The dawn was bright. The artilleryman and I went downstairs very quietly. We decided that we could not stay in the house. The artilleryman wanted to go to London to find his army unit. I wanted to go to Leatherhead to see my wife.
I wanted to take my wife to a town called Newhaven. Then I wanted to leave England with her. I knew there would be a big war near London soon. I did not think the humans could win easily against the Martians.
The third cylinder was between my house and Leatherhead. The artilleryman told me it was too dangerous to go alone. I agreed to walk with him to a place called Street Cobham first. From there, I would walk a long way around the danger to reach my wife.
We found a flask (a small bottle for alcohol) and filled it with whisky. We put biscuits and meat in our pockets. Then we ran out of the house. I saw three burned bodies on the road. People dropped many things as they ran away. I saw a silver spoon and a clock on the ground.
We went into the woods at the bottom of the hill. The trees were gray and brown because of the heat. We met three soldiers on horses. They had a heliograph (a tool that uses mirrors and sunlight to send messages).
The leader was a lieutenant (an officer in the army). He asked us for news. The artilleryman told him about the giant machines and the Heat-Ray. The lieutenant did not believe him at first. He told the artilleryman to report to a general in the town of Weybridge.
We walked past Byfleet station. The morning was very peaceful and the sun was hot. We saw a group of soldiers on a bridge. In a field, we saw six big guns. The soldiers stood near the guns and waited for the Martians.
The village of Byfleet was very busy. Many people were packing their things. I saw an old man with a large box of orchids (beautiful and expensive flowers). He was angry because the soldiers told him to leave his flowers. I told him that death was coming, but he did not listen.
Weybridge was full of noise and confusion. There were many carts and carriages in the streets. The children were excited, but the parents were very afraid. A vicar (a priest in the church) was still having a morning service. I heard the sound of his church bell.
The artilleryman and I ate our food near a fountain. Soldiers told the people to hide in their cellars (rooms under a house). The railway station was very crowded. People were fighting to get on the trains. We walked to the river where the Wey and Thames rivers meet.
Many people were near the water. They wanted to cross the river in boats. Some people carried heavy furniture. They thought the Martians were just strong men. They were not very afraid yet. They looked across the river, but everything was quiet.
Suddenly, we heard a loud sound. It was the sound of a gun. The fighting started near the town of Chertsey. A woman screamed. Everyone stopped and looked at the meadows. Then a big explosion shook the ground and broke some windows.
Four giant Martians appeared over the trees. They walked very fast toward the river. Then a fifth Martian appeared. Their metal bodies were shiny in the sun. The Martian on the left used the Heat-Ray. It hit the town of Chertsey and the town began to burn.
The crowd was silent for a moment. Then everyone started to run and push. I knew the Heat-Ray was coming. I knew I must get under the water to stay safe. I ran into the river and jumped into the deep water.
The giant Martian walked into the water. It was very close to the village of Shepperton. Suddenly, six hidden guns fired at the Martian. The noise was very loud. The Martian raised its Heat-Ray, but a shell hit its head.
The head of the machine broke into many pieces of metal. The machine moved like a drunk giant. It hit the church tower and broke it. Then the machine fell into the river. There was a huge explosion of water and steam.
The water became very hot. A big wave moved toward me. I saw the fallen Martian in the river. It was mostly under the water. The metal was very hot and it made thick steam. The long tentacles (long, thin arms that can bend) moved like a hurt animal.
I heard a loud sound like a siren (a machine that makes a very loud warning noise). The other Martians were coming. I stayed under the water and held my breath. The water was getting hotter and hotter. I was in great pain.
I raised my head for air. The steam was like a thick white fog. I saw the other Martians through the mist. Two Martians looked at their dead friend. The others used their Heat-Rays to burn the houses and the trees.
The Heat-Ray hit the water near me. The river started to boil. I screamed and ran toward the shore. I was half-blinded and my skin was burned. I fell on the gravel and waited to die.
A giant foot came down very close to my head. The Martians did not see me. They picked up the pieces of their broken comrade. They carried the metal away across the fields. I lay on the ground and realized I was alive. It was a miracle.