There were a dozen dead bodies in the Euston road, their outlines softened by the black dust. All was still, houses locked
and empty, shops closed, but looters had helped themselves to wine and food, and outside a jewelers some gold chains and a
watch were scattered on the pavement.
I stopped, staring towards the sound. It seemed as if that mighty desert of houses had found a voice for its fear
and solitude.
The desolating cry worked upon my mind. The wailing took possession of me. I was intensely weary, footsore, hungry
and thirsty. Why was I wandering alone in this city of the dead? Why was I alive when London was lying in state in its black
shroud? I felt intolerably lonely, drifting from street to empty street, drawn inexorably towards that cry.
I saw, over the trees on Primrose Hill, the fighting machine from which the howling came.
I crossed Regent's Canal. There stood a second machine, upright, but as still as the first.
Abruptly, the sound ceased. Suddenly the desolation, the solitude, became unendurable. While
that voice sounded London still seemed alive. now suddenly there was a change, the passing of something, and all that remained
was this gaunt quiet.
I looked up, and saw a third machine. It was erect and motionless, like the others. An insane resolve
possessed me: I would give my life to the Martians, here and now.
I marched recklessly towards the titan and saw that a
multitude of black birds were circling and clustering about the hood. I began running along the road. I felt no fear, only
a wild, trembling exultation as I ran up the hill towards the monster. Out of the hood hung red shreds, at which the hungry
birds now pecked and tore.
I scrambled up to the crest of Primrose hill, the Martian's camp was below me. A mighty space
it was, and scattered about it, in their overturned machines, were the Martians, slain after all man's devices had failed
by the humblest creatures on the earth: bacteria. Minute, invisible, bacteria. Directly the invaders arrived and drank and
fed, our microscopic allies attacked them. From that moment, they were doomed.
The torment was ended. The people scattered
over the country, desperate, leaderless, starved, the thousands who had fled by sea including the one most dear to me; all
could return, the pulse of life growing stronger and stronger would beat again.
As life returns to normal, the question
of another attack from Mars causes universal concern. Is our planet safe, or is this time of peace merely a reprieve? It may
be that across the immensity of space, they have learned their lessons , and even now await their opportunity. Perhaps the
future belongs not to us, but to the Martians.
