Itwasprobablyhernotfiringthatenabledhertogetsoneartheenemyasshedid。Theydidnotknowwhattomakeofher。Oneshell，andtheywouldhavesenthertothebottomforthwithwiththeHeat-Ray。
ShewassteamingatsuchapacethatinaminutesheseemedhalfwaybetweenthesteamboatandtheMartians——adiminishingblackbulkagainsttherecedinghorizontalexpanseoftheEssexcoast。
SuddenlytheforemostMartianloweredhistubeanddis-chargedacanisteroftheblackgasattheironclad。Ithitherlarboardsideandglancedoffinaninkyjetthatrolledawaytoseaward，anunfoldingtorrentofBlackSmoke，fromwhichtheironcladdroveclear。Tothewatchersfromthesteamer，lowinthewaterandwiththesunintheireyes，itseemedasthoughshewerealreadyamongtheMartians。
Theysawthegauntfiguresseparatingandrisingoutofthewaterastheyretreatedshoreward，andoneofthemraisedthecamera-likegeneratoroftheHeat-Ray。Hehelditpointingobliquelydownward，andabankofsteamsprangfromthewateratitstouch。Itmusthavedriventhroughtheironoftheship\'ssidelikeawhite-hotironrodthroughpaper。
Aflickerofflamewentupthroughtherisingsteam，andthentheMartianreeledandstaggered。Inanothermomenthewascutdown，andagreatbodyofwaterandsteamshothighintheair。ThegunsoftheTHUNDERCHILD
soundedthroughthereek，goingoffoneaftertheother，andoneshotsplashedthewaterhighclosebythesteamer，ricochetedtowardstheotherflyingshipstothenorth，andsmashedasmacktomatchwood。
Butnooneheededthatverymuch。AtthesightoftheMartian\'scollapsethecaptainonthebridgeyelledinarticu-lately，andallthecrowdingpassengersonthesteamer\'ssternshoutedtogether。Andthentheyyelledagain。For，surgingoutbeyondthewhitetumult，drovesomethinglongandblack，theflamesstreamingfromitsmiddleparts，itsventila-torsandfunnelsspoutingfire。
Shewasalivestill；thesteeringgear，itseems，wasintactandherenginesworking。SheheadedstraightforasecondMartian，andwaswithinahundredyardsofhimwhentheHeat-Raycametobear。Thenwithaviolentthud，ablindingflash，herdecks，herfunnels，leapedupward。TheMartianstaggeredwiththeviolenceofherexplosion，andinanothermomenttheflamingwreckage，stilldrivingforwardwiththeimpetusofitspace，hadstruckhimandcrumpledhimuplikeathingofcardboard。Mybrothershoutedinvoluntarily。Aboilingtumultofsteamhideverythingagain。
\"Two！，\"yelledthecaptain。
Everyonewasshouting。Thewholesteamerfromendtoendrangwithfranticcheeringthatwastakenupfirstbyoneandthenbyallinthecrowdingmultitudeofshipsandboatsthatwasdrivingouttosea。
Thesteamhunguponthewaterformanyminutes，hidingthethirdMartianandthecoastaltogether。Andallthistimetheboatwaspaddlingsteadilyouttoseaandawayfromthefight；andwhenatlasttheconfusioncleared，thedriftingbankofblackvapourintervened，andnothingoftheTHUNDER
CHILDcouldbemadeout，norcouldthethirdMartianbeseen。Buttheironcladstoseawardwerenowquitecloseandstandingintowardsshorepastthesteamboat。
Thelittlevesselcontinuedtobeatitswayseaward，andtheironcladsrecededslowlytowardsthecoast，whichwashiddenstillbyamarbledbankofvapour，partsteam，partblackgas，eddyingandcombininginthestrangestway。Thefleetofrefugeeswasscatteringtothenortheast；severalsmacksweresailingbetweentheironcladsandthesteamboat。Afteratime，andbeforetheyreachedthesinkingcloudbank，thewarshipsturnednorthward，andthenabruptlywentaboutandpassedintothethickeninghazeofeveningsouth-ward。Thecoastgrewfaint，andatlastindistinguishableamidthelowbanksofcloudsthatweregatheringaboutthesinkingsun。
Thensuddenlyoutofthegoldenhazeofthesunsetcamethevibrationofguns，andaformofblackshadowsmoving。Everyonestruggledtotherailofthesteamerandpeeredintotheblindingfurnaceofthewest，butnothingwastobedis-tinguishedclearly。Amassofsmokeroseslantingandbarredthefaceofthesun。Thesteamboatthrobbedonitswaythroughaninterminablesuspense。
Thesunsankintogreyclouds，theskyflushedanddark-ened，theeveningstartrembledintosight。Itwasdeeptwilightwhenthecaptaincriedoutandpointed。Mybrotherstrainedhiseyes。Somethingrushedupintotheskyoutofthegreyness——rushedslantinglyupwardandveryswiftlyintotheluminousclearnessabovethecloudsinthewesternsky；somethingflatandbroad，andverylarge，thatsweptroundinavastcurve，grewsmaller，sankslowly，andvan-ishedagainintothegreymysteryofthenight。Andasitflewitraineddowndarknessupontheland。
EndofBook1TheWaroftheWorlds-Book2-Chapter1TheWaroftheWorlds-Book2byHGWellsChapter1-UnderFootInthefirstbookIhavewanderedsomuchfrommyownadventurestotelloftheexperiencesofmybrotherthatallthroughthelasttwochaptersIandthecuratehavebeenlurkingintheemptyhouseatHallifordwhitherwefledtoescapetheBlackSmoke。ThereIwillresume。WestoppedthereallSundaynightandallthenextday——thedayofthepanic——inalittleislandofdaylight，cutoffbytheBlackSmokefromtherestoftheworld。
Wecoulddonothingbutwaitinachinginactivityduringthosetwowearydays。
Mymindwasoccupiedbyanxietyformywife。IfiguredheratLeatherhead，terrified，indanger，mourningmealreadyasadeadman。IpacedtheroomsandcriedaloudwhenIthoughtofhowIwascutofffromher，ofallthatmighthap-pentoherinmyabsence。MycousinIknewwasbraveenoughforanyemergency，buthewasnotthesortofmantorealisedangerquickly，torisepromptly。Whatwasneedednowwasnotbravery，butcircumspection。
Myonlyconsola-tionwastobelievethattheMartiansweremovingLondon-
wardandawayfromher。Suchvagueanxietieskeepthemindsensitiveandpainful。Igrewverywearyandirritablewiththecurate\'sperpetualejaculations；
Itiredofthesightofhisselfishdespair。AftersomeineffectualremonstranceIkeptawayfromhim，stayinginaroom——evidentlyachildren\'sschoolroom——containingglobes，forms，andcopybooks。Whenhefollowedmethither，Iwenttoaboxroomatthetopofthehouseand，inordertobealonewithmyachingmiseries，lockedmyselfin。
WewerehopelesslyhemmedinbytheBlackSmokeallthatdayandthemorningofthenext。ThereweresignsofpeopleinthenexthouseonSundayevening——afaceatawindowandmovinglights，andlatertheslammingofadoor。ButIdonotknowwhothesepeoplewere，norwhatbecameofthem。
Wesawnothingofthemnextday。TheBlackSmokedriftedslowlyriverwardallthroughMondaymorning，creep-ingnearerandnearertous，drivingatlastalongtheroadwayoutsidethehousethathidus。
AMartiancameacrossthefieldsaboutmidday，layingthestuffwithajetofsuperheatedsteamthathissedagainstthewalls，smashedallthewindowsittouched，andscaldedthecurate\'shandashefledoutofthefrontroom。Whenatlastwecreptacrossthesoddenroomsandlookedoutagain，thecountrynorthwardwasasthoughablacksnowstormhadpassedoverit。Lookingtowardstheriver，wewereastonishedtoseeanunaccountablerednessminglingwiththeblackofthescorchedmeadows。
Foratimewedidnotseehowthischangeaffectedourposition，savethatwewererelievedofourfearoftheBlackSmoke。ButlaterIperceivedthatwewerenolongerhemmedin，thatnowwemightgetaway。SosoonasIrealisedthatthewayofescapewasopen，mydreamofactionreturned。
Butthecuratewaslethargic，unreasonable。
\"Wearesafehere，\"herepeated；\"safehere。\"
Iresolvedtoleavehim——wouldthatIhad！Wisernowfortheartilleryman\'steaching，Isoughtoutfoodanddrink。Ihadfoundoilandragsformyburns，andIalsotookahatandaflannelshirtthatIfoundinoneofthebedrooms。WhenitwascleartohimthatImeanttogoalone——hadreconciledmyselftogoingalone——hesuddenlyrousedhimselftocome。Andallbeingquietthroughouttheafternoon，westartedaboutfiveo\'clock，asIshouldjudge，alongtheblackenedroadtoSunbury。
InSunbury，andatintervalsalongtheroad，weredeadbodieslyingincontortedattitudes，horsesaswellasmen，overturnedcartsandluggage，allcoveredthicklywithblackdust。ThatpallofcinderypowdermademethinkofwhatIhadreadofthedestructionofPompeii。WegottoHamptonCourtwithoutmisadventure，ourmindsfullofstrangeandunfamiliarappearances，andatHamptonCourtoureyeswererelievedtofindapatchofgreenthathadescapedthesuf-focatingdrift。WewentthroughBusheyPark，withitsdeergoingtoandfrounderthechestnuts，andsomemenandwomenhurryinginthedistancetowardsHampton，andsowecametoTwickenham。Thesewerethefirstpeoplewesaw。
AwayacrosstheroadthewoodsbeyondHamandPeter-shamwerestillafire。TwickenhamwasuninjuredbyeitherHeat-RayorBlackSmoke，andthereweremorepeopleabouthere，thoughnonecouldgiveusnews。Forthemostparttheywerelikeourselves，takingadvantageofalulltoshifttheirquarters。Ihaveanimpressionthatmanyofthehousesherewerestilloccupiedbyscaredinhabitants，toofrightenedevenforflight。Heretootheevidenceofahastyroutwasabundantalongtheroad。Iremembermostvividlythreesmashedbicyclesinaheap，poundedintotheroadbythewheelsofsubsequentcarts。WecrossedRichmondBridgeabouthalfpasteight。Wehurriedacrosstheexposedbridge，ofcourse，butInoticedfloatingdownthestreamanumberofredmasses，somemanyfeetacross。Ididnotknowwhatthesewere——therewasnotimeforscrutiny——andIputamorehorribleinterpretationonthemthantheydeserved。HereagainontheSurreysidewereblackdustthathadoncebeensmoke，anddeadbodies——aheapneartheapproachtothestation；butwehadnoglimpseoftheMartiansuntilweweresomewaytowardsBarnes。
Wesawintheblackeneddistanceagroupofthreepeoplerunningdownasidestreettowardstheriver，butotherwiseitseemeddeserted。UpthehillRichmondtownwasburningbriskly；outsidethetownofRichmondtherewasnotraceoftheBlackSmoke。
Thensuddenly，asweapproachedKew，cameanumberofpeoplerunning，andtheupperworksofaMartianfighting-machineloomedinsightoverthehousetops，notahundredyardsawayfromus。Westoodaghastatourdanger，andhadtheMartianlookeddownwemustimmediatelyhaveperished。
Weweresoterrifiedthatwedarednotgoon，butturnedasideandhidinashedinagarden。Therethecuratecrouched，weepingsilently，andrefusingtostiragain。
ButmyfixedideaofreachingLeatherheadwouldnotletmerest，andinthetwilightIventuredoutagain。Iwentthroughashrubbery，andalongapassagebesideabighousestandinginitsowngrounds，andsoemergedupontheroadtowardsKew。ThecurateIleftintheshed，buthecamehurryingafterme。
ThatsecondstartwasthemostfoolhardythingIeverdid。ForitwasmanifesttheMartianswereaboutus。Nosoonerhadthecurateovertakenmethanwesaweitherthefighting-machinewehadseenbeforeoranother，farawayacrossthemeadowsinthedirectionofKewLodge。Fourorfivelittleblackfigureshurriedbeforeitacrossthegreen-greyofthefield，andinamomentitwasevidentthisMartianpursuedthem。Inthreestrideshewasamongthem，andtheyranradiatingfromhisfeetinalldirections。
HeusednoHeat-Raytodestroythem，butpickedthemuponebyone。Apparentlyhetossedthemintothegreatmetalliccarrierwhichprojectedbehindhim，muchasaworkman\'sbaskethangsoverhisshoulder。
ItwasthefirsttimeIrealisedthattheMartiansmighthaveanyotherpurposethandestructionwithdefeatedhumanity。Westoodforamomentpetrified，thenturnedandfledthroughagatebehindusintoawalledgarden，fellinto，ratherthanfound，afortunateditch，andlaythere，scarcedaringtowhispertoeachotheruntilthestarswereout。
Isupposeitwasnearlyeleveno\'clockbeforewegatheredcouragetostartagain，nolongerventuringintotheroad，butsneakingalonghedgerowsandthroughplantations，andwatchingkeenlythroughthedarkness，heontherightandIontheleft，fortheMartians，whoseemedtobeallaboutus。Inoneplaceweblundereduponascorchedandblackenedarea，nowcoolingandashen，andanumberofscattereddeadbodiesofmen，burnedhorriblyabouttheheadsandtrunksbutwiththeirlegsandbootsmostlyintact；
andofdeadhorses，fiftyfeet，perhaps，behindalineoffourrippedgunsandsmashedguncarriages。
Sheen，itseemed，hadescapeddestruction，buttheplacewassilentanddeserted。Herewehappenedonnodead，thoughthenightwastoodarkforustoseeintothesideroadsoftheplace。InSheenmycompanionsuddenlycom-plainedoffaintnessandthirst，andwedecidedtotryoneofthehouses。
Thefirsthouseweentered，afteralittledifficultywiththewindow，wasasmallsemi-detachedvilla，andIfoundnothingeatableleftintheplacebutsomemouldycheese。Therewas，however，watertodrink；andI
tookahatchet，whichpromisedtobeusefulinournexthouse-breaking。
WethencrossedtoaplacewheretheroadturnstowardsMortlake。Heretherestoodawhitehousewithinawalledgarden，andinthepantryofthisdomicilewefoundastoreoffood——twoloavesofbreadinapan，anuncookedsteak，andthehalfofaham。Igivethiscataloguesopreciselybecause，asithappened，weweredestinedtosubsistuponthisstoreforthenextfortnight。Bottledbeerstoodunderashelf，andthereweretwobagsofharicotbeansandsomelimplettuces。Thispantryopenedintoakindofwash-upkitchen，andinthiswasfirewood；therewasalsoacupboard，inwhichwefoundnearlyadozenofburgundy，tinnedsoupsandsalmon，andtwotinsofbiscuits。
Wesatintheadjacentkitcheninthedark——forwedarednotstrikealight——andatebreadandham，anddrankbeeroutofthesamebottle。
Thecurate，whowasstilltimorousandrestless，wasnow，oddlyenough，forpushingon，andIwasurginghimtokeepuphisstrengthbyeatingwhenthethinghappenedthatwastoimprisonus。
\"Itcan\'tbemidnightyet，\"Isaid，andthencameablindingglareofvividgreenlight。Everythinginthekitchenleapedout，clearlyvisibleingreenandblack，andvanishedagain。AndthenfollowedsuchaconcussionasIhaveneverheardbeforeorsince。Socloseontheheelsofthisastoseemin-stantaneouscameathudbehindme，aclashofglass，acrashandrattleoffallingmasonryallaboutus，andtheplasteroftheceilingcamedownuponus，smashingintoamultitudeoffragmentsuponourheads。
Iwasknockedheadlongacrosstheflooragainsttheovenhandleandstunned。
Iwasinsensibleforalongtime，thecuratetoldme，andwhenIcametowewereindarknessagain，andhe，withafacewet，asIfoundafterwards，withbloodfromacutforehead，wasdabbingwateroverme。
ForsometimeIcouldnotrecollectwhathadhappened。Thenthingscametomeslowly。Abruiseonmytempleas-serteditself。
\"Areyoubetter？\"askedthecurateinawhisper。
AtlastIansweredhim。Isatup。
\"Don\'tmove，\"hesaid。\"Theflooriscoveredwithsmashedcrockeryfromthedresser。Youcan\'tpossiblymovewithoutmakinganoise，andIfancyTHEYareoutside。\"
Webothsatquitesilent，sothatwecouldscarcelyheareachotherbreathing。Everythingseemeddeadlystill，butoncesomethingnearus，someplasterorbrokenbrickwork，sliddownwitharumblingsound。Outsideandverynearwasanintermittent，metallicrattle。
\"That！\"saidthecurate，whenpresentlyithappenedagain。
\"Yes，\"Isaid。\"Butwhatisit？\"
\"AMartian！\"saidthecurate。
Ilistenedagain。
\"ItwasnotliketheHeat-Ray，\"Isaid，andforatimeIwasinclinedtothinkoneofthegreatfighting-machineshadstumbledagainstthehouse，asIhadseenonestumbleagainstthetowerofSheppertonChurch。
Oursituationwassostrangeandincomprehensiblethatforthreeorfourhours，untilthedawncame，wescarcelymoved。Andthenthelightfilteredin，notthroughthewindow，whichremainedblack，butthroughatriangularaperturebetweenabeamandaheapofbrokenbricksinthewallbehindus。Theinteriorofthekitchenwenowsawgreylyforthefirsttime。
Thewindowhadbeenburstinbyamassofgardenmould，whichflowedoverthetableuponwhichwehadbeensittingandlayaboutourfeet。Outside，thesoilwasbankedhighagainstthehouse。Atthetopofthewindowframewecouldseeanuprooteddrainpipe。Thefloorwaslitteredwithsmashedhardware；theendofthekitchentowardsthehousewasbrokeninto，andsincethedaylightshoneinthere，itwasevidentthegreaterpartofthehousehadcollapsed。Con-trastingvividlywiththisruinwastheneatdresser，stainedinthefashion，palegreen，andwithanumberofcopperandtinvesselsbelowit，thewallpaperimitatingblueandwhitetiles，andacoupleofcolouredsupplementsflutteringfromthewallsabovethekitchenrange。
Asthedawngrewclearer，wesawthroughthegapinthewallthebodyofaMartian，standingsentinel，Isuppose，overthestillglowingcylinder。
Atthesightofthatwecrawledascircumspectlyaspossibleoutofthetwilightofthekitchenintothedarknessofthescullery。
Abruptlytherightinterpretationdawneduponmymind。
\"Thefifthcylinder，\"Iwhispered，\"thefifthshotfromMars，hasstruckthishouseandburiedusundertheruins！\"
Foratimethecuratewassilent，andthenhewhispered：
\"Godhavemercyuponus！\"
Iheardhimpresentlywhimperingtohimself。
Saveforthatsoundwelayquitestillinthescullery；Iformypartscarcedaredbreathe，andsatwithmyeyesfixedonthefaintlightofthekitchendoor。Icouldjustseethecurate\'sface，adim，ovalshape，andhiscollarandcuffs。Outsidetherebeganametallichammering，thenaviolenthooting，andthenagain，afteraquietinterval，ahissinglikethehissingofanengine。Thesenoises，forthemostpartproblematical，continuedintermittently，andseemedifany-thingtoincreaseinnumberastimeworeon。Presentlyameasuredthuddingandavibrationthatmadeeverythingaboutusquiverandthevesselsinthepantryringandshift，beganandcontinued。Oncethelightwaseclipsed，andtheghostlykitchendoorwaybecameabsolutelydark。Formanyhourswemusthavecrouchedthere，silentandshivering，untilourtiredattentionfailed……
AtlastIfoundmyselfawakeandveryhungry。Iamin-clinedtobelievewemusthavespentthegreaterportionofadaybeforethatawakening。
Myhungerwasatastridesoinsistentthatitmovedmetoaction。ItoldthecurateIwasgoingtoseekfood，andfeltmywaytowardsthepantry。
Hemademenoanswer，butsosoonasIbeganeatingthefaintnoiseImadestirredhimupandIheardhimcrawlingafterme。
TheWaroftheWorlds-Book2-Chapter2Chapter2-WhatWeSawFromtheRuinedHouseAftereatingwecreptbacktothescullery，andthereImusthavedozedagain，forwhenpresentlyIlookedroundIwasalone。Thethuddingvibrationcontinuedwithwearisomepersistence。Iwhisperedforthecurateseveraltimes，andatlastfeltmywaytothedoorofthekitchen。Itwasstillday-light，andIperceivedhimacrosstheroom，lyingagainstthetriangularholethatlookedoutupontheMartians。Hisshoulderswerehunched，sothathisheadwashiddenfromme。
Icouldhearanumberofnoisesalmostlikethoseinanengineshed；
andtheplacerockedwiththatbeatingthud。ThroughtheapertureinthewallIcouldseethetopofatreetouchedwithgoldandthewarmblueofatranquileveningsky。ForaminuteorsoIremainedwatchingthecurate，andthenIadvanced，crouchingandsteppingwithextremecareamidthebrokencrockerythatlitteredthefloor。
Itouchedthecurate\'sleg，andhestartedsoviolentlythatamassofplasterwentslidingdownoutsideandfellwithaloudimpact。Igrippedhisarm，fearinghemightcryout，andforalongtimewecrouchedmotionless。
ThenIturnedtoseehowmuchofourrampartremained。Thedetachmentoftheplasterhadleftaverticalslitopeninthedebris，andbyraisingmyselfcautiouslyacrossabeamIwasabletoseeoutofthisgapintowhathadbeenovernightaquietsuburbanroadway。Vast，indeed，wasthechangethatwebeheld。
Thefifthcylindermusthavefallenrightintothemidstofthehousewehadfirstvisited。Thebuildinghadvanished，completelysmashed，pulverised，anddispersedbytheblow。Thecylinderlaynowfarbeneaththeoriginalfoundations——deepinahole，alreadyvastlylargerthanthepitIhadlookedintoatWoking。Theearthallroundithadsplashedunderthattremendousimpact——\"splashed\"istheonlyword——andlayinheapedpilesthathidthemassesoftheadjacenthouses。Ithadbehavedexactlylikemudundertheviolentblowofahammer。Ourhousehadcollapsedbackward；thefrontportion，evenonthegroundfloor，hadbeendestroyedcompletely；byachancethekitchenandsculleryhadescaped，andstoodburiednowundersoilandruins，closedinbytonsofearthoneverysidesavetowardsthecylinder。OverthataspectwehungnowontheveryedgeofthegreatcircularpittheMartianswereengagedinmaking。Theheavybeatingsoundwasevidentlyjustbehindus，andeverandagainabrightgreenvapourdroveuplikeaveilacrossourpeephole。
Thecylinderwasalreadyopenedinthecentreofthepit，andonthefartheredgeofthepit，amidthesmashedandgravel-heapedshrubbery，oneofthegreatfighting-machines，desertedbyitsoccupant，stoodstiffandtallagainsttheeveningsky。AtfirstIscarcelynoticedthepitandthecylinder，althoughithasbeenconvenienttodescribethemfirst，onaccountoftheextraordinaryglitteringmechanismIsawbusyintheexcavation，andonaccountofthestrangecreaturesthatwerecrawlingslowlyandpainfullyacrosstheheapedmouldnearit。
Themechanismitcertainlywasthatheldmyattentionfirst。Itwasoneofthosecomplicatedfabricsthathavesincebeencalledhandling-machines，andthestudyofwhichhasalreadygivensuchanenormousimpetustoterrestrialinvention。Asitdawneduponmefirst，itpresentedasortofmetallicspiderwithfivejointed，agilelegs，andwithanextraordinarynumberofjointedlevers，bars，andreachingandclutchingtentaclesaboutitsbody。Mostofitsarmswereretracted，butwiththreelongtentaclesitwasfishingoutanumberofrods，plates，andbarswhichlinedthecoveringandapparentlystrengthenedthewallsofthecylinder。These，asitex-
tractedthem，wereliftedoutanddepositeduponalevelsurfaceofearthbehindit。
Itsmotionwassoswift，complex，andperfectthatatfirstIdidnotseeitasamachine，inspiteofitsmetallicglitter。Thefighting-machineswereco-ordinatedandanimatedtoanextraordinarypitch，butnothingtocomparewiththis。Peoplewhohaveneverseenthesestructures，andhaveonlytheill-imaginedeffortsofartistsortheimperfectdescriptionsofsucheye-witnessesasmyselftogoupon，scarcelyrealisethatlivingquality。
Irecallparticularlytheillustrationofoneofthefirstpamphletstogiveaconsecutiveaccountofthewar。Theartisthadevidentlymadeahastystudyofoneofthefighting-machines，andtherehisknowledgeended。Hepre-sentedthemastilted，stifftripods，withouteitherflexibilityorsubtlety，andwithanaltogethermisleadingmonotonyofeffect。Thepamphletcontainingtheserenderingshadacon-siderablevogue，andI
mentionthemheresimplytowarnthereaderagainsttheimpressiontheymayhavecreated。TheywerenomoreliketheMartiansIsawinactionthanaDutchdollislikeahumanbeing。Tomymind，thepamphletwouldhavebeenmuchbetterwithoutthem。
Atfirst，Isay，thehandling-machinedidnotimpressmeasamachine，butasacrablikecreaturewithaglitteringintegument，thecontrollingMartianwhosedelicatetentaclesactuateditsmovementsseemingtobesimplytheequivalentofthecrab\'scerebralportion。ButthenIperceivedthere-semblanceofitsgrey-brown，shiny，leatheryintegumenttothatoftheothersprawlingbodiesbeyond，andthetruenatureofthisdexterousworkmandawneduponme。Withthatrealisationmyinterestshiftedtothoseothercreatures，therealMartians。AlreadyIhadhadatransientimpressionofthese，andthefirstnauseanolongerobscuredmyobserva-tion。Moreover，Iwasconcealedandmotionless，andundernourgencyofaction。
Theywere，Inowsaw，themostunearthlycreaturesitispossibletoconceive。Theywerehugeroundbodies——or，rather，heads——aboutfourfeetindiameter，eachbodyhavinginfrontofitaface。Thisfacehadnonostrils——indeed，theMartiansdonotseemtohavehadanysenseofsmell，butithadapairofverylargedark-colouredeyes，andjustbeneaththisakindoffleshybeak。Inthebackofthisheadorbody——Iscarcelyknowhowtospeakofit——wasthesingletighttympanicsurface，sinceknowntobeanatomicallyanear，thoughitmusthavebeenalmostuselessinourdenseair。Inagrouproundthemouthweresixteenslender，almostwhipliketentacles，arrangedintwobunchesofeighteach。Thesebuncheshavesincebeennamedratheraptly，bythatdistinguishedanatomist，ProfessorHowes，theHANDS。
EvenasIsawtheseMartiansforthefirsttimetheyseemedtobeendeavouringtoraisethemselvesonthesehands，butofcourse，withtheincreasedweightofterrestrialconditions，thiswasimpossible。ThereisreasontosupposethatonMarstheymayhaveprogresseduponthemwithsomefacility。
Theinternalanatomy，Imayremarkhere，asdissectionhassinceshown，wasalmostequallysimple。Thegreaterpartofthestructurewasthebrain，sendingenormousnervestotheeyes，ear，andtactiletentacles。Besidesthiswerethebulkylungs，intowhichthemouthopened，andtheheartanditsvessels。Thepulmonarydistresscausedbythedenseratmosphereandgreatergravitationalattractionwasonlytooevidentintheconvulsivemovementsoftheouterskin。
AndthiswasthesumoftheMartianorgans。Strangeasitmayseemtoahumanbeing，allthecomplexapparatusofdigestion，whichmakesupthebulkofourbodies，didnotexistintheMartians。Theywereheads——merelyheads。Entrailstheyhadnone。Theydidnoteat，muchlessdigest。Instead，theytookthefresh，livingbloodofothercreatures，andINJECTEDitintotheirownveins。Ihavemyselfseenthisbeingdone，asIshallmentioninitsplace。But，squeamishasImayseem，IcannotbringmyselftodescribewhatIcouldnotendureeventocontinuewatching。Letitsufficetosay，bloodobtainedfromastilllivinganimal，inmostcasesfromahumanbeing，wasrundirectlybymeansofalittlepipetteintotherecipientcanal……
Thebareideaofthisisnodoubthorriblyrepulsivetous，butatthesametimeIthinkthatweshouldrememberhowrepulsiveourcarnivoroushabitswouldseemtoanintelligentrabbit。
Thephysiologicaladvantagesofthepracticeofinjectionareundeniable，ifonethinksofthetremendouswasteofhumantimeandenergyoccasionedbyeatingandthedigestiveprocess。Ourbodiesarehalfmadeupofglandsandtubesandorgans，occupiedinturningheterogeneousfoodintoblood。
Thedigestiveprocessesandtheirreactionuponthenervoussystemsapourstrengthandcolourourminds。Mengohappyormiserableastheyhavehealthyorunhealthylivers，orsoundgastricglands。ButtheMartianswereliftedabovealltheseorganicfluctuationsofmoodandemotion。
TheirundeniablepreferenceformenastheirsourceofnourishmentispartlyexplainedbythenatureoftheremainsofthevictimstheyhadbroughtwiththemasprovisionsfromMars。Thesecreatures，tojudgefromtheshrivelledremainsthathavefallenintohumanhands，werebipedswithflimsy，siliciousskeletons（almostlikethoseofthesilicioussponges）andfeeblemusculature，standingaboutsixfeethighandhavinground，erectheads，andlargeeyesinflintysockets。Twoorthreeoftheseseemtohavebeenbroughtineachcylinder，andallwerekilledbeforeearthwasreached。Itwasjustaswellforthem，forthemereattempttostanduprightuponourplanetwouldhavebrokeneveryboneintheirbodies。
AndwhileIamengagedinthisdescription，Imayaddinthisplacecertainfurtherdetailswhich，althoughtheywerenotallevidenttousatthetime，willenablethereaderwhoisunacquaintedwiththemtoformaclearerpictureoftheseoffensivecreatures。
Inthreeotherpointstheirphysiologydifferedstrangelyfromours。
Theirorganismsdidnotsleep，anymorethantheheartofmansleeps。Sincetheyhadnoextensivemuscularmechanismtorecuperate，thatperiodicalextinctionwasunknowntothem。Theyhadlittleornosenseoffatigue，itwouldseem。Onearththeycouldneverhavemovedwithouteffort，yeteventothelasttheykeptinaction。Intwenty-fourhourstheydidtwenty-fourhoursofwork，asevenonearthisperhapsthecasewiththeants。
Inthenextplace，wonderfulasitseemsinasexualworld，theMartianswereabsolutelywithoutsex，andthereforewithoutanyofthetumultuousemotionsthatarisefromthatdifferenceamongmen。AyoungMartian，therecannowbenodispute，wasreallybornuponearthduringthewar，anditwasfoundattachedtoitsparent，partiallyBUDDEDoff，justasyounglilybulbsbudoff，orliketheyounganimalsinthefresh-waterpolyp。
Inman，inallthehigherterrestrialanimals，suchamethodofincreasehasdisappeared；butevenonthisearthitwascertainlytheprimitivemethod。Amongtheloweranimals，upeventothosefirstcousinsofthevertebratedanimals，theTunicates，thetwoprocessesoccursidebyside，butfinallythesexualmethodsupersededitscompetitoraltogether。OnMars，however，justthereversehasapparentlybeenthecase。
Itisworthyofremarkthatacertainspeculativewriterofquasi-scientificrepute，writinglongbeforetheMartianinva-sion，didforecastformanafinalstructurenotunliketheactualMartiancondition。Hisprophecy，Iremember，appearedinNovemberorDecember，1893，inalong-defunctpublica-
tion，thePALLMALLBUDGET，andIrecallacaricatureofitinapre-MartianperiodicalcalledPUNCH。Hepointedout——writinginafoolish，facetioustone——thattheperfectionofmechanicalappliancesmustultimatelysupersedelimbs；theperfectionofchemicaldevices，digestion；thatsuchorgansashair，externalnose，teeth，ears，andchinwerenolongeressentialpartsofthehumanbeing，andthatthetendencyofnaturalselectionwouldlieinthedirectionoftheirsteadydiminutionthroughthecomingages。
Thebrainalonere-mainedacardinalnecessity。Onlyoneotherpartofthebodyhadastrongcaseforsurvival，andthatwasthehand，\"teacherandagentofthebrain。\"Whiletherestofthebodydwindled，thehandswouldgrowlarger。
Thereismanyatruewordwritteninjest，andhereintheMartianswehavebeyonddisputetheactualaccomplish-mentofsuchasuppressionoftheanimalsideoftheorganismbytheintelligence。TomeitisquitecrediblethattheMartiansmaybedescendedfrombeingsnotunlikeourselves，byagradualdevelopmentofbrainandhands（thelattergivingrisetothetwobunchesofdelicatetentaclesatlast）attheexpenseoftherestofthebody。Withoutthebodythebrainwould，ofcourse，becomeamereselfishintelligence，withoutanyoftheemotionalsubstratumofthehumanbeing。
Thelastsalientpointinwhichthesystemsofthesecreaturesdifferedfromourswasinwhatonemighthavethoughtaverytrivialparticular。
Micro-organisms，whichcausesomuchdiseaseandpainonearth，haveeitherneverappeareduponMarsorMartiansanitaryscienceeliminatedthemagesago。Ahundreddiseases，allthefeversandcon-tagionsofhumanlife，consumption，cancers，tumoursandsuchmorbidities，neverentertheschemeoftheirlife。AndspeakingofthedifferencesbetweenthelifeonMarsandterrestriallife，Imayalludeheretothecurioussuggestionsoftheredweed。
ApparentlythevegetablekingdominMars，insteadofhavinggreenforadominantcolour，isofavividblood-redtint。Atanyrate，theseedswhichtheMartians（intentionallyoraccidentally）broughtwiththemgaveriseinallcasestored-colouredgrowths。Onlythatknownpopularlyastheredweed，however，gainedanyfootingincompetitionwithterrestrialforms。Theredcreeperwasquiteatransitorygrowth，andfewpeoplehaveseenitgrowing。Foratime，however，theredweedgrewwithastonishingvigourandluxuriance。Itspreadupthesidesofthepitbythethirdorfourthdayofourimprisonment，anditscactus-likebranchesformedacarminefringetotheedgesofourtriangularwindow。AndafterwardsIfounditbroadcastthroughoutthecountry，andespeciallywherevertherewasastreamofwater。
TheMartianshadwhatappearstohavebeenanauditoryorgan，asinglerounddrumatthebackofthehead-body，andeyeswithavisualrangenotverydifferentfromoursexceptthat，accordingtoPhilips，blueandvioletwereasblacktothem。Itiscommonlysupposedthattheycom-municatedbysoundsandtentaculargesticulations；thisisasserted，forinstance，intheablebuthastilycompiledpamphlet（writtenevidentlybysomeonenotaneye-witnessofMartianactions）towhichIhavealreadyalluded，andwhich，sofar，hasbeenthechiefsourceofinformationcon-cerningthem。NownosurvivinghumanbeingsawsomuchoftheMartiansinactionasIdid。Itakenocredittomyselfforanaccident，butthefactisso。
AndIassertthatIwatchedthemcloselytimeaftertime，andthatIhaveseenfour，five，and（once）sixofthemsluggishlyperformingthemostelabo-ratelycomplicatedoperationstogetherwithouteithersoundorgesture。
Theirpeculiarhootinginvariablyprecededfeed-ing；ithadnomodulation，andwas，Ibelieve，innosenseasignal，butmerelytheexpirationofairpreparatorytothesuctionaloperation。Ihaveacertainclaimtoatleastanelementaryknowledgeofpsychology，andinthismatterIamconvinced——asfirmlyasIamconvincedofanything——thattheMartiansinterchangedthoughtswithoutanyphysicalintermediation。AndIhavebeenconvincedofthisinspiteofstrongpreconceptions。BeforetheMartianinvasion，asanoccasionalreaderhereortheremayremember，Ihadwrittenwithsomelittlevehemenceagainstthetelepathictheory。
TheMartiansworenoclothing。Theirconceptionsoforna-mentanddecorumwerenecessarilydifferentfromours；andnotonlyweretheyevidentlymuchlesssensibleofchangesoftemperaturethanweare，butchangesofpressuredonotseemtohaveaffectedtheirhealthatallseriously。Yetthoughtheyworenoclothing，itwasintheotherartificialadditionstotheirbodilyresourcesthattheirgreatsuperiorityovermanlay。Wemen，withourbicyclesandroad-skates，ourLilienthalsoaring-machines，ourgunsandsticksandsoforth，arejustinthebeginningoftheevolutionthattheMartianshaveworkedout。Theyhavebecomepracticallymerebrains，wearingdifferentbodiesaccordingtotheirneedsjustasmenwearsuitsofclothesandtakeabicycleinahurryoranumbrellainthewet。Andoftheirappliances，perhapsnothingismorewonderfultoamanthanthecuriousfactthatwhatisthedominantfeatureofalmostallhumandevicesinmechanismisabsent——theWHEELisabsent；amongallthethingstheybroughttoearththereisnotraceorsuggestionoftheiruseofwheels。
Onewouldhaveatleastexpecteditinlocomotion。AndinthisconnectionitiscurioustoremarkthatevenonthisearthNaturehasneverhituponthewheel，orhaspreferredotherexpedientstoitsdevelopment。AndnotonlydidtheMartianseithernotknowof（whichisincredible），orabstainfrom，thewheel，butintheirapparatussingularlylittleuseismadeofthefixedpivotorrelativelyfixedpivot，withcircularmotionsthereaboutconfinedtooneplane。Almostallthejointsofthemachinerypresentacom-plicatedsystemofslidingpartsmovingoversmallbutbeauti-fullycurvedfrictionbearings。Andwhileuponthismatterofdetail，itisremarkablethatthelongleveragesoftheirmachinesareinmostcasesactuatedbyasortofshammusculatureofthedisksinanelasticsheath；thesedisksbecomepolarisedanddrawncloselyandpowerfullytogetherwhentraversedbyacurrentofelectricity。Inthiswaythecuriousparallelismtoanimalmotions，whichwassostrikinganddisturbingtothehumanbeholder，wasattained。Suchquasi-musclesaboundedinthecrablikehandling-machinewhich，onmyfirstpeepingoutoftheslit，Iwatchedun-packingthecylinder。
ItseemedinfinitelymorealivethantheactualMartianslyingbeyonditinthesunsetlight，panting，stirringineffectualtentacles，andmovingfeeblyaftertheirvastjourneyacrossspace。
WhileIwasstillwatchingtheirsluggishmotionsinthesunlight，andnotingeachstrangedetailoftheirform，thecurateremindedmeofhispresencebypullingviolentlyatmyarm。Iturnedtoascowlingface，andsilent，eloquentlips。Hewantedtheslit，whichpermittedonlyoneofustopeepthrough；andsoIhadtoforegowatchingthemforatimewhileheenjoyedthatprivilege。
WhenIlookedagain，thebusyhandling-machinehadalreadyputtogetherseveralofthepiecesofapparatusithadtakenoutofthecylinderintoashapehavinganun-mistakablelikenesstoitsown；anddownontheleftabusylittlediggingmechanismhadcomeintoview，emittingjetsofgreenvapourandworkingitswayroundthepit，excavatingandembankinginamethodicalanddiscriminatingmanner。Thisitwaswhichhadcausedtheregularbeatingnoise，andtherhythmicshocksthathadkeptourruinousrefugequiver-ing。Itpipedandwhistledasitworked。SofarasIcouldsee，thethingwaswithoutadirectingMartianatall。
TheWaroftheWorlds-Book2-Chapter3Chapter3-TheDaysofImprisonmentThearrivalofasecondfighting-machinedroveusfromourpeepholeintothescullery，forwefearedthatfromhiselevationtheMartianmightseedownuponusbehindourbarrier。Atalaterdatewebegantofeellessindangeroftheireyes，fortoaneyeinthedazzleofthesunlightoutsideourrefugemusthavebeenblankblackness，butatfirsttheslightestsuggestionofapproachdroveusintothesculleryinheart-throbbingretreat。Yetterribleaswasthedangerweincurred，theattractionofpeepingwasforbothofusirresist-ible。AndIrecallnowwithasortofwonderthat，inspiteoftheinfinitedangerinwhichwewerebetweenstarvationandastillmoreterribledeath，wecouldyetstrugglebitterlyforthathorribleprivilegeofsight。Wewouldraceacrossthekitcheninagrotesquewaybetweeneagernessandthedreadofmakinganoise，andstrikeeachother，andthrustaddkick，withinafewinchesofexposure。
Thefactisthatwehadabsolutelyincompatibledispositionsandhabitsofthoughtandaction，andourdangerandisolationonlyaccentuatedtheincompatibility。AtHallifordIhadal-readycometohatethecurate\'strickofhelplessexclamation，hisstupidrigidityofmind。HisendlessmutteringmonologuevitiatedeveryeffortImadetothinkoutalineofaction，anddrovemeattimes，thuspentupandintensified，almosttothevergeofcraziness。Hewasaslackinginrestraintasasillywoman。
Hewouldweepforhourstogether，andIverilybelievethattotheveryendthisspoiledchildoflifethoughthisweaktearsinsomewayefficacious。
AndIwouldsitinthedarknessunabletokeepmymindoffhimbyreasonofhisimportunities。HeatemorethanIdid，anditwasinvainIpointedoutthatouronlychanceoflifewastostopinthehouseuntiltheMartianshaddonewiththeirpit，thatinthatlongpatienceatimemightpresentlycomewhenweshouldneedfood。Heateanddrankimpulsivelyinheavymealsatlongintervals。Hesleptlittle。
Asthedaysworeon，hisuttercarelessnessofanyconsidera-tionsointensifiedourdistressanddangerthatIhad，muchasIloatheddoingit，toresorttothreats，andatlasttoblows。Thatbroughthimtoreasonforatime。Buthewasoneofthoseweakcreatures，voidofpride，timorous，anaemic，hatefulsouls，fullofshiftycunning，whofaceneitherGodnorman，whofacenoteventhemselves。
Itisdisagreeableformetorecallandwritethesethings，butIsetthemdownthatmystorymaylacknothing。Thosewhohaveescapedthedarkandterribleaspectsoflifewillfindmybrutality，myflashofrageinourfinaltragedy，easyenoughtoblame；fortheyknowwhatiswrongaswellasany，butnotwhatispossibletotorturedmen。Butthosewhohavebeenundertheshadow，whohavegonedownatlasttoelementalthings，willhaveawidercharity。
Andwhilewithinwefoughtoutourdark，dimcontestofwhispers，snatchedfoodanddrink，andgrippinghandsandblows，without，inthepitilesssunlightofthatterribleJune，wasthestrangewonder，theunfamiliarroutineoftheMartiansinthepit。Letmereturntothosefirstnewexperi-
encesofmine。AfteralongtimeIventuredbacktothepeephole，tofindthatthenew-comershadbeenreinforcedbytheoccupantsofnofewerthanthreeofthefighting-machines。Theselasthadbroughtwiththemcertainfreshappliancesthatstoodinanorderlymanneraboutthecylinder。Thesecondhandling-machinewasnowcompleted，andwasbusiedinservingoneofthenovelcontrivancesthebigmachinehadbrought。Thiswasabodyresemblingamilkcaninitsgeneralform，abovewhichoscillatedapear-shapedreceptacle，andfromwhichastreamofwhitepowderflowedintoacircularbasinbelow。
Theoscillatorymotionwasimpartedtothisbyonetentacleofthehandling-machine。
Withtwospatulatehandsthehandling-machinewasdiggingoutandflingingmassesofclayintothepear-shapedreceptacleabove，whilewithanotherarmitperiodicallyopenedadoorandremovedrustyandblack-enedclinkersfromthemiddlepartofthemachine。Anothersteelytentacledirectedthepowderfromthebasinalongaribbedchanneltowardssomereceiverthatwashiddenfrommebythemoundofbluishdust。Fromthisunseenreceiveralittlethreadofgreensmokeroseverticallyintothequietair。AsI
looked，thehandling-machine，withafaintandmusicalclinking，extended，telescopicfashion，atentaclethathadbeenamomentbeforeamerebluntprojection，untilitsendwashiddenbehindthemoundofclay。Inanothersecondithadliftedabarofwhitealuminiumintosight，untarnishedasyet，andshiningdazzlingly，anddepositeditinagrowingstackofbarsthatstoodatthesideofthepit。Betweensunsetandstarlightthisdexterousmachinemusthavemademorethanahundredsuchbarsoutofthecrudeclay，andthemoundofbluishdustrosesteadilyuntilittoppedthesideofthepit。
