It was the sixth day of our imprisonment. I looked through the hole for the last time. The Curate (the man from the church) was not near me. He was in the scullery (the small room for washing). I went into the room quietly.
In the darkness, I heard the Curate drinking. I reached out my hand and grabbed a bottle. We fought for the bottle in the dark. The bottle hit the floor and broke. We stood in the dark and breathed heavily.
I stood between the Curate and the food. I told him we must have a plan. I divided the food into ten small parts. This food had to last for ten days. I did not let him eat any more that day.
The Curate cried because he was hungry. For two days, we fought in whispers. Sometimes I hit him because I was angry. Sometimes I was kind to him. But the Curate was now insane (mentally ill or crazy).
The Curate talked to himself all the time. He did not try to be quiet. I had terrible dreams when I slept. I think I was also becoming a little crazy. But the Curate’s loud talking made me stay alert.
On the eighth day, he began to talk loudly. He said that God was punishing the world. He said he was a bad priest in the past. He said the Martians were the servants of God. I asked him to be quiet.
The Curate began to threaten me. He said he would shout and bring the Martians. He talked loudly for two days. He was very sorry for his sins. Then he slept and woke up with more strength.
“Be still!” I whispered to him. The Curate got up on his knees. He said he must speak the truth. He said the city was bad and God was angry. He began to shout very loudly.
I stood up because I was terrified. I was afraid the Martians would hear his voice. I told him to stop, but he did not listen. He ran toward the kitchen door. He wanted to go outside.
I saw a meat chopper (a heavy knife for cutting meat) on the wall. I grabbed it and ran after him. I was very afraid. Before he reached the middle of the kitchen, I hit him. I hit him with the back of the tool.
The Curate fell to the floor. He did not move. I stood over him and breathed fast. Suddenly, I heard a noise outside. Some dirt fell from the wall. The hole in the wall became dark.
I looked up and saw a machine. It was a handling-machine (a machine with many arms). A long metal tentacle (a thin, metal arm that moves like a snake) came through the hole. It moved around the room.
I was very still. I watched the metal arm move. Then I ran to the coal cellar (a dark room for storing coal). I opened the door and hid in the darkness. I listened to the sounds in the kitchen.
The tentacle moved around the kitchen. It tapped against the walls. Then I heard a heavy body move across the floor. The machine was pulling the Curate out of the house. I was very afraid.
I went back to the cellar door and looked out. I saw the Martian looking at the Curate’s head. I thought the Martian would find me next. I went back into the dark cellar and hid under the coal.
I heard a metallic noise again. The tentacle was back in the kitchen. Then I heard it in the scullery. It was coming toward my door. I prayed to God. The tentacle touched the cellar door.
The Martians understood how to use doors. The tentacle moved the lock and the door opened. In the dark, I saw the long, black arm. It looked like a very long worm. It moved toward me.
The tentacle touched the heel of my boot. I wanted to scream, but I bit my hand. The tentacle was quiet for a moment. Then it grabbed a piece of coal and went out of the room.
I moved my body a little bit. My legs were very tired. I prayed again for my life. Then I heard the tentacle coming back. It moved slowly and scratched the walls.
The tentacle hit the door and closed it. Then I heard the machine in the food room. It moved the tins of biscuits and broke a bottle. Then it was quiet. I waited in the dark.
I stayed in the coal cellar for the whole tenth day. I was very thirsty, but I did not move. I was too afraid to leave my hiding place. I stayed there until the eleventh day.