Reading Help War of the worlds by H. G. Wells. Book 1
vaguely, the gigantic limbs churning the water and flinging a splash `
` and spray of mud and froth into the air. The tentacles swayed and `
` struck like living arms, and, save for the helpless purposelessness of `
` these movements, it was as if some wounded thing were struggling for `
` its life amid the waves. Enormous quantities of a ruddy-brown fluid `
` were spurting up in noisy jets out of the machine. `
` `
` My attention was diverted from this death flurry by a furious `
` yelling, like that of the thing called a siren in our manufacturing `
` towns. A man, knee-deep near the towing path, shouted inaudibly to me `
` and pointed. Looking back, I saw the other Martians advancing with `
` gigantic strides down the riverbank from the direction of Chertsey. `
` The Shepperton guns spoke this time unavailingly. `
` `
` At that I ducked at once under water, and, holding my breath until `
` movement was an agony, blundered painfully ahead under the surface as `
` long as I could. The water was in a tumult about me, and rapidly `
` growing hotter. `
` `
` When for a moment I raised my head to take breath and throw the `
` hair and water from my eyes, the steam was rising in a whirling white `
` fog that at first hid the Martians altogether. The noise was `
` deafening. Then I saw them dimly, colossal figures of grey, magnified `
` by the mist. They had passed by me, and two were stooping over the `
` frothing, tumultuous ruins of their comrade. `
` `
` The third and fourth stood beside him in the water, one perhaps two `
` hundred yards from me, the other towards Laleham. The generators of `
` the Heat-Rays waved high, and the hissing beams smote down this way `
` and that. `
` `
` The air was full of sound, a deafening and confusing conflict of `
` noises--the clangorous din of the Martians, the crash of falling `
` houses, the thud of trees, fences, sheds flashing into flame, and the `
` crackling and roaring of fire. Dense black smoke was leaping up to `
` mingle with the steam from the river, and as the Heat-Ray went to and `
` fro over Weybridge its impact was marked by flashes of incandescent `
` white, that gave place at once to a smoky dance of lurid flames. The `
` nearer houses still stood intact, awaiting their fate, shadowy, faint `
` and pallid in the steam, with the fire behind them going to and fro. `
` `
` For a moment perhaps I stood there, breast-high in the almost `
` boiling water, dumbfounded at my position, hopeless of escape. Through `
` the reek I could see the people who had been with me in the river `
` scrambling out of the water through the reeds, like little frogs `
` hurrying through grass from the advance of a man, or running to and `
` fro in utter dismay on the towing path. `
` `
` Then suddenly the white flashes of the Heat-Ray came leaping `
` towards me. The houses caved in as they dissolved at its touch, and `
` darted out flames; the trees changed to fire with a roar. The Ray `
` flickered up and down the towing path, licking off the people who ran `
` this way and that, and came down to the water's edge not fifty yards `
` from where I stood. It swept across the river to Shepperton, and the `
` water in its track rose in a boiling weal crested with steam. I `
` turned shoreward. `
` `
` In another moment the huge wave, well-nigh at the boiling-point had `
` rushed upon me. I screamed aloud, and scalded, half blinded, `
` agonised, I staggered through the leaping, hissing water towards the `
` shore. Had my foot stumbled, it would have been the end. I fell `
` helplessly, in full sight of the Martians, upon the broad, bare `
` gravelly spit that runs down to mark the angle of the Wey and Thames. `
` I expected nothing but death. `
` `
` I have a dim memory of the foot of a Martian coming down within a `
` score of yards of my head, driving straight into the loose gravel, `
` whirling it this way and that and lifting again; of a long suspense, `
` and then of the four carrying the debris of their comrade between `
` them, now clear and then presently faint through a veil of smoke, `
` receding interminably, as it seemed to me, across a vast space of `
` river and meadow. And then, very slowly, I realised that by a miracle `
` I had escaped. `
` `
` `
` `
` CHAPTER THIRTEEN `
` `
` HOW I FELL IN WITH THE CURATE `
` `
` `
` After getting this sudden lesson in the power of terrestrial `
` weapons, the Martians retreated to their original position upon `
` Horsell Common; and in their haste, and encumbered with the debris of `
` their smashed companion, they no doubt overlooked many such a stray `
` and negligible victim as myself. Had they left their comrade and `
` pushed on forthwith, there was nothing at that time between them and `
` London but batteries of twelve-pounder guns, and they would certainly `
` have reached the capital in advance of the tidings of their approach; `
` as sudden, dreadful, and destructive their advent would have been as `
` the earthquake that destroyed Lisbon a century ago. `
` `
` But they were in no hurry. Cylinder followed cylinder on its `
` interplanetary flight; every twenty-four hours brought them `
` reinforcement. And meanwhile the military and naval authorities, now `
` fully alive to the tremendous power of their antagonists, worked with `
` furious energy. Every minute a fresh gun came into position until, `
` before twilight, every copse, every row of suburban villas on the `
` hilly slopes about Kingston and Richmond, masked an expectant black `
` muzzle. And through the charred and desolated area--perhaps twenty `
` square miles altogether--that encircled the Martian encampment on `
` Horsell Common, through charred and ruined villages among the green `
` trees, through the blackened and smoking arcades that had been but a `
` day ago pine spinneys, crawled the devoted scouts with the heliographs `
` that were presently to warn the gunners of the Martian approach. But `
` the Martians now understood our command of artillery and the danger of `
` human proximity, and not a man ventured within a mile of either `
` cylinder, save at the price of his life. `
` `
` It would seem that these giants spent the earlier part of the `
` afternoon in going to and fro, transferring everything from the second `
` and third cylinders--the second in Addlestone Golf Links and the third `
` at Pyrford--to their original pit on Horsell Common. Over that, above `
` the blackened heather and ruined buildings that stretched far and `
` wide, stood one as sentinel, while the rest abandoned their vast `
` fighting-machines and descended into the pit. They were hard at work `
` there far into the night, and the towering pillar of dense green smoke `
` that rose therefrom could be seen from the hills about Merrow, and `
` even, it is said, from Banstead and Epsom Downs. `
` `
` And while the Martians behind me were thus preparing for their next `
` sally, and in front of me Humanity gathered for the battle, I made my `
` way with infinite pains and labour from the fire and smoke of burning `
` Weybridge towards London. `
` `
` I saw an abandoned boat, very small and remote, drifting down-stream; `
` and throwing off the most of my sodden clothes, I went after it, `
` gained it, and so escaped out of that destruction. There were no `
` oars in the boat, but I contrived to paddle, as well as my parboiled `
` hands would allow, down the river towards Halliford and Walton, going `
` very tediously and continually looking behind me, as you may well `
` understand. I followed the river, because I considered that the water `
` gave me my best chance of escape should these giants return. `
` `
` The hot water from the Martian's overthrow drifted downstream with `
` me, so that for the best part of a mile I could see little of either `
` bank. Once, however, I made out a string of black figures hurrying `
` across the meadows from the direction of Weybridge. Halliford, it `
` seemed, was deserted, and several of the houses facing the river were `
` on fire. It was strange to see the place quite tranquil, quite `
` desolate under the hot blue sky, with the smoke and little threads of `
` flame going straight up into the heat of the afternoon. Never before `
` had I seen houses burning without the accompaniment of an obstructive `
` crowd. A little farther on the dry reeds up the bank were smoking and `
` glowing, and a line of fire inland was marching steadily across a late `
` field of hay. `
` `
` For a long time I drifted, so painful and weary was I after the `
` violence I had been through, and so intense the heat upon the water. `
` Then my fears got the better of me again, and I resumed my paddling. `
` The sun scorched my bare back. At last, as the bridge at Walton was `
` coming into sight round the bend, my fever and faintness overcame my `
` fears, and I landed on the Middlesex bank and lay down, deadly sick, `
` amid the long grass. I suppose the time was then about four or five `
` o'clock. I got up presently, walked perhaps half a mile without `
` meeting a soul, and then lay down again in the shadow of a hedge. I `
` seem to remember talking, wanderingly, to myself during that last `
` spurt. I was also very thirsty, and bitterly regretful I had drunk no `
` more water. It is a curious thing that I felt angry with my wife; I `
` cannot account for it, but my impotent desire to reach Leatherhead `
` worried me excessively. `
` `
` I do not clearly remember the arrival of the curate, so that probably `
` I dozed. I became aware of him as a seated figure in soot-smudged `
` shirt sleeves, and with his upturned, clean-shaven face staring at `
` a faint flickering that danced over the sky. The sky was what is `
` called a mackerel sky--rows and rows of faint down-plumes of `
` cloud, just tinted with the midsummer sunset. `
` `
` I sat up, and at the rustle of my motion he looked at me quickly. `
` `
` "Have you any water?" I asked abruptly. `
` `
` He shook his head. `
` `
` "You have been asking for water for the last hour," he said. `
` `
` For a moment we were silent, taking stock of each other. I `
` dare say he found me a strange enough figure, naked, save for my `
` water-soaked trousers and socks, scalded, and my face and shoulders `
` blackened by the smoke. His face was a fair weakness, his chin `
` retreated, and his hair lay in crisp, almost flaxen curls on his low `
` forehead; his eyes were rather large, pale blue, and blankly staring. `
` He spoke abruptly, looking vacantly away from me. `
` `
` "What does it mean?" he said. "What do these things mean?" `
` `
` I stared at him and made no answer. `
` `
` He extended a thin white hand and spoke in almost a complaining `
` tone. `
` `
` "Why are these things permitted? What sins have we done? The `
` morning service was over, I was walking through the roads to clear my `
` brain for the afternoon, and then--fire, earthquake, death! As if it `
` were Sodom and Gomorrah! All our work undone, all the work---- What `
` are these Martians?" `
` `
` "What are we?" I answered, clearing my throat. `
` `
` He gripped his knees and turned to look at me again. For half a `
`
` and spray of mud and froth into the air. The tentacles swayed and `
` struck like living arms, and, save for the helpless purposelessness of `
` these movements, it was as if some wounded thing were struggling for `
` its life amid the waves. Enormous quantities of a ruddy-brown fluid `
` were spurting up in noisy jets out of the machine. `
` `
` My attention was diverted from this death flurry by a furious `
` yelling, like that of the thing called a siren in our manufacturing `
` towns. A man, knee-deep near the towing path, shouted inaudibly to me `
` and pointed. Looking back, I saw the other Martians advancing with `
` gigantic strides down the riverbank from the direction of Chertsey. `
` The Shepperton guns spoke this time unavailingly. `
` `
` At that I ducked at once under water, and, holding my breath until `
` movement was an agony, blundered painfully ahead under the surface as `
` long as I could. The water was in a tumult about me, and rapidly `
` growing hotter. `
` `
` When for a moment I raised my head to take breath and throw the `
` hair and water from my eyes, the steam was rising in a whirling white `
` fog that at first hid the Martians altogether. The noise was `
` deafening. Then I saw them dimly, colossal figures of grey, magnified `
` by the mist. They had passed by me, and two were stooping over the `
` frothing, tumultuous ruins of their comrade. `
` `
` The third and fourth stood beside him in the water, one perhaps two `
` hundred yards from me, the other towards Laleham. The generators of `
` the Heat-Rays waved high, and the hissing beams smote down this way `
` and that. `
` `
` The air was full of sound, a deafening and confusing conflict of `
` noises--the clangorous din of the Martians, the crash of falling `
` houses, the thud of trees, fences, sheds flashing into flame, and the `
` crackling and roaring of fire. Dense black smoke was leaping up to `
` mingle with the steam from the river, and as the Heat-Ray went to and `
` fro over Weybridge its impact was marked by flashes of incandescent `
` white, that gave place at once to a smoky dance of lurid flames. The `
` nearer houses still stood intact, awaiting their fate, shadowy, faint `
` and pallid in the steam, with the fire behind them going to and fro. `
` `
` For a moment perhaps I stood there, breast-high in the almost `
` boiling water, dumbfounded at my position, hopeless of escape. Through `
` the reek I could see the people who had been with me in the river `
` scrambling out of the water through the reeds, like little frogs `
` hurrying through grass from the advance of a man, or running to and `
` fro in utter dismay on the towing path. `
` `
` Then suddenly the white flashes of the Heat-Ray came leaping `
` towards me. The houses caved in as they dissolved at its touch, and `
` darted out flames; the trees changed to fire with a roar. The Ray `
` flickered up and down the towing path, licking off the people who ran `
` this way and that, and came down to the water's edge not fifty yards `
` from where I stood. It swept across the river to Shepperton, and the `
` water in its track rose in a boiling weal crested with steam. I `
` turned shoreward. `
` `
` In another moment the huge wave, well-nigh at the boiling-point had `
` rushed upon me. I screamed aloud, and scalded, half blinded, `
` agonised, I staggered through the leaping, hissing water towards the `
` shore. Had my foot stumbled, it would have been the end. I fell `
` helplessly, in full sight of the Martians, upon the broad, bare `
` gravelly spit that runs down to mark the angle of the Wey and Thames. `
` I expected nothing but death. `
` `
` I have a dim memory of the foot of a Martian coming down within a `
` score of yards of my head, driving straight into the loose gravel, `
` whirling it this way and that and lifting again; of a long suspense, `
` and then of the four carrying the debris of their comrade between `
` them, now clear and then presently faint through a veil of smoke, `
` receding interminably, as it seemed to me, across a vast space of `
` river and meadow. And then, very slowly, I realised that by a miracle `
` I had escaped. `
` `
` `
` `
` CHAPTER THIRTEEN `
` `
` HOW I FELL IN WITH THE CURATE `
` `
` `
` After getting this sudden lesson in the power of terrestrial `
` weapons, the Martians retreated to their original position upon `
` Horsell Common; and in their haste, and encumbered with the debris of `
` their smashed companion, they no doubt overlooked many such a stray `
` and negligible victim as myself. Had they left their comrade and `
` pushed on forthwith, there was nothing at that time between them and `
` London but batteries of twelve-pounder guns, and they would certainly `
` have reached the capital in advance of the tidings of their approach; `
` as sudden, dreadful, and destructive their advent would have been as `
` the earthquake that destroyed Lisbon a century ago. `
` `
` But they were in no hurry. Cylinder followed cylinder on its `
` interplanetary flight; every twenty-four hours brought them `
` reinforcement. And meanwhile the military and naval authorities, now `
` fully alive to the tremendous power of their antagonists, worked with `
` furious energy. Every minute a fresh gun came into position until, `
` before twilight, every copse, every row of suburban villas on the `
` hilly slopes about Kingston and Richmond, masked an expectant black `
` muzzle. And through the charred and desolated area--perhaps twenty `
` square miles altogether--that encircled the Martian encampment on `
` Horsell Common, through charred and ruined villages among the green `
` trees, through the blackened and smoking arcades that had been but a `
` day ago pine spinneys, crawled the devoted scouts with the heliographs `
` that were presently to warn the gunners of the Martian approach. But `
` the Martians now understood our command of artillery and the danger of `
` human proximity, and not a man ventured within a mile of either `
` cylinder, save at the price of his life. `
` `
` It would seem that these giants spent the earlier part of the `
` afternoon in going to and fro, transferring everything from the second `
` and third cylinders--the second in Addlestone Golf Links and the third `
` at Pyrford--to their original pit on Horsell Common. Over that, above `
` the blackened heather and ruined buildings that stretched far and `
` wide, stood one as sentinel, while the rest abandoned their vast `
` fighting-machines and descended into the pit. They were hard at work `
` there far into the night, and the towering pillar of dense green smoke `
` that rose therefrom could be seen from the hills about Merrow, and `
` even, it is said, from Banstead and Epsom Downs. `
` `
` And while the Martians behind me were thus preparing for their next `
` sally, and in front of me Humanity gathered for the battle, I made my `
` way with infinite pains and labour from the fire and smoke of burning `
` Weybridge towards London. `
` `
` I saw an abandoned boat, very small and remote, drifting down-stream; `
` and throwing off the most of my sodden clothes, I went after it, `
` gained it, and so escaped out of that destruction. There were no `
` oars in the boat, but I contrived to paddle, as well as my parboiled `
` hands would allow, down the river towards Halliford and Walton, going `
` very tediously and continually looking behind me, as you may well `
` understand. I followed the river, because I considered that the water `
` gave me my best chance of escape should these giants return. `
` `
` The hot water from the Martian's overthrow drifted downstream with `
` me, so that for the best part of a mile I could see little of either `
` bank. Once, however, I made out a string of black figures hurrying `
` across the meadows from the direction of Weybridge. Halliford, it `
` seemed, was deserted, and several of the houses facing the river were `
` on fire. It was strange to see the place quite tranquil, quite `
` desolate under the hot blue sky, with the smoke and little threads of `
` flame going straight up into the heat of the afternoon. Never before `
` had I seen houses burning without the accompaniment of an obstructive `
` crowd. A little farther on the dry reeds up the bank were smoking and `
` glowing, and a line of fire inland was marching steadily across a late `
` field of hay. `
` `
` For a long time I drifted, so painful and weary was I after the `
` violence I had been through, and so intense the heat upon the water. `
` Then my fears got the better of me again, and I resumed my paddling. `
` The sun scorched my bare back. At last, as the bridge at Walton was `
` coming into sight round the bend, my fever and faintness overcame my `
` fears, and I landed on the Middlesex bank and lay down, deadly sick, `
` amid the long grass. I suppose the time was then about four or five `
` o'clock. I got up presently, walked perhaps half a mile without `
` meeting a soul, and then lay down again in the shadow of a hedge. I `
` seem to remember talking, wanderingly, to myself during that last `
` spurt. I was also very thirsty, and bitterly regretful I had drunk no `
` more water. It is a curious thing that I felt angry with my wife; I `
` cannot account for it, but my impotent desire to reach Leatherhead `
` worried me excessively. `
` `
` I do not clearly remember the arrival of the curate, so that probably `
` I dozed. I became aware of him as a seated figure in soot-smudged `
` shirt sleeves, and with his upturned, clean-shaven face staring at `
` a faint flickering that danced over the sky. The sky was what is `
` called a mackerel sky--rows and rows of faint down-plumes of `
` cloud, just tinted with the midsummer sunset. `
` `
` I sat up, and at the rustle of my motion he looked at me quickly. `
` `
` "Have you any water?" I asked abruptly. `
` `
` He shook his head. `
` `
` "You have been asking for water for the last hour," he said. `
` `
` For a moment we were silent, taking stock of each other. I `
` dare say he found me a strange enough figure, naked, save for my `
` water-soaked trousers and socks, scalded, and my face and shoulders `
` blackened by the smoke. His face was a fair weakness, his chin `
` retreated, and his hair lay in crisp, almost flaxen curls on his low `
` forehead; his eyes were rather large, pale blue, and blankly staring. `
` He spoke abruptly, looking vacantly away from me. `
` `
` "What does it mean?" he said. "What do these things mean?" `
` `
` I stared at him and made no answer. `
` `
` He extended a thin white hand and spoke in almost a complaining `
` tone. `
` `
` "Why are these things permitted? What sins have we done? The `
` morning service was over, I was walking through the roads to clear my `
` brain for the afternoon, and then--fire, earthquake, death! As if it `
` were Sodom and Gomorrah! All our work undone, all the work---- What `
` are these Martians?" `
` `
` "What are we?" I answered, clearing my throat. `
` `
` He gripped his knees and turned to look at me again. For half a `
`