbidity。
ButatlastIcouldresisttheimpulsenolonger，and，promisingfaithfullytoreturntothem，andparting，asIwillconfess，fromthesefour-dayfriendswithtears，Iwentoutagainintothestreetsthathadlatelybeensodarkandstrangeandempty。
Alreadytheywerebusywithreturningpeople；inplaceseventherewereshopsopen，andIsawadrinkingfountainrunningwater。
IrememberhowmockinglybrightthedayseemedasIwentbackonmymelancholypilgrimagetothelittlehouseatWoking，howbusythestreetsandvividthemovinglifeaboutme。Somanypeoplewereabroadeverywhere，busiedinathousandactivities，thatitseemedincrediblethatanygreatproportionofthepopulationcouldhavebeenslain。ButthenInoticedhowyellowweretheskinsofthepeopleImet，howshaggythehairofthemen，howlargeandbrighttheireyes，andthateveryothermanstillworehisdirtyrags。Theirfacesseemedallwithoneoftwoexpressions——aleapingexultationandenergyoragrimresolution。Savefortheexpressionofthefaces，Londonseemedacityoftramps。ThevestrieswereindiscriminatelydistributingbreadsentusbytheFrenchgovernment。Theribsofthefewhorsesshoweddismally。Haggardspecialconstableswithwhitebadgesstoodatthecornersofeverystreet。IsawlittleofthemischiefwroughtbytheMartiansuntilIreachedWelling-tonStreet，andthereIsawtheredweedclamberingoverthebuttressesofWaterlooBridge。
Atthecornerofthebridge，too，Isawoneofthecommoncontrastsofthatgrotesquetime——asheetofpaperflauntingagainstathicketoftheredweed，transfixedbyastickthatkeptitinplace。Itwastheplacardofthefirstnewspapertoresumepublication——theDAILYMAIL。IboughtacopyforablackenedshillingIfoundinmypocket。Mostofitwasinblank，butthesolitarycompositorwhodidthethinghadamusedhimselfbymakingagrotesqueschemeofad-vertisementstereoonthebackpage。
Thematterheprintedwasemotional；thenewsorganisationhadnotasyetfounditswayback。IlearnednothingfreshexceptthatalreadyinoneweektheexaminationoftheMartianmechanismshadyieldedastonishingresults。Amongotherthings，thearticleassuredmewhatIdidnotbelieveatthetime，thatthe"SecretofFlying，"wasdiscovered。AtWaterlooI
foundthefreetrainsthatweretakingpeopletotheirhomes。Thefirstrushwasalreadyover。Therewerefewpeopleinthetrain，andIwasinnomoodforcasualconversation。Igotacom-partmenttomyself，andsatwithfoldedarms，lookinggreylyatthesunlitdevastationthatflowedpastthewindows。Andjustoutsidetheterminusthetrainjoltedovertemporaryrails，andoneithersideoftherailwaythehouseswereblackenedruins。
ToClaphamJunctionthefaceofLondonwasgrimywithpowderoftheBlackSmoke，inspiteoftwodaysofthunderstormsandrain，andatClaphamJunc-
tionthelinehadbeenwreckedagain；therewerehundredsofout-of-workclerksandshopmenworkingsidebysidewiththecustomarynavvies，andwewerejoltedoverahastyrelaying。
Alldownthelinefromtheretheaspectofthecountrywasgauntandunfamiliar；Wimbledonparticularlyhadsuf-fered。Walton，byvirtueofitsunburnedpinewoods，seemedtheleasthurtofanyplacealongtheline。
TheWandle，theMole，everylittlestream，wasaheapedmassofredweed，inappearancebetweenbutcher"smeatandpickledcabbage。TheSurreypinewoodsweretoodry，however，forthefestoonsoftheredclimber。BeyondWimbledon，withinsightoftheline，incertainnurserygrounds，weretheheapedmassesofearthaboutthesixthcylinder。Anumberofpeoplewerestandingaboutit，andsomesapperswerebusyinthemidstofit。OveritflauntedaUnionJack，flappingcheerfullyinthemorningbreeze。Thenurserygroundswereeverywherecrimsonwiththeweed，awideexpanseoflividcolourcutwithpurpleshadows，andverypainfultotheeye。One"sgazewentwithinfiniterelieffromthescorchedgreysandsullenredsoftheforegroundtotheblue-greensoftnessoftheeastwardhills。
ThelineontheLondonsideofWokingstationwasstillundergoingrepair，soIdescendedatByfleetstationandtooktheroadtoMaybury，pasttheplacewhereIandtheartillerymanhadtalkedtothehussars，andonbythespotwheretheMartianhadappearedtomeinthethunderstorm。Here，movedbycuriosity，Iturnedasidetofind，amongatangleofredfronds，thewarpedandbrokendogcartwiththewhitenedbonesofthehorsescatteredandgnawed。ForatimeIstoodregardingthesevestiges……
ThenIreturnedthroughthepinewood，neck-highwithredweedhereandthere，tofindthelandlordoftheSpottedDoghadalreadyfoundburial，andsocamehomepasttheCollegeArms。AmanstandingatanopencottagedoorgreetedmebynameasIpassed。
Ilookedatmyhousewithaquickflashofhopethatfadedimmediately。
Thedoorhadbeenforced；itwasunfastandwasopeningslowlyasIapproached。
Itslammedagain。ThecurtainsofmystudyflutteredoutoftheopenwindowfromwhichIandtheartillerymanhadwatchedthedawn。Noonehadcloseditsince。ThesmashedbusheswerejustasIhadleftthemnearlyfourweeksago。Istumbledintothehall，andthehousefeltempty。ThestaircarpetwasruffledanddiscolouredwhereIhadcrouched，soakedtotheskinfromthethunderstormthenightofthecatastrophe。OurmuddyfootstepsIsawstillwentupthestairs。
Ifollowedthemtomystudy，andfoundlyingonmywriting-tablestill，withtheselenitepaperweightuponit，thesheetofworkIhadleftontheafternoonoftheopeningofthecylinder。ForaspaceIstoodreadingovermyaban-donedarguments。Itwasapaperontheprobabledevelop-
mentofMoralIdeaswiththedevelopmentofthecivilisingprocess；andthelastsentencewastheopeningofaprophecy："Inabouttwohundredyears，"Ihadwritten，"wemayexpect————"Thesentenceendedabruptly。
Irememberedmyinabilitytofixmymindthatmorning，scarcelyamonthgoneby，andhowIhadbrokenofftogetmyDAILYCHRONICLEfromthenewsboy。
IrememberedhowIwentdowntothegardengateashecamealong，andhowIhadlistenedtohisoddstoryof"MenfromMars。"
Icamedownandwentintothediningroom。Therewerethemuttonandthebread，bothfargonenowindecay，andabeerbottleoverturned，justasIandtheartillerymanhadleftthem。Myhomewasdesolate。IperceivedthefollyofthefainthopeIhadcherishedsolong。Andthenastrangethingoccurred。"Itisnouse，"saidavoice。"Thehouseisdeserted。Noonehasbeenherethesetendays。Donotstayheretotormentyourself。
Nooneescapedbutyou。"
Iwasstartled。HadIspokenmythoughtaloud？Iturned，andtheFrenchwindowwasopenbehindme。Imadeasteptoit，andstoodlookingout。
Andthere，amazedandafraid，evenasIstoodamazedandafraid，weremycousinandmywife——mywifewhiteandtearless。Shegaveafaintcry。
"Icame，"shesaid。"Iknew——knew————"
Sheputherhandtoherthroat——swayed。Imadeastepforward，andcaughtherinmyarms。
TheWaroftheWorlds-Book2-Chapter10Chapter10-TheEpilogueIcannotbutregret，nowthatIamconcludingmystory，howlittleIamabletocontributetothediscussionofthemanydebatablequestionswhicharestillunsettled。InonerespectIshallcertainlyprovokecriticism。
Myparticularprovinceisspeculativephilosophy。Myknowledgeofcom-
parativephysiologyisconfinedtoabookortwo，butitseemstomethatCarver"ssuggestionsastothereasonoftherapiddeathoftheMartiansissoprobableastoberegardedalmostasaprovenconclusion。Ihaveassumedthatinthebodyofmynarrative。
Atanyrate，inallthebodiesoftheMartiansthatwereexaminedafterthewar，nobacteriaexceptthosealreadyknownasterrestrialspecieswerefound。Thattheydidnotburyanyoftheirdead，andtherecklessslaughtertheyper-petrated，pointalsotoanentireignoranceoftheputrefactiveprocess。Butprobableasthisseems，itisbynomeansaprovenconclusion。
NeitheristhecompositionoftheBlackSmokeknown，whichtheMartiansusedwithsuchdeadlyeffect，andthegeneratoroftheHeat-Raysremainsapuzzle。TheterribledisastersattheEalingandSouthKensingtonlaboratorieshavedisinclinedanalystsforfurtherinvestigationsuponthelatter。Spectrumanalysisoftheblackpowderpointsunmistakablytothepresenceofanunknownelementwithabrilliantgroupofthreelinesinthegreen，anditispos-siblethatitcombineswithargontoformacompoundwhichactsatoncewithdeadlyeffectuponsomeconstituentintheblood。Butsuchunprovenspeculationswillscarcelybeofinteresttothegeneralreader，towhomthisstoryisaddressed。NoneofthebrownscumthatdrifteddowntheThamesafterthedestructionofSheppertonwasexaminedatthetime，andnownoneisforthcoming。
TheresultsofananatomicalexaminationoftheMartians，sofarastheprowlingdogshadleftsuchanexaminationpossible，Ihavealreadygiven。ButeveryoneisfamiliarwiththemagnificentandalmostcompletespecimeninspiritsattheNaturalHistoryMuseum，andthecountlessdrawingsthathavebeenmadefromit；andbeyondthattheinterestoftheirphysiologyandstructureispurelyscientific。
Aquestionofgraveranduniversalinterestisthepossi-bilityofanotherattackfromtheMartians。Idonotthinkthatnearlyenoughattentionisbeinggiventothisaspectofthematter。AtpresenttheplanetMarsisinconjunction，butwitheveryreturntooppositionI，forone，anticipatearenewaloftheiradventure。Inanycase，weshouldbeprepared。Itseemstomethatitshouldbepossibletodefinethepositionofthegunfromwhichtheshotsaredischarged，tokeepasustainedwatchuponthispartoftheplanet，andtoanticipatethearrivalofthenextattack。
Inthatcasethecylindermightbedestroyedwithdyna-miteorartillerybeforeitwassufficientlycoolfortheMar-tianstoemerge，ortheymightbebutcheredbymeansofgunssosoonasthescrewopened。Itseemstomethattheyhavelostavastadvantageinthefailureoftheirfirstsurprise。
Possiblytheyseeitinthesamelight。
LessinghasadvancedexcellentreasonsforsupposingthattheMartianshaveactuallysucceededineffectingalandingontheplanetVenus。Sevenmonthsagonow，VenusandMarswereinalignmentwiththesun；thatistosay，MarswasinoppositionfromthepointofviewofanobserveronVenus。Subsequentlyapeculiarluminousandsinuousmark-ingappearedontheunilluminedhalfoftheinnerplanet，andalmostsimultaneouslyafaintdarkmarkofasimilarsinuouscharacterwasdetecteduponaphotographoftheMartiandisk。Oneneedstoseethedrawingsoftheseap-pearancesinordertoappreciatefullytheirremarkableresemblanceincharacter。
Atanyrate，whetherweexpectanotherinvasionornot，ourviewsofthehumanfuturemustbegreatlymodifiedbytheseevents。WehavelearnednowthatwecannotregardthisplanetasbeingfencedinandasecureabidingplaceforMan；wecanneveranticipatetheunseengoodorevilthatmaycomeuponussuddenlyoutofspace。ItmaybethatinthelargerdesignoftheuniversethisinvasionfromMarsisnotwithoutitsultimatebenefitformen；ithasrobbedusofthatsereneconfidenceinthefuturewhichisthemostfruitfulsourceofdecadence，thegiftstohumanscienceithasbroughtareenormous，andithasdonemuchtopromotetheconceptionofthecommonwealofmankind。ItmaybethatacrosstheimmensityofspacetheMartianshavewatchedthefateofthesepioneersoftheirsandlearnedtheirlesson，andthatontheplanetVenustheyhavefoundasecurersettlement。
Bethatasitmay，formanyyearsyettherewillcertainlybenorelaxationoftheeagerscrutinyoftheMartiandisk，andthosefierydartsofthesky，theshootingstars，willbringwiththemastheyfallanunavoidableapprehensiontoallthesonsofmen。
Thebroadeningofmen"sviewsthathasresultedcanscarcelybeexaggerated。
Beforethecylinderfelltherewasageneralpersuasionthatthroughallthedeepofspacenolifeexistedbeyondthepettysurfaceofourminutesphere。Nowweseefurther。IftheMartianscanreachVenus，thereisnoreasontosupposethatthethingisimpossibleformen，andwhentheslowcoolingofthesunmakesthisearthuninhabitable，asatlastitmustdo，itmaybethatthethreadoflifethathasbegunherewillhavestreamedoutandcaughtoursisterplanetwithinitstoils。
DimandwonderfulisthevisionIhaveconjuredupinmymindoflifespreadingslowlyfromthislittleseedbedofthesolarsystemthroughouttheinanimatevastnessofsiderealspace。Butthatisaremotedream。Itmaybe，ontheotherhand，thatthedestructionoftheMartiansisonlyareprieve。Tothem，andnottous，perhaps，isthefutureordained。
Imustconfessthestressanddangerofthetimehaveleftanabidingsenseofdoubtandinsecurityinmymind。Isitinmystudywritingbylamplight，andsuddenlyIseeagainthehealingvalleybelowsetwithwrithingflames，andfeelthehousebehindandaboutmeemptyanddesolate。IgooutintotheByfleetRoad，andvehiclespassme，abutcherboyinacart，acabfulofvisitors，aworkmanonabicycle，childrengoingtoschool，andsuddenlytheybecomevagueandunreal，andIhurryagainwiththeartillerymanthroughthehot，broodingsilence。OfanightIseetheblackpowderdarkeningthesilentstreets，andthecontortedbodiesshroudedinthatlayer；theyriseuponmetatteredanddog-bitten。Theygibberandgrowfiercer，paler，uglier，maddistortionsofhumanityatlast，andIwake，coldandwretched，inthedarknessofthenight。
IgotoLondonandseethebusymultitudesinFleetStreetandtheStrand，anditcomesacrossmymindthattheyarebuttheghostsofthepast，hauntingthestreetsthatIhaveseensilentandwretched，goingtoandfro，phan-
tasmsinadeadcity，themockeryoflifeinagalvanisedbody。Andstrange，too，itistostandonPrimroseHill，asIdidbutadaybeforewritingthislastchapter，toseethegreatprovinceofhouses，dimandbluethroughthehazeofthesmokeandmist，vanishingatlastintothevaguelowersky，toseethepeoplewalkingtoandfroamongtheflowerbedsonthehill，toseethesight-seersabouttheMar-tianmachinethatstandstherestill，tohearthetumultofplayingchildren，andtorecallthetimewhenIsawitallbrightandclear-cut，hardandsilent，underthedawnofthatlastgreatday……
Andstrangestofallisittoholdmywife"shandagain，andtothinkthatIhavecountedher，andthatshehascountedme，amongthedead。