Reading Help War of the worlds Book 2
beautiful, rich-blooded, stupid--rubbish! The risk is that we who keep `
` wild will go savage--degenerate into a sort of big, savage rat. . . . `
` You see, how I mean to live is underground. I've been thinking about `
` the drains. Of course those who don't know drains think horrible `
` things; but under this London are miles and miles--hundreds of `
` miles--and a few days rain and London empty will leave them sweet and `
` clean. The main drains are big enough and airy enough for anyone. `
` Then there's cellars, vaults, stores, from which bolting passages may `
` be made to the drains. And the railway tunnels and subways. Eh? You `
` begin to see? And we form a band--able-bodied, clean-minded men. `
` We're not going to pick up any rubbish that drifts in. Weaklings `
` go out again." `
` `
` "As you meant me to go?" `
` `
` "Well--I parleyed, didn't I?" `
` `
` "We won't quarrel about that. Go on." `
` `
` "Those who stop obey orders. Able-bodied, clean-minded women we `
` want also--mothers and teachers. No lackadaisical ladies--no blasted `
` rolling eyes. We can't have any weak or silly. Life is real again, `
` and the useless and cumbersome and mischievous have to die. They `
` ought to die. They ought to be willing to die. It's a sort of `
` disloyalty, after all, to live and taint the race. And they can't be `
` happy. Moreover, dying's none so dreadful; it's the funking makes it `
` bad. And in all those places we shall gather. Our district will be `
` London. And we may even be able to keep a watch, and run about in the `
` open when the Martians keep away. Play cricket, perhaps. That's how `
` we shall save the race. Eh? It's a possible thing? But saving the `
` race is nothing in itself. As I say, that's only being rats. It's `
` saving our knowledge and adding to it is the thing. There men like `
` you come in. There's books, there's models. We must make great safe `
` places down deep, and get all the books we can; not novels and poetry `
` swipes, but ideas, science books. That's where men like you come in. `
` We must go to the British Museum and pick all those books through. `
` Especially we must keep up our science--learn more. We must watch `
` these Martians. Some of us must go as spies. When it's all working, `
` perhaps I will. Get caught, I mean. And the great thing is, we must `
` leave the Martians alone. We mustn't even steal. If we get in their `
` way, we clear out. We must show them we mean no harm. Yes, I know. `
` But they're intelligent things, and they won't hunt us down if they `
` have all they want, and think we're just harmless vermin." `
` `
` The artilleryman paused and laid a brown hand upon my arm. `
` `
` "After all, it may not be so much we may have to learn before--Just `
` imagine this: four or five of their fighting machines suddenly `
` starting off--Heat-Rays right and left, and not a Martian in 'em. Not `
` a Martian in 'em, but men--men who have learned the way how. It may `
` be in my time, even--those men. Fancy having one of them lovely `
` things, with its Heat-Ray wide and free! Fancy having it in control! `
` What would it matter if you smashed to smithereens at the end of the `
` run, after a bust like that? I reckon the Martians'll open their `
` beautiful eyes! Can't you see them, man? Can't you see them `
` hurrying, hurrying--puffing and blowing and hooting to their other `
` mechanical affairs? Something out of gear in every case. And swish, `
` bang, rattle, swish! Just as they are fumbling over it, _swish_ comes `
` the Heat-Ray, and, behold! man has come back to his own." `
` `
` For a while the imaginative daring of the artilleryman, and the `
` tone of assurance and courage he assumed, completely dominated my `
` mind. I believed unhesitatingly both in his forecast of human destiny `
` and in the practicability of his astonishing scheme, and the reader `
` who thinks me susceptible and foolish must contrast his position, `
` reading steadily with all his thoughts about his subject, and mine, `
` crouching fearfully in the bushes and listening, distracted by `
` apprehension. We talked in this manner through the early morning `
` time, and later crept out of the bushes, and, after scanning the sky `
` for Martians, hurried precipitately to the house on Putney Hill where `
` he had made his lair. It was the coal cellar of the place, and when I `
` saw the work he had spent a week upon--it was a burrow scarcely ten `
` yards long, which he designed to reach to the main drain on Putney `
` Hill--I had my first inkling of the gulf between his dreams and his `
` powers. Such a hole I could have dug in a day. But I believed in him `
` sufficiently to work with him all that morning until past midday at `
` his digging. We had a garden barrow and shot the earth we removed `
` against the kitchen range. We refreshed ourselves with a tin of `
` mock-turtle soup and wine from the neighbouring pantry. I found a `
` curious relief from the aching strangeness of the world in this steady `
` labour. As we worked, I turned his project over in my mind, and `
` presently objections and doubts began to arise; but I worked there all `
` the morning, so glad was I to find myself with a purpose again. After `
` working an hour I began to speculate on the distance one had to go `
` before the cloaca was reached, the chances we had of missing it `
` altogether. My immediate trouble was why we should dig this long `
` tunnel, when it was possible to get into the drain at once down one of `
` the manholes, and work back to the house. It seemed to me, too, that `
` the house was inconveniently chosen, and required a needless length of `
` tunnel. And just as I was beginning to face these things, the `
` artilleryman stopped digging, and looked at me. `
` `
` "We're working well," he said. He put down his spade. "Let us `
` knock off a bit" he said. "I think it's time we reconnoitred from the `
` roof of the house." `
` `
` I was for going on, and after a little hesitation he resumed his `
` spade; and then suddenly I was struck by a thought. I stopped, and so `
` did he at once. `
` `
` "Why were you walking about the common," I said, "instead of being `
` here?" `
` `
` "Taking the air," he said. "I was coming back. It's safer by `
` night." `
` `
` "But the work?" `
` `
` "Oh, one can't always work," he said, and in a flash I saw the man `
` plain. He hesitated, holding his spade. "We ought to reconnoitre `
` now," he said, "because if any come near they may hear the spades and `
` drop upon us unawares." `
` `
` I was no longer disposed to object. We went together to the roof `
` and stood on a ladder peeping out of the roof door. No Martians were `
` to be seen, and we ventured out on the tiles, and slipped down under `
` shelter of the parapet. `
` `
` From this position a shrubbery hid the greater portion of Putney, `
` but we could see the river below, a bubbly mass of red weed, and the `
` low parts of Lambeth flooded and red. The red creeper swarmed up the `
` trees about the old palace, and their branches stretched gaunt and `
` dead, and set with shrivelled leaves, from amid its clusters. It was `
` strange how entirely dependent both these things were upon flowing `
` water for their propagation. About us neither had gained a footing; `
` laburnums, pink mays, snowballs, and trees of arbor-vitae, rose out of `
` laurels and hydrangeas, green and brilliant into the sunlight. Beyond `
` Kensington dense smoke was rising, and that and a blue haze hid the `
` northward hills. `
` `
` The artilleryman began to tell me of the sort of people who still `
` remained in London. `
` `
` "One night last week," he said, "some fools got the electric light `
` in order, and there was all Regent Street and the Circus ablaze, `
` crowded with painted and ragged drunkards, men and women, dancing and `
` shouting till dawn. A man who was there told me. And as the day came `
` they became aware of a fighting-machine standing near by the Langham `
` and looking down at them. Heaven knows how long he had been there. `
` It must have given some of them a nasty turn. He came down the road `
` towards them, and picked up nearly a hundred too drunk or frightened `
` to run away." `
` `
` Grotesque gleam of a time no history will ever fully describe! `
` `
` From that, in answer to my questions, he came round to his `
` grandiose plans again. He grew enthusiastic. He talked so eloquently `
` of the possibility of capturing a fighting-machine that I more than `
` half believed in him again. But now that I was beginning to `
` understand something of his quality, I could divine the stress he laid `
` on doing nothing precipitately. And I noted that now there was no `
` question that he personally was to capture and fight the great `
` machine. `
` `
` After a time we went down to the cellar. Neither of us seemed `
` disposed to resume digging, and when he suggested a meal, I was `
` nothing loath. He became suddenly very generous, and when we had `
` eaten he went away and returned with some excellent cigars. We lit `
` these, and his optimism glowed. He was inclined to regard my coming `
` as a great occasion. `
` `
` "There's some champagne in the cellar," he said. `
` `
` "We can dig better on this Thames-side burgundy," said I. `
` `
` "No," said he; "I am host today. Champagne! Great God! We've a `
` heavy enough task before us! Let us take a rest and gather strength `
` while we may. Look at these blistered hands!" `
` `
` And pursuant to this idea of a holiday, he insisted upon playing `
` cards after we had eaten. He taught me euchre, and after dividing `
` London between us, I taking the northern side and he the southern, we `
` played for parish points. Grotesque and foolish as this will seem to `
` the sober reader, it is absolutely true, and what is more remarkable, `
` I found the card game and several others we played extremely `
` interesting. `
` `
` Strange mind of man! that, with our species upon the edge of `
` extermination or appalling degradation, with no clear prospect before `
` us but the chance of a horrible death, we could sit following the `
` chance of this painted pasteboard, and playing the "joker" with vivid `
` delight. Afterwards he taught me poker, and I beat him at three tough `
` chess games. When dark came we decided to take the risk, and lit a `
` lamp. `
` `
` After an interminable string of games, we supped, and the `
` artilleryman finished the champagne. We went on smoking the cigars. `
` He was no longer the energetic regenerator of his species I had `
` encountered in the morning. He was still optimistic, but it was a `
` less kinetic, a more thoughtful optimism. I remember he wound up with `
` my health, proposed in a speech of small variety and considerable `
` intermittence. I took a cigar, and went upstairs to look at the `
` lights of which he had spoken that blazed so greenly along the `
` Highgate hills. `
` `
` At first I stared unintelligently across the London valley. The `
` northern hills were shrouded in darkness; the fires near Kensington `
` glowed redly, and now and then an orange-red tongue of flame flashed `
` up and vanished in the deep blue night. All the rest of London `
` was black. Then, nearer, I perceived a strange light, a pale, `
` violet-purple fluorescent glow, quivering under the night breeze. For `
`
` wild will go savage--degenerate into a sort of big, savage rat. . . . `
` You see, how I mean to live is underground. I've been thinking about `
` the drains. Of course those who don't know drains think horrible `
` things; but under this London are miles and miles--hundreds of `
` miles--and a few days rain and London empty will leave them sweet and `
` clean. The main drains are big enough and airy enough for anyone. `
` Then there's cellars, vaults, stores, from which bolting passages may `
` be made to the drains. And the railway tunnels and subways. Eh? You `
` begin to see? And we form a band--able-bodied, clean-minded men. `
` We're not going to pick up any rubbish that drifts in. Weaklings `
` go out again." `
` `
` "As you meant me to go?" `
` `
` "Well--I parleyed, didn't I?" `
` `
` "We won't quarrel about that. Go on." `
` `
` "Those who stop obey orders. Able-bodied, clean-minded women we `
` want also--mothers and teachers. No lackadaisical ladies--no blasted `
` rolling eyes. We can't have any weak or silly. Life is real again, `
` and the useless and cumbersome and mischievous have to die. They `
` ought to die. They ought to be willing to die. It's a sort of `
` disloyalty, after all, to live and taint the race. And they can't be `
` happy. Moreover, dying's none so dreadful; it's the funking makes it `
` bad. And in all those places we shall gather. Our district will be `
` London. And we may even be able to keep a watch, and run about in the `
` open when the Martians keep away. Play cricket, perhaps. That's how `
` we shall save the race. Eh? It's a possible thing? But saving the `
` race is nothing in itself. As I say, that's only being rats. It's `
` saving our knowledge and adding to it is the thing. There men like `
` you come in. There's books, there's models. We must make great safe `
` places down deep, and get all the books we can; not novels and poetry `
` swipes, but ideas, science books. That's where men like you come in. `
` We must go to the British Museum and pick all those books through. `
` Especially we must keep up our science--learn more. We must watch `
` these Martians. Some of us must go as spies. When it's all working, `
` perhaps I will. Get caught, I mean. And the great thing is, we must `
` leave the Martians alone. We mustn't even steal. If we get in their `
` way, we clear out. We must show them we mean no harm. Yes, I know. `
` But they're intelligent things, and they won't hunt us down if they `
` have all they want, and think we're just harmless vermin." `
` `
` The artilleryman paused and laid a brown hand upon my arm. `
` `
` "After all, it may not be so much we may have to learn before--Just `
` imagine this: four or five of their fighting machines suddenly `
` starting off--Heat-Rays right and left, and not a Martian in 'em. Not `
` a Martian in 'em, but men--men who have learned the way how. It may `
` be in my time, even--those men. Fancy having one of them lovely `
` things, with its Heat-Ray wide and free! Fancy having it in control! `
` What would it matter if you smashed to smithereens at the end of the `
` run, after a bust like that? I reckon the Martians'll open their `
` beautiful eyes! Can't you see them, man? Can't you see them `
` hurrying, hurrying--puffing and blowing and hooting to their other `
` mechanical affairs? Something out of gear in every case. And swish, `
` bang, rattle, swish! Just as they are fumbling over it, _swish_ comes `
` the Heat-Ray, and, behold! man has come back to his own." `
` `
` For a while the imaginative daring of the artilleryman, and the `
` tone of assurance and courage he assumed, completely dominated my `
` mind. I believed unhesitatingly both in his forecast of human destiny `
` and in the practicability of his astonishing scheme, and the reader `
` who thinks me susceptible and foolish must contrast his position, `
` reading steadily with all his thoughts about his subject, and mine, `
` crouching fearfully in the bushes and listening, distracted by `
` apprehension. We talked in this manner through the early morning `
` time, and later crept out of the bushes, and, after scanning the sky `
` for Martians, hurried precipitately to the house on Putney Hill where `
` he had made his lair. It was the coal cellar of the place, and when I `
` saw the work he had spent a week upon--it was a burrow scarcely ten `
` yards long, which he designed to reach to the main drain on Putney `
` Hill--I had my first inkling of the gulf between his dreams and his `
` powers. Such a hole I could have dug in a day. But I believed in him `
` sufficiently to work with him all that morning until past midday at `
` his digging. We had a garden barrow and shot the earth we removed `
` against the kitchen range. We refreshed ourselves with a tin of `
` mock-turtle soup and wine from the neighbouring pantry. I found a `
` curious relief from the aching strangeness of the world in this steady `
` labour. As we worked, I turned his project over in my mind, and `
` presently objections and doubts began to arise; but I worked there all `
` the morning, so glad was I to find myself with a purpose again. After `
` working an hour I began to speculate on the distance one had to go `
` before the cloaca was reached, the chances we had of missing it `
` altogether. My immediate trouble was why we should dig this long `
` tunnel, when it was possible to get into the drain at once down one of `
` the manholes, and work back to the house. It seemed to me, too, that `
` the house was inconveniently chosen, and required a needless length of `
` tunnel. And just as I was beginning to face these things, the `
` artilleryman stopped digging, and looked at me. `
` `
` "We're working well," he said. He put down his spade. "Let us `
` knock off a bit" he said. "I think it's time we reconnoitred from the `
` roof of the house." `
` `
` I was for going on, and after a little hesitation he resumed his `
` spade; and then suddenly I was struck by a thought. I stopped, and so `
` did he at once. `
` `
` "Why were you walking about the common," I said, "instead of being `
` here?" `
` `
` "Taking the air," he said. "I was coming back. It's safer by `
` night." `
` `
` "But the work?" `
` `
` "Oh, one can't always work," he said, and in a flash I saw the man `
` plain. He hesitated, holding his spade. "We ought to reconnoitre `
` now," he said, "because if any come near they may hear the spades and `
` drop upon us unawares." `
` `
` I was no longer disposed to object. We went together to the roof `
` and stood on a ladder peeping out of the roof door. No Martians were `
` to be seen, and we ventured out on the tiles, and slipped down under `
` shelter of the parapet. `
` `
` From this position a shrubbery hid the greater portion of Putney, `
` but we could see the river below, a bubbly mass of red weed, and the `
` low parts of Lambeth flooded and red. The red creeper swarmed up the `
` trees about the old palace, and their branches stretched gaunt and `
` dead, and set with shrivelled leaves, from amid its clusters. It was `
` strange how entirely dependent both these things were upon flowing `
` water for their propagation. About us neither had gained a footing; `
` laburnums, pink mays, snowballs, and trees of arbor-vitae, rose out of `
` laurels and hydrangeas, green and brilliant into the sunlight. Beyond `
` Kensington dense smoke was rising, and that and a blue haze hid the `
` northward hills. `
` `
` The artilleryman began to tell me of the sort of people who still `
` remained in London. `
` `
` "One night last week," he said, "some fools got the electric light `
` in order, and there was all Regent Street and the Circus ablaze, `
` crowded with painted and ragged drunkards, men and women, dancing and `
` shouting till dawn. A man who was there told me. And as the day came `
` they became aware of a fighting-machine standing near by the Langham `
` and looking down at them. Heaven knows how long he had been there. `
` It must have given some of them a nasty turn. He came down the road `
` towards them, and picked up nearly a hundred too drunk or frightened `
` to run away." `
` `
` Grotesque gleam of a time no history will ever fully describe! `
` `
` From that, in answer to my questions, he came round to his `
` grandiose plans again. He grew enthusiastic. He talked so eloquently `
` of the possibility of capturing a fighting-machine that I more than `
` half believed in him again. But now that I was beginning to `
` understand something of his quality, I could divine the stress he laid `
` on doing nothing precipitately. And I noted that now there was no `
` question that he personally was to capture and fight the great `
` machine. `
` `
` After a time we went down to the cellar. Neither of us seemed `
` disposed to resume digging, and when he suggested a meal, I was `
` nothing loath. He became suddenly very generous, and when we had `
` eaten he went away and returned with some excellent cigars. We lit `
` these, and his optimism glowed. He was inclined to regard my coming `
` as a great occasion. `
` `
` "There's some champagne in the cellar," he said. `
` `
` "We can dig better on this Thames-side burgundy," said I. `
` `
` "No," said he; "I am host today. Champagne! Great God! We've a `
` heavy enough task before us! Let us take a rest and gather strength `
` while we may. Look at these blistered hands!" `
` `
` And pursuant to this idea of a holiday, he insisted upon playing `
` cards after we had eaten. He taught me euchre, and after dividing `
` London between us, I taking the northern side and he the southern, we `
` played for parish points. Grotesque and foolish as this will seem to `
` the sober reader, it is absolutely true, and what is more remarkable, `
` I found the card game and several others we played extremely `
` interesting. `
` `
` Strange mind of man! that, with our species upon the edge of `
` extermination or appalling degradation, with no clear prospect before `
` us but the chance of a horrible death, we could sit following the `
` chance of this painted pasteboard, and playing the "joker" with vivid `
` delight. Afterwards he taught me poker, and I beat him at three tough `
` chess games. When dark came we decided to take the risk, and lit a `
` lamp. `
` `
` After an interminable string of games, we supped, and the `
` artilleryman finished the champagne. We went on smoking the cigars. `
` He was no longer the energetic regenerator of his species I had `
` encountered in the morning. He was still optimistic, but it was a `
` less kinetic, a more thoughtful optimism. I remember he wound up with `
` my health, proposed in a speech of small variety and considerable `
` intermittence. I took a cigar, and went upstairs to look at the `
` lights of which he had spoken that blazed so greenly along the `
` Highgate hills. `
` `
` At first I stared unintelligently across the London valley. The `
` northern hills were shrouded in darkness; the fires near Kensington `
` glowed redly, and now and then an orange-red tongue of flame flashed `
` up and vanished in the deep blue night. All the rest of London `
` was black. Then, nearer, I perceived a strange light, a pale, `
` violet-purple fluorescent glow, quivering under the night breeze. For `
`