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。

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