Chapter1
TheWaroftheWorlds-Book1byHGWellsChapter1-TheEveoftheWarNoonewouldhavebelievedinthelastyearsofthenineteenthcenturythatthisworldwasbeingwatchedkeenlyandcloselybyintelligencesgreaterthanman\'sandyetasmortalashisown；thatasmenbusiedthemselvesabouttheirvariousconcernstheywerescrutinisedandstudied，perhapsalmostasnarrowlyasamanwithamicroscopemightscru-tinisethetransientcreaturesthatswarmandmultiplyinadropofwater。Withinfinitecomplacencymenwenttoandfrooverthisglobeabouttheirlittleaffairs，sereneintheirassuranceoftheirempireovermatter。Itispossiblethattheinfusoriaunderthemicroscopedothesame。Noonegaveathoughttotheolderworldsofspaceassourcesofhumandanger，orthoughtofthemonlytodismisstheideaoflifeuponthemasimpossibleorimprobable。Itiscurioustorecallsomeofthementalhabitsofthosedeparteddays。AtmostterrestrialmenfanciedtheremightbeothermenuponMars，perhapsinferiortothemselvesandreadytowelcomeamis-sionaryenterprise。
Yetacrossthegulfofspace，mindsthataretoourmindsasoursaretothoseofthebeaststhatperish，intellectsvastandcoolandunsympathetic，regardedthisearthwithenviouseyes，andslowlyandsurelydrewtheirplansagainstus。Andearlyinthetwentiethcenturycamethegreatdisillusionment。
TheplanetMars，Iscarcelyneedremindthereader，re-volvesaboutthesunatameandistanceof140，000，000miles，andthelightandheatitreceivesfromthesunisbarelyhalfofthatreceivedbythisworld。
Itmustbe，ifthenebularhypothesishasanytruth，olderthanourworld；
andlongbeforethisearthceasedtobemolten，lifeuponitssurfacemusthavebegunitscourse。Thefactthatitisscarcelyoneseventhofthevolumeoftheearthmusthaveaccelerateditscoolingtothetemperatureatwhichlifecouldbegin。Ithasairandwaterandallthatisnecessaryforthesupportofanimatedexistence。
Yetsovainisman，andsoblindedbyhisvanity，thatnowriter，uptotheveryendofthenineteenthcentury，ex-pressedanyideathatintelligentlifemighthavedevelopedtherefar，orindeedatall，beyonditsearthlylevel。NorwasitgenerallyunderstoodthatsinceMarsisolderthanourearth，withscarcelyaquarterofthesuperficialareaandremoterfromthesun，itnecessarilyfollowsthatitisnotonlymoredistantfromtime\'sbeginningbutneareritsend。
Thesecularcoolingthatmustsomedayovertakeourplanethasalreadygonefarindeedwithourneighbour。Itsphysicalconditionisstilllargelyamystery，butweknownowthateveninitsequatorialregionthemiddaytemperaturebarelyapproachesthatofourcoldestwinter。Itsairismuchmoreattenuatedthanours，itsoceanshaveshrunkuntiltheycoverbutathirdofitssurface，andasitsslowseasonschangehugesnowcapsgatherandmeltabouteitherpoleandperiodicallyinundateitstemperatezones。
Thatlaststageofexhaustion，whichtousisstillincrediblyremote，hasbecomeapresent-dayproblemfortheinhabitantsofMars。Theimmediatepressureofnecessityhasbrightenedtheirintellects，enlargedtheirpowers，andhardenedtheirhearts。Andlookingacrossspacewithinstruments，andintelligencessuchaswehavescarcelydreamedof，theysee，atitsnearestdistanceonly35，000，000ofmilessunwardofthem，amorningstarofhope，ourownwarmerplanet，greenwithvegetationandgreywithwater，withacloudyatmosphereeloquentoffertility，withglimpsesthroughitsdriftingcloudwispsofbroadstretchesofpopulouscountryandnarrow，navy-crowdedseas。
Andwemen，thecreatureswhoinhabitthisearth，mustbetothematleastasalienandlowlyasarethemonkeysandlemurstous。Theintellectualsideofmanalreadyadmitsthatlifeisanincessantstruggleforexistence，anditwouldseemthatthistooisthebeliefofthemindsuponMars。Theirworldisfargoneinitscoolingandthisworldisstillcrowdedwithlife，butcrowdedonlywithwhattheyregardasinferioranimals。Tocarrywarfaresunwardis，indeed，theironlyescapefromthedestructionthat，generationaftergener-ation，creepsuponthem。
Andbeforewejudgeofthemtooharshlywemustremem-berwhatruthlessandutterdestructionourownspecieshaswrought，notonlyuponanimals，suchasthevanishedbisonandthedodo，butuponitsinferiorraces。TheTasmanians，inspiteoftheirhumanlikeness，wereentirelysweptoutofexistenceinawarofexterminationwagedbyEuropeanimmi-grants，inthespaceoffiftyyears。ArewesuchapostlesofmercyastocomplainiftheMartianswarredinthesamespirit？
TheMartiansseemtohavecalculatedtheirdescentwithamazingsubtlety——theirmathematicallearningisevidentlyfarinexcessofours——andtohavecarriedouttheirprepara-tionswithawell-nighperfectunanimity。Hadourinstru-
mentspermittedit，wemighthaveseenthegatheringtroublefarbackinthenineteenthcentury。MenlikeSchiaparelliwatchedtheredplanet——itisodd，by-the-bye，thatforcount-lesscenturiesMarshasbeenthestarofwar——butfailedtointerpretthefluctuatingappearancesofthemarkingstheymappedsowell。AllthattimetheMartiansmusthavebeengettingready。
Duringtheoppositionof1894agreatlightwasseenontheilluminatedpartofthedisk，firstattheLickObservatory，thenbyPerrotinofNice，andthenbyotherobservers。EnglishreadersheardofitfirstintheissueofNATUREdatedAugust2。Iaminclinedtothinkthatthisblazemayhavebeenthecastingofthehugegun，inthevastpitsunkintotheirplanet，fromwhichtheirshotswerefiredatus。Peculiarmarkings，asyetunexplained，wereseennearthesiteofthatoutbreakduringthenexttwooppositions。
Thestormburstuponussixyearsagonow。AsMarsapproachedopposition，LavelleofJavasetthewiresoftheastronomicalexchangepalpitatingwiththeamazingintelli-genceofahugeoutbreakofincandescentgasupontheplanet。Ithadoccurredtowardsmidnightofthetwelfth；andthespectroscope，towhichhehadatonceresorted，indicatedamassofflaminggas，chieflyhydrogen，movingwithanenormousvelocitytowardsthisearth。
Thisjetoffirehadbecomeinvisibleaboutaquarterpasttwelve。Hecomparedittoacolossalpuffofflamesuddenlyandviolentlysquirtedoutoftheplanet，\"asflaminggasesrushedoutofagun。\"
Asingularlyappropriatephraseitproved。YetthenextdaytherewasnothingofthisinthepapersexceptalittlenoteintheDAILYTELEGRAPH，andtheworldwentinignoranceofoneofthegravestdangersthateverthreatenedthehumanrace。ImightnothaveheardoftheeruptionatallhadInotmetOgilvy，thewell-knownastronomer，atOttershaw。Hewasimmenselyexcitedatthenews，andintheexcessofhisfeel-ingsinvitedmeuptotakeaturnwithhimthatnightinascrutinyoftheredplanet。
Inspiteofallthathashappenedsince，Istillrememberthatvigilverydistinctly：theblackandsilentobservatory，theshadowedlanternthrowingafeebleglowuponthefloorinthecorner，thesteadytickingoftheclockworkofthetele-scope，thelittleslitintheroof——anoblongprofunditywiththestarduststreakedacrossit。Ogilvymovedabout，invisiblebutaudible。Lookingthroughthetelescope，onesawacircleofdeepblueandthelittleroundplanetswimminginthefield。Itseemedsuchalittlething，sobrightandsmallandstill，faintlymarkedwithtransversestripes，andslightlyflattenedfromtheperfectround。Butsolittleitwas，sosilverywarm——apin\'s-headoflight！Itwasasifitquivered，butreallythiswasthetelescopevibratingwiththeactivityoftheclockworkthatkepttheplanetinview。
AsIwatched，theplanetseemedtogrowlargerandsmallerandtoadvanceandrecede，butthatwassimplythatmyeyewastired。Fortymillionsofmilesitwasfromus——morethanfortymillionsofmilesofvoid。Fewpeoplerealisetheim-mensityofvacancyinwhichthedustofthematerialuniverseswims。
Nearitinthefield，Iremember，werethreefaintpointsoflight，threetelescopicstarsinfinitelyremote，andallarounditwastheunfathomabledarknessofemptyspace。Youknowhowthatblacknesslooksonafrostystarlightnight。Inatele-scopeitseemsfarprofounder。Andinvisibletomebecauseitwassoremoteandsmall，flyingswiftlyandsteadilytowardsmeacrossthatincredibledistance，drawingnearereverymin-utebysomanythousandsofmiles，cametheThingtheyweresendingus，theThingthatwastobringsomuchstruggleandcalamityanddeathtotheearth。
IneverdreamedofitthenasIwatched；nooneonearthdreamedofthatunerringmissile。
Thatnight，too，therewasanotherjettingoutofgasfromthedistantplanet。Isawit。Areddishflashattheedge，theslightestprojectionoftheoutlinejustasthechronometerstruckmidnight；andatthatItoldOgilvyandhetookmyplace。ThenightwaswarmandIwasthirsty，andIwentstretchingmylegsclumsilyandfeelingmywayinthedark-ness，tothelittletablewherethesiphonstood，whileOgilvyexclaimedatthestreamerofgasthatcameouttowardsus。
ThatnightanotherinvisiblemissilestartedonitswaytotheearthfromMars，justasecondorsoundertwenty-fourhoursafterthefirstone。IrememberhowIsatonthetablethereintheblackness，withpatchesofgreenandcrimsonswimmingbeforemyeyes。IwishedIhadalighttosmokeby，littlesuspectingthemeaningoftheminutegleamIhadseenandallthatitwouldpresentlybringme。Ogilvywatchedtillone，andthengaveitup；andwelitthelanternandwalkedovertohishouse。DownbelowinthedarknesswereOttershawandChertseyandalltheirhundredsofpeople，sleepinginpeace。
HewasfullofspeculationthatnightabouttheconditionofMars，andscoffedatthevulgarideaofitshavingin-habitantswhoweresignallingus。Hisideawasthatmeteoritesmightbefallinginaheavyshowerupontheplanet，orthatahugevolcanicexplosionwasinprogress。Hepointedouttomehowunlikelyitwasthatorganicevolutionhadtakenthesamedirectioninthetwoadjacentplanets。
\"ThechancesagainstanythingmanlikeonMarsareamilliontoone，\"
hesaid。
Hundredsofobserverssawtheflamethatnightandthenightafteraboutmidnight，andagainthenightafter；andsofortennights，aflameeachnight。Whytheshotsceasedafterthetenthnooneonearthhasattemptedtoexplain。ItmaybethegasesofthefiringcausedtheMartiansin-convenience。
Densecloudsofsmokeordust，visiblethroughapowerfultelescopeonearthaslittlegrey，fluctuatingpatches，spreadthroughtheclearnessoftheplanet\'satmos-phereandobscureditsmorefamiliarfeatures。
Eventhedailypaperswokeuptothedisturbancesatlast，andpopularnotesappearedhere，there，andeverywhereconcerningthevolcanoesuponMars。Theseriocomicperiodi-calPUNCH，Iremember，madeahappyuseofitinthepoliticalcartoon。And，allunsuspected，thosemissilestheMartianshadfiredatusdrewearthward，rushingnowatapaceofmanymilesasecondthroughtheemptygulfofspace，hourbyhouranddaybyday，nearerandnearer。Itseemstomenowalmostincrediblywonderfulthat，withthatswiftfatehangingoverus，mencouldgoabouttheirpettyconcernsastheydid。IrememberhowjubilantMarkhamwasatsecuringanewphotographoftheplanetfortheillustratedpaperheeditedinthosedays。Peopleintheselattertimesscarcelyrealisetheabundanceandenterpriseofournineteenth-centurypapers。Formyownpart，Iwasmuchoccupiedinlearningtoridethebicycle，andbusyuponaseriesofpapersdiscussingtheprobabledevelopmentsofmoralideasascivilisationprogressed。
Onenight（thefirstmissilethencouldscarcelyhavebeen10，000，000
milesaway）Iwentforawalkwithmywife。ItwasstarlightandIexplainedtheSignsoftheZodiactoher，andpointedoutMars，abrightdotoflightcreepingzenithward，towardswhichsomanytelescopeswerepointed。Itwasawarmnight。Cominghome，apartyofexcursionistsfromChertseyorIsleworthpassedussingingandplayingmusic。Therewerelightsintheupperwindowsofthehousesasthepeoplewenttobed。Fromtherailwaystationinthedistancecamethesoundofshuntingtrains，ringingandrumbling，softenedalmostintomelodybythedistance。Mywifepointedouttomethebrightnessofthered，green，andyellowsignallightshanginginaframeworkagainstthesky。Itseemedsosafeandtranquil。
TheWaroftheWorlds-Book1-Chapter2Chapter2-TheFallingStarThencamethenightofthefirstfallingstar。Itwasseenearlyinthemorning，rushingoverWinchestereastward，alineofflamehighintheatmosphere。Hundredsmusthaveseenit，andtakenitforanordinaryfallingstar。Albinde-scribeditasleavingagreenishstreakbehinditthatglowedforsomeseconds。Denning，ourgreatestauthorityonmeteor-ites，statedthattheheightofitsfirstappearancewasaboutninetyoronehundredmiles。Itseemedtohimthatitfelltoearthaboutonehundredmileseastofhim。
Iwasathomeatthathourandwritinginmystudy；andalthoughmyFrenchwindowsfacetowardsOttershawandtheblindwasup（forIlovedinthosedaystolookupatthenightsky），Isawnothingofit。YetthisstrangestofallthingsthatevercametoearthfromouterspacemusthavefallenwhileIwassittingthere，visibletomehadIonlylookedupasitpassed。Someofthosewhosawitsflightsayittravelledwithahissingsound。Imyselfheardnothingofthat。ManypeopleinBerkshire，Surrey，andMiddlesexmusthaveseenthefallofit，and，atmost，havethoughtthatanothermeteoritehaddescended。Nooneseemstohavetroubledtolookforthefallenmassthatnight。
ButveryearlyinthemorningpoorOgilvy，whohadseentheshootingstarandwhowaspersuadedthatameteoritelaysomewhereonthecommonbetweenHorsell，Ottershaw，andWoking，roseearlywiththeideaoffindingit。Findithedid，soonafterdawn，andnotfarfromthesandpits。Anenormousholehadbeenmadebytheimpactoftheprojectile，andthesandandgravelhadbeenflungviolentlyineverydirectionovertheheath，formingheapsvisibleamileandahalfaway。Theheatherwasonfireeastward，andathinbluesmokeroseagainstthedawn。
TheThingitselflayalmostentirelyburiedinsand，amidstthescatteredsplintersofafirtreeithadshiveredtofrag-mentsinitsdescent。
Theuncoveredparthadtheappearanceofahugecylinder，cakedoveranditsoutlinesoftenedbyathickscalydun-colouredincrustation。Ithadadiameterofaboutthirtyyards。Heapproachedthemass，surprisedatthesizeandmoresoattheshape，sincemostmeteoritesareroundedmoreorlesscompletely。Itwas，however，stillsohotfromitsflightthroughtheairastoforbidhisnearapproach。Astirringnoisewithinitscylinderheascribedtotheunequalcoolingofitssurface；foratthattimeithadnotoccurredtohimthatitmightbehollow。
HeremainedstandingattheedgeofthepitthattheThinghadmadeforitself，staringatitsstrangeappearance，astonishedchieflyatitsunusualshapeandcolour，anddimlyperceivingeventhensomeevidenceofdesigninitsarrival。Theearlymorningwaswonderfullystill，andthesun，justclearingthepinetreestowardsWeybridge，wasalreadywarm。
Hedidnotrememberhearinganybirdsthatmorning，therewascertainlynobreezestirring，andtheonlysoundswerethefaintmovementsfromwithinthecinderycylinder。Hewasallaloneonthecommon。
Thensuddenlyhenoticedwithastartthatsomeofthegreyclinker，theashyincrustationthatcoveredthemeteorite，wasfallingoffthecircularedgeoftheend。Itwasdroppingoffinflakesandrainingdownuponthesand。Alargepiecesuddenlycameoffandfellwithasharpnoisethatbroughthisheartintohismouth。
Foraminutehescarcelyrealisedwhatthismeant，and，althoughtheheatwasexcessive，heclambereddownintothepitclosetothebulktoseetheThingmoreclearly。Hefanciedeventhenthatthecoolingofthebodymightaccountforthis，butwhatdisturbedthatideawasthefactthattheashwasfallingonlyfromtheendofthecylinder。
Andthenheperceivedthat，veryslowly，thecirculartopofthecylinderwasrotatingonitsbody。Itwassuchagradualmovementthathediscovereditonlythroughnoticingthatablackmarkthathadbeennearhimfiveminutesagowasnowattheothersideofthecircumference。Eventhenhescarcelyunderstoodwhatthisindicated，untilheheardamuffledgratingsoundandsawtheblackmarkjerkforwardaninchorso。Thenthethingcameuponhiminaflash。Thecylinderwasartificial——hollow——withanendthatscrewedout！Somethingwithinthecylinderwasunscrewingthetop！
\"Goodheavens！\"saidOgilvy。\"There\'samaninit——meninit！Halfroastedtodeath！Tryingtoescape！\"
Atonce，withaquickmentalleap，helinkedtheThingwiththeflashuponMars。
Thethoughtoftheconfinedcreaturewassodreadfultohimthatheforgottheheatandwentforwardtothecylindertohelpturn。Butluckilythedullradiationarrestedhimbeforehecouldburnhishandsonthestill-glowingmetal。Atthathestoodirresoluteforamoment，thenturned，scrambledoutofthepit，andsetoffrunningwildlyintoWoking。Thetimethenmusthavebeensomewhereaboutsixo\'clock。Hemetawaggonerandtriedtomakehimunderstand，butthetalehetoldandhisappearanceweresowild——hishathadfallenoffinthepit——thatthemansimplydroveon。Hewasequallyunsuccessfulwiththepotmanwhowasjustunlockingthedoorsofthepublic-housebyHorsellBridge。Thefellowthoughthewasalunaticatlargeandmadeanunsuccessfulattempttoshuthimintothetaproom。Thatsoberedhimalittle；andwhenhesawHenderson，theLondonjournalist，inhisgarden，hecalledoverthepalingsandmadehimselfunderstood。
\"Henderson，\"hecalled，\"yousawthatshootingstarlastnight？\"
\"Well？\"saidHenderson。
\"It\'soutonHorsellCommonnow。\"
\"GoodLord！\"saidHenderson。\"Fallenmeteorite！That\'sgood。\"
\"Butit\'ssomethingmorethanameteorite。It\'sacylinder——anartificialcylinder，man！Andthere\'ssomethinginside。\"
Hendersonstoodupwithhisspadeinhishand。
\"What\'sthat？\"hesaid。Hewasdeafinoneear。
Ogilvytoldhimallthathehadseen。Hendersonwasaminuteorsotakingitin。Thenhedroppedhisspade，snatcheduphisjacket，andcameoutintotheroad。Thetwomenhurriedbackatoncetothecommon，andfoundthecylinderstilllyinginthesameposition。Butnowthesoundsinsidehadceased，andathincircleofbrightmetalshowedbetweenthetopandthebodyofthecylinder。Airwaseitherenteringorescapingattherimwithathin，sizzlingsound。
Theylistened，rappedonthescalyburntmetalwithastick，and，meetingwithnoresponse，theybothconcludedthemanormeninsidemustbeinsensibleordead。
Ofcoursethetwowerequiteunabletodoanything。Theyshoutedconsolationandpromises，andwentoffbacktothetownagaintogethelp。Onecanimaginethem，coveredwithsand，excitedanddisordered，runningupthelittlestreetinthebrightsunlightjustastheshopfolksweretakingdowntheirshuttersandpeoplewereopeningtheirbedroomwindows。Hendersonwentintotherailwaystationatonce，inordertotelegraphthenewstoLondon。Thenewspaperarticleshadpreparedmen\'smindsforthere-ceptionoftheidea。
Byeighto\'clockanumberofboysandunemployedmenhadalreadystartedforthecommontoseethe\"deadmenfromMars。\"Thatwastheformthestorytook。IheardofitfirstfrommynewspaperboyaboutaquartertoninewhenIwentouttogetmyDAILYCHRONICLE。Iwasnaturallystartled，andlostnotimeingoingoutandacrosstheOttershawbridgetothesandpits。
TheWaroftheWorlds-Book1-Chapter3Chapter3-OnHorsellCommonIfoundalittlecrowdofperhapstwentypeoplesur-roundingthehugeholeinwhichthecylinderlay。Ihavealreadydescribedtheappearanceofthatcolossalbulk，em-beddedintheground。Theturfandgravelaboutitseemedcharredasifbyasuddenexplosion。Nodoubtitsimpacthadcausedaflashoffire。HendersonandOgilvywerenotthere。Ithinktheyperceivedthatnothingwastobedoneforthepresent，andhadgoneawaytobreakfastatHenderson\'shouse。
TherewerefourorfiveboyssittingontheedgeofthePit，withtheirfeetdangling，andamusingthemselves——untilIstoppedthem——bythrowingstonesatthegiantmass。AfterIhadspokentothemaboutit，theybeganplayingat\"touch\"inandoutofthegroupofbystanders。
Amongthesewereacoupleofcyclists，ajobbinggardenerIemployedsometimes，agirlcarryingababy，Greggthebutcherandhislittleboy，andtwoorthreeloafersandgolfcaddieswhowereaccustomedtohangabouttherailwaystation。Therewasverylittletalking。FewofthecommonpeopleinEnglandhadanythingbutthevaguestastronomicalideasinthosedays。
Mostofthemwerestaringquietlyatthebigtablelikeendofthecylinder，whichwasstillasOgilvyandHendersonhadleftit。Ifancythepopularex-pectationofaheapofcharredcorpseswasdisappointedatthisinanimatebulk。SomewentawaywhileIwasthere，andotherpeoplecame。IclamberedintothepitandfanciedIheardafaintmovementundermyfeet。Thetophadcertainlyceasedtorotate。
ItwasonlywhenIgotthusclosetoitthatthestrangenessofthisobjectwasatallevidenttome。Atthefirstglanceitwasreallynomoreexcitingthananoverturnedcarriageoratreeblownacrosstheroad。Notsomuchso，indeed。Itlookedlikearustygasfloat。ItrequiredacertainamountofscientificeducationtoperceivethatthegreyscaleoftheThingwasnocommonoxide，thattheyellowish-whitemetalthatgleamedinthecrackbetweenthelidandthecylinderhadanunfamiliarhue。\"Extra-terrestrial\"
hadnomeaningformostoftheonlookers。
AtthattimeitwasquiteclearinmyownmindthattheThinghadcomefromtheplanetMars，butIjudgeditimprobablethatitcontainedanylivingcreature。Ithoughttheunscrewingmightbeautomatic。InspiteofOgilvy，IstillbelievedthatthereweremeninMars。Mymindranfancifullyonthepossibilitiesofitscontainingmanuscript，onthedifficultiesintranslationthatmightarise，whetherweshouldfindcoinsandmodelsinit，andsoforth。Yetitwasalittletoolargeforassuranceonthisidea。Ifeltanimpatiencetoseeitopened。Abouteleven，asnothingseemedhappening，Iwalkedback，fullofsuchthought，tomyhomeinMaybury。
ButIfounditdifficulttogettoworkuponmyabstractinvestigations。
Intheafternoontheappearanceofthecommonhadalteredverymuch。
TheearlyeditionsoftheeveningpapershadstartledLondonwithenormousheadlines：
\"AMESSAGERECEIVEDFROMMARS。\"
\"REMARKABLESTORYFROMWOKING，\"
andsoforth。Inaddition，Ogilvy\'swiretotheAstronomicalExchangehadrousedeveryobservatoryinthethreekingdoms。
TherewerehalfadozenfliesormorefromtheWokingstationstandingintheroadbythesandpits，abasket-chaisefromChobham，andaratherlordlycarriage。Besidesthat，therewasquiteaheapofbicycles。Inaddition，alargenumberofpeoplemusthavewalked，inspiteoftheheatoftheday，fromWokingandChertsey，sothattherewasaltogetherquiteaconsiderablecrowd——oneortwogailydressedladiesamongtheothers。Itwasglaringlyhot，notacloudintheskynorabreathofwind，andtheonlyshadowwasthatofthefewscatteredpinetrees。Theburningheatherhadbeenextinguished，butthelevelgroundtowardsOttershawwasblackenedasfarasonecouldsee，andstillgivingoffverticalstreamersofsmoke。Anenterprisingsweet-stuffdealerintheChobhamRoadhadsentuphissonwithabarrow-loadofgreenapplesandgingerbeer。
Goingtotheedgeofthepit，Ifounditoccupiedbyagroupofabouthalfadozenmen——Henderson，Ogilvy，andatall，fair-hairedmanthatI
afterwardslearnedwasStent，theAstronomerRoyal，withseveralworkmenwieldingspadesandpickaxes。Stentwasgivingdirectionsinaclear，high-
pitchedvoice。Hewasstandingonthecylinder，whichwasnowevidentlymuchcooler；hisfacewascrimsonandstream-ingwithperspiration，andsomethingseemedtohaveirritatedhim。
Alargeportionofthecylinderhadbeenuncovered，thoughitslowerendwasstillembedded。AssoonasOgilvysawmeamongthestaringcrowdontheedgeofthepithecalledtometocomedown，andaskedmeifI
wouldmindgoingovertoseeLordHilton，thelordofthemanor。
Thegrowingcrowd，hesaid，wasbecomingaseriousimpedimenttotheirexcavations，especiallytheboys。Theywantedalightrailingputup，andhelptokeepthepeopleback。Hetoldmethatafaintstirringwasoccasionallystillaudiblewithinthecase，butthattheworkmenhadfailedtounscrewthetop，asitaffordednogriptothem。Thecaseappearedtobeenormouslythick，anditwaspossiblethatthefaintsoundsweheardrepresentedanoisytumultintheinterior。
Iwasverygladtodoasheasked，andsobecomeoneoftheprivilegedspectatorswithinthecontemplatedenclosure。IfailedtofindLordHiltonathishouse，butIwastoldhewasexpectedfromLondonbythesixo\'clocktrainfromWaterloo；andasitwasthenaboutaquarterpastfive，Iwenthome，hadsometea，andwalkeduptothestationtowaylayhim。
TheWaroftheWorlds-Book1-Chapter4Chapter4-TheCylinderOpensWhenIreturnedtothecommonthesunwassetting。ScatteredgroupswerehurryingfromthedirectionofWoking，andoneortwopersonswerereturning。
Thecrowdaboutthepithadincreased，andstoodoutblackagainstthelemonyellowofthesky——acoupleofhundredpeople，perhaps。Therewereraisedvoices，andsomesortofstruggleappearedtobegoingonaboutthepit。Strangeimaginingspassedthroughmymind。AsIdrewnearerI
heardStent\'svoice：
\"Keepback！Keepback！\"
Aboycamerunningtowardsme。
\"It\'sa-movin\'，\"hesaidtomeashepassed；\"a-screwin\'anda-screwin\'
out。Idon\'tlikeit。I\'ma-goin\'\'ome，Iam。\"
Iwentontothecrowd。Therewerereally，Ishouldthink，twoorthreehundredpeopleelbowingandjostlingonean-other，theoneortwoladiestherebeingbynomeanstheleastactive。
\"He\'sfalleninthepit！\"criedsomeone。
\"Keepback！\"saidseveral。
Thecrowdswayedalittle，andIelbowedmywaythrough。Everyoneseemedgreatlyexcited。Iheardapeculiarhum-mingsoundfromthepit。
\"Isay！\"saidOgilvy；\"helpkeeptheseidiotsback。Wedon\'tknowwhat\'sintheconfoundedthing，youknow！\"
Isawayoungman，ashopassistantinWokingIbelievehewas，standingonthecylinderandtryingtoscrambleoutoftheholeagain。Thecrowdhadpushedhimin。
Theendofthecylinderwasbeingscrewedoutfromwithin。Nearlytwofeetofshiningscrewprojected。Somebodyblun-deredagainstme，andI
narrowlymissedbeingpitchedontothetopofthescrew。Iturned，andasIdidsothescrewmusthavecomeout，forthelidofthecylinderfelluponthegravelwitharingingconcussion。Istuckmyelbowintothepersonbehindme，andturnedmyheadtowardstheThingagain。Foramomentthatcircularcavityseemedperfectlyblack。Ihadthesunsetinmyeyes。
Ithinkeveryoneexpectedtoseeamanemerge——possiblysomethingalittleunlikeusterrestrialmen，butinallessen-tialsaman。IknowIdid。But，looking，Ipresentlysawsome-thingstirringwithintheshadow：
greyishbillowymovements，oneaboveanother，andthentwoluminousdisks——likeeyes。Thensomethingresemblingalittlegreysnake，aboutthethicknessofawalkingstick，coiledupoutofthewrithingmiddle，andwriggledintheairtowardsme——andthenanother。
Asuddenchillcameoverme。Therewasaloudshriekfromawomanbehind。
Ihalfturned，keepingmyeyesfixeduponthecylinderstill，fromwhichothertentacleswerenowprojecting，andbeganpushingmywaybackfromtheedgeofthepit。Isawastonishmentgivingplacetohorroronthefacesofthepeopleaboutme。Iheardinarticulateexclama-tionsonallsides。
Therewasageneralmovementbackwards。Isawtheshopmanstrugglingstillontheedgeofthepit。Ifoundmyselfalone，andsawthepeopleontheothersideofthepitrunningoff，Stentamongthem。Ilookedagainatthecylinder，andungovernableterrorgrippedme。Istoodpetri-fiedandstaring。
Abiggreyishroundedbulk，thesize，perhaps，ofabear，wasrisingslowlyandpainfullyoutofthecylinder。Asitbulgedupandcaughtthelight，itglistenedlikewetleather。
Twolargedark-colouredeyeswereregardingmestead-fastly。Themassthatframedthem，theheadofthething，wasrounded，andhad，onemightsay，aface。Therewasamouthundertheeyes，theliplessbrimofwhichquiveredandpanted，anddroppedsaliva。Thewholecreatureheavedandpulsatedconvulsively。Alanktentacularappendagegrippedtheedgeofthecylinder，anotherswayedintheair。
ThosewhohaveneverseenalivingMartiancanscarcelyimaginethestrangehorrorofitsappearance。ThepeculiarV-shapedmouthwithitspointedupperlip，theabsenceofbrowridges，theabsenceofachinbeneaththewedgelikelowerlip，theincessantquiveringofthismouth，theGorgongroupsoftentacles，thetumultuousbreathingofthelungsinastrangeatmosphere，theevidentheavinessandpainfulnessofmovementduetothegreatergravitationalenergyoftheearth——aboveall，theextraordinaryintensityoftheimmenseeyes——wereatoncevital，intense，inhuman，crippledandmonstrous。Therewassomethingfungoidintheoilybrownskin，somethingintheclumsydeliberationofthetedi-ousmovementsunspeakablynasty。
Evenatthisfirsten-counter，thisfirstglimpse，Iwasovercomewithdisgustanddread。
Suddenlythemonstervanished。Ithadtoppledoverthebrimofthecylinderandfallenintothepit，withathudlikethefallofagreatmassofleather。
Ihearditgiveapeculiarthickcry，andforthwithanotherofthesecreaturesappeareddarklyinthedeepshadowoftheaperture。
Iturnedand，runningmadly，madeforthefirstgroupoftrees，perhapsahundredyardsaway；butIranslantinglyandstumbling，forIcouldnotavertmyfacefromthesethings。
There，amongsomeyoungpinetreesandfurzebushes，Istopped，panting，andwaitedfurtherdevelopments。Thecommonroundthesandpitswasdottedwithpeople，stand-inglikemyselfinahalf-fascinatedterror，staringatthesecreatures，orratherattheheapedgravelattheedgeofthepitinwhichtheylay。Andthen，witharenewedhorror，Isawaround，blackobjectbobbingupanddownontheedgeofthepit。Itwastheheadoftheshopmanwhohadfallenin，butshowingasalittleblackobjectagainstthehotwesternsun。Nowhegothisshoulderandkneeup，andagainheseemedtoslipbackuntilonlyhisheadwasvisible。Suddenlyhevan-ished，andIcouldhavefanciedafaintshriekhadreachedme。Ihadamomentaryimpulsetogobackandhelphimthatmyfearsoverruled。
Everythingwasthenquiteinvisible，hiddenbythedeeppitandtheheapofsandthatthefallofthecylinderhadmade。AnyonecomingalongtheroadfromChobhamorWo-kingwouldhavebeenamazedatthesight——adwindlingmul-titudeofperhapsahundredpeopleormorestandinginagreatirregularcircle，inditches，behindbushes，behindgatesandhedges，sayinglittletooneanotherandthatinshort，excitedshouts，andstaring，staringhardatafewheapsofsand。Thebarrowofgingerbeerstood，aqueerderelict，blackagainsttheburningsky，andinthesandpitswasarowofdesertedvehicleswiththeirhorsesfeedingoutofnosebagsorpawingtheground。
TheWaroftheWorlds-Book1-Chapter5Chapter5-TheHeat-RayAftertheglimpseIhadhadoftheMartiansemergingfromthecylinderinwhichtheyhadcometotheearthfromtheirplanet，akindoffascinationparalysedmyactions。Iremainedstandingknee-deepintheheather，staringatthemoundthathidthem。Iwasabattlegroundoffearandcuriosity。
Ididnotdaretogobacktowardsthepit，butIfeltapas-sionatelongingtopeerintoit。Ibeganwalking，therefore，inabigcurve，seekingsomepointofvantageandcontinuallylookingatthesandheapsthathidthesenew-comerstoourearth。Oncealeashofthinblackwhips，likethearmsofanoctopus，flashedacrossthesunsetandwasimmediatelywith-
drawn，andafterwardsathinrodroseup，jointbyjoint，bearingatitsapexacirculardiskthatspunwithawobblingmotion。Whatcouldbegoingonthere？
Mostofthespectatorshadgatheredinoneortwogroups——onealittlecrowdtowardsWoking，theotheraknotofpeopleinthedirectionofChobham。
Evidentlytheysharedmymentalconflict。Therewerefewnearme。OnemanIapproached——hewas，Iperceived，aneighbourofmine，thoughIdidnotknowhisname——andaccosted。Butitwasscarcelyatimeforarticulateconversation。
\"Whatuglybrutes！\"hesaid。\"GoodGod！Whatuglybrutes！\"Herepeatedthisoverandoveragain。
\"Didyouseeamaninthepit？\"Isaid；buthemadenoanswertothat。
Webecamesilent，andstoodwatchingforatimesidebyside，deriving，Ifancy，acertaincomfortinoneanother\'scompany。ThenIshiftedmypositiontoalittleknollthatgavemetheadvantageofayardormoreofeleva-tionandwhenIlookedforhimpresentlyhewaswalkingtowardsWoking。
Thesunsetfadedtotwilightbeforeanythingfurtherhap-pened。Thecrowdfarawayontheleft，towardsWoking，seemedtogrow，andIheardnowafaintmurmurfromit。ThelittleknotofpeopletowardsChobhamdispersed。
Therewasscarcelyanintimationofmovementfromthepit。
Itwasthis，asmuchasanything，thatgavepeoplecourage，andIsupposethenewarrivalsfromWokingalsohelpedtorestoreconfidence。Atanyrate，astheduskcameonaslow，intermittentmovementuponthesandpitsbegan，amove-mentthatseemedtogatherforceasthestillnessoftheeve-ningaboutthecylinderremainedunbroken。Verticalblackfiguresintwosandthreeswouldadvance，stop，watch，andadvanceagain，spreadingoutastheydidsoinathinirregularcrescentthatpromisedtoenclosethepitinitsattenuatedhorns。I，too，onmysidebegantomovetowardsthepit。
ThenIsawsomecabmenandothershadwalkedboldlyintothesandpits，andheardtheclatterofhoofsandthegrideofwheels。Isawaladtrundlingoffthebarrowofapples。Andthen，withinthirtyyardsofthepit，advancingfromthedirectionofHorsell，Inotedalittleblackknotofmen，theforemostofwhomwaswavingawhiteflag。
ThiswastheDeputation。Therehadbeenahastyconsulta-tion，andsincetheMartianswereevidently，inspiteoftheirrepulsiveforms，intelligentcreatures，ithadbeenresolvedtoshowthem，byapproachingthemwithsignals，thatwetoowereintelligent。
Flutter，flutter，wenttheflag，firsttotheright，thentotheleft。
Itwastoofarformetorecogniseanyonethere，butafterwardsIlearnedthatOgilvy，Stent，andHendersonwerewithothersinthisattemptatcommunication。
Thislittlegrouphadinitsadvancedraggedinward，sotospeak，thecircumferenceofthenowalmostcompletecircleofpeople，andanumberofdimblackfiguresfolloweditatdiscreetdistances。
Suddenlytherewasaflashoflight，andaquantityofluminousgreenishsmokecameoutofthepitinthreedistinctpuffs，whichdroveup，oneaftertheother，straightintothestillair。
Thissmoke（orflame，perhaps，wouldbethebetterwordforit）wassobrightthatthedeepblueskyoverheadandthehazystretchesofbrowncommontowardsChertsey，setwithblackpinetrees，seemedtodarkenabruptlyasthesepuffsarose，andtoremainthedarkeraftertheirdispersal。Atthesametimeafainthissingsoundbecameaudible。
Beyondthepitstoodthelittlewedgeofpeoplewiththewhiteflagatitsapex，arrestedbythesephenomena，alittleknotofsmallverticalblackshapesupontheblackground。Asthegreensmokearose，theirfacesflashedoutpallidgreen，andfadedagainasitvanished。Thenslowlythehissingpassedintoahumming，intoalong，loud，droningnoise。Slowlyahumpedshaperoseoutofthepit，andtheghostofabeamoflightseemedtoflickeroutfromit。
Forthwithflashesofactualflame，abrightglareleapingfromonetoanother，sprangfromthescatteredgroupofmen。Itwasasifsomeinvisiblejetimpingeduponthemandflashedintowhiteflame。Itwasasifeachmanweresuddenlyandmomentarilyturnedtofire。
Then，bythelightoftheirowndestruction，Isawthemstaggeringandfalling，andtheirsupportersturningtorun。
Istoodstaring，notasyetrealisingthatthiswasdeathleapingfrommantomaninthatlittledistantcrowd。AllIfeltwasthatitwassomethingverystrange。Analmostnoise-lessandblindingflashoflight，andamanfellheadlongandlaystill；andastheunseenshaftofheatpassedoverthem，pinetreesburstintofire，andeverydryfurzebushbecamewithonedullthudamassofflames。AndfarawaytowardsKnaphillIsawtheflashesoftreesandhedgesandwoodenbuildingssuddenlysetalight。
Itwassweepingroundswiftlyandsteadily，thisflamingdeath，thisinvisible，inevitableswordofheat。Iperceiveditcomingtowardsmebytheflashingbushesittouched，andwastooastoundedandstupefiedtostir。Iheardthecrackleoffireinthesandpitsandthesuddensquealofahorsethatwasassuddenlystilled。ThenitwasasifaninvisibleyetintenselyheatedfingerweredrawnthroughtheheatherbetweenmeandtheMartians，andallalongacurvinglinebeyondthesandpitsthedarkgroundsmokedandcrackled。SomethingfellwithacrashfarawaytotheleftwheretheroadfromWokingstationopensoutonthecommon。Forth-
withthehissingandhummingceased，andtheblack，dome-likeobjectsankslowlyoutofsightintothepit。
AllthishadhappenedwithsuchswiftnessthatIhadstoodmotionless，dumbfoundedanddazzledbytheflashesoflight。Hadthatdeathsweptthroughafullcircle，itmustinevitablyhaveslainmeinmysurprise。Butitpassedandsparedme，andleftthenightaboutmesuddenlydarkandun-
familiar。
Theundulatingcommonseemednowdarkalmosttoblackness，exceptwhereitsroadwayslaygreyandpaleunderthedeepblueskyoftheearlynight。
Itwasdark，andsud-denlyvoidofmen。Overheadthestarsweremustering，andinthewesttheskywasstillapale，bright，almostgreenishblue。
ThetopsofthepinetreesandtheroofsofHorsellcameoutsharpandblackagainstthewesternafterglow。TheMar-tiansandtheirapplianceswerealtogetherinvisible，saveforthatthinmastuponwhichtheirrestlessmirrorwobbled。Patchesofbushandisolatedtreeshereandtheresmokedandglowedstill，andthehousestowardsWokingstationweresendingupspiresofflameintothestillnessoftheeveningair。
Nothingwaschangedsaveforthatandaterribleastonish-ment。Thelittlegroupofblackspeckswiththeflagofwhitehadbeensweptoutofexistence，andthestillnessoftheevening，soitseemedtome，hadscarcelybeenbroken。
ItcametomethatIwasuponthisdarkcommon，helpless，unprotected，andalone。Suddenly，likeathingfallinguponmefromwithout，came——fear。
WithaneffortIturnedandbeganastumblingrunthroughtheheather。
ThefearIfeltwasnorationalfear，butapanicterrornotonlyoftheMartians，butoftheduskandstillnessallaboutme。SuchanextraordinaryeffectinunmanningmeithadthatIranweepingsilentlyasachildmightdo。OnceIhadturned，Ididnotdaretolookback。
IrememberIfeltanextraordinarypersuasionthatIwasbeingplayedwith，thatpresently，whenIwasupontheveryvergeofsafety，thismysteriousdeath——asswiftasthepassageoflight——wouldleapaftermefromthepitaboutthecylinderandstrikemedown。
TheWaroftheWorlds-Book1-Chapter6Chapter6-TheHeat-RayintheChobhamRoadItisstillamatterofwonderhowtheMartiansareabletoslaymensoswiftlyandsosilently。Manythinkthatinsomewaytheyareabletogenerateanintenseheatinachamberofpracticallyabsolutenon-conductivity。
Thisintenseheattheyprojectinaparallelbeamagainstanyobjecttheychoose，bymeansofapolishedparabolicmirrorofunknowncomposition，muchastheparabolicmirrorofalighthouseprojectsabeamoflight。
Butnoonehasabsolutelyprovedthesedetails。Howeveritisdone，itiscertainthatabeamofheatistheessenceofthematter。Heat，andinvisible，insteadofvisible，light。Whateveriscombustibleflashesintoflameatitstouch，leadrunslikewater，itsoftensiron，cracksandmeltsglass，andwhenitfallsuponwater，incontinentlythatexplodesintosteam。
Thatnightnearlyfortypeoplelayunderthestarlightaboutthepit，charredanddistortedbeyondrecognition，andallnightlongthecommonfromHorselltoMayburywasdesertedandbrightlyablaze。
