Chapter Sixteen The Exodus From London 4 страница

(“Сын Грома”; child — ребенок, дитя; мальчик или девочка)

Had the Martians aimed only at destruction (имей марсиане своей целью только разрушение), they might on Monday have annihilated the entire population of London (они могли бы в понедельник уничтожить все население Лондона), as it spread itself slowly through the home counties (когда оно медленно разбредалось: «распространялось» по окружающим Лондон графствам; home counties — графства Мидлсекс, Эссекс, Кент, Суррей, которые окружают Лондон). Not only along the road through Barnet (не только по дороге через Барнет), but also through Edgware and Waltham Abbey (а также через Эджуэр и Уолтхэм-Эбби; abbey — аббатство), and along the roads eastward to Southend and Shoeburyness (и по дорогам, /ведущим/ на восток к Саусенду и Шубэринесу), and south of the Thames to Deal and Broadstairs (и на юг от Темзы к Дилю и Бродстэрсу), poured the same frantic rout (валили такие же обезумевшие толпы; rout — беспорядочное бегство; стремительное отступление; шумное сборище, скопление народа). If one could have hung that June morning in a balloon (если бы тем июньским утром можно было подняться: «повиснуть» на шаре) in the blazing blue above London (в сверкающие голубые небеса над Лондоном) every northward and eastward road running out of the tangled maze of streets (то все дороги, ведущие на север и на восток из запутанного лабиринта улиц) would have seemed stippled black with the streaming fugitives (показались бы исчерчены черными потоками беженцев; to stipple — чертить или рисовать пунктиром), each dot a human agony of terror and physical distress (каждая точка /означала бы/ человека, /исполненного/ муками ужаса и физической боли).

annihilate [q'naIqleIt], entire [In'taIq], physical ['fIzIk(q)l]

Had the Martians aimed only at destruction, they might on Monday have annihilated the entire population of London, as it spread itself slowly through the home counties. Not only along the road through Barnet, but also through Edgware and Waltham Abbey, and along the roads eastward to Southend and Shoeburyness, and south of the Thames to Deal and Broadstairs, poured the same frantic rout. If one could have hung that June morning in a balloon in the blazing blue above London every northward and eastward road running out of the tangled maze of streets would have seemed stippled black with the streaming fugitives, each dot a human agony of terror and physical distress.

I have set forth at length in the last chapter my brother’s account of the road through Chipping Barnet (я подробно изложил в последней = предыдущей главе рассказ своего брата о дороге через Чиппинг-Барнет; to set forth — излагать, формулировать; at length — детально, подробно; account — отчет; рассказ), in order that my readers may realize (для того, чтобы мои читатели могли понять) how that swarming of black dots appeared to one of those concerned (каким этот рой черных точек воспринимал один из участников /событий/; to concern — касаться, иметь отношение). Never before in the history of the world (никогда прежде в истории мира) had such a mass of human beings moved and suffered together (не передвигалась и не страдала одновременно такая масса человеческих существ). The legendary hosts of Goths and Huns (легендарные полчища готов и гуннов), the hugest armies Asia has ever seen (величайшие армии, которые когда-либо появлялись в Азии: «которые видела Азия»), would have been but a drop in that current (были бы каплей в этом потоке). And this was no disciplined march (это было не упорядоченное шествие; march — походное движение, марш /воен./); it was a stampede — a stampede gigantic and terrible (это было паническое бегство — тотальная и ужасающая миграция; stampede — паническое бегство; стихийный массовый исход; gigantic — большой, громадный) — without order and without a goal (без порядка и без цели), six million people unarmed and unprovisioned, driving headlong (шесть миллионов человек, безоружных и без запасов провизии, безрассудно /куда-то/ бегущих; to drive — гнать; дрейфовать, мчаться, нестись /перемещаться с помощью ветра, воды и других естественных агентов/; headlong — головой вперед /о падении вниз, нырянии/; стремительно, безрассудно; неуправляемо; очертя голову). It was the beginning of the rout of civilization (это было началом поражения цивилизации), of the massacre of mankind (уничтожения человечества; massacre — бойня, резня).

length [leNT], legendary ['ledZ(q)nd(q)rI], mankind [" mxn'kaInd]

I have set forth at length in the last chapter my brother’s account of the road through Chipping Barnet, in order that my readers may realize how that swarming of black dots appeared to one of those concerned. Never before in the history of the world had such a mass of human beings moved and suffered together. The legendary hosts of Goths and Huns, the hugest armies Asia has ever seen, would have been but a drop in that current. And this was no disciplined march; it was a stampede — a stampede gigantic and terrible — without order and without a goal, six million people unarmed and unprovisioned, driving headlong. It was the beginning of the rout of civilization, of the massacre of mankind.

Directly below him the balloonist would have seen the network of streets far and wide (прямо под собой воздухоплаватель увидел бы сеть длинных и широких улиц), houses, churches, squares, crescents, gardens — already derelict (дома, церкви, площади, перекрестки, скверы — уже покинутые; crescent — полумесяц; дома, стоящие полукругом) — spread out like a huge map, and in the southward blotted (растянувшиеся, словно огромная карта, /немного/ “запачканная” на юге; to spread out — растягиваться, вытягиваться). Over Ealing, Richmond, Wimbledon, it would have seemed as if some monstrous pen had flung ink upon the chart (над Илингом, Ричмондом, Уимблдоном показалось бы, будто с какого-то огромного пера на карту упали чернила; to fling — кидать/ся/, бросать/ся/). Steadily, incessantly, each black splash grew and spread (неуклонно, беспрерывно каждое черное пятно росло и расплывалось; splash — плеск, всплеск; пятно), shooting out ramifications this way and that (выбрасывая в разные стороны ответвления; to shoot out — выскакивать, вылетать; выбрасывать, выкидывать), now banking itself against rising ground (то окружая возвышенности; to bank — сгребать в кучу; окружать, окаймлять), now pouring swiftly over a crest into a new-found valley (то быстро перетекая через гребни в новооткрытую впадину), exactly as a gout of ink would spread itself upon blotting paper (точно так, как чернильное пятно расплывается на промокательной бумаге).

network ['netwq: k], incessantly [In'ses(q)ntlI], ramification [" rxmIfI'keIS(q)n]

Directly below him the balloonist would have seen the network of streets far and wide, houses, churches, squares, crescents, gardens — already derelict — spread out like a huge map, and in the southward blotted. Over Ealing, Richmond, Wimbledon, it would have seemed as if some monstrous pen had flung ink upon the chart. Steadily, incessantly, each black splash grew and spread, shooting out ramifications this way and that, now banking itself against rising ground, now pouring swiftly over a crest into a new-found valley, exactly as a gout of ink would spread itself upon blotting paper.

And beyond, over the blue hills that rise southward of the river (а там, за синими холмами, поднимающимися к югу от реки), the glittering Martians went to and fro (бродили сверкающие марсиане; to glitter — блестеть, сверкать), calmly and methodically spreading their poison cloud (спокойно и методично покрывая своим ядовитым облаком) over this patch of country and then over that (то этот участок местности, то другой), laying it again with their steam jets (осаждая его /облако/ снова струями пара; to lay — класть, положить; заставлять падать) when it had served its purpose (после того, как он сделает свое дело: «послужит своей цели»), and taking possession of the conquered country (и овладевали завоеванной территорией). They do not seem to have aimed at extermination so much (казалось, их целью было не столько истребить) as at complete demoralisation and the destruction of any opposition (сколько полностью деморализовать и сломить любое сопротивление). They exploded any stores of powder they came upon (они взрывали все склады пороха, на которые натыкались), cut every telegraph, and wrecked the railways here and there (повсюду обрывали телеграфные линии и разрушали железные дороги). They were hamstringing mankind (они перерезали человечеству вены; hamstring — подколенное сухожилие). They seemed in no hurry to extend the field of their operations (казалось, они не спешили расширить поле своих действий), and did not come beyond the central part of London all that day (и в тот день не пошли дальше центральной части Лондона). It is possible that a very considerable number of people in London (возможно, что значительное число жителей Лондона) stuck to their houses through Monday morning (не покидало своих домов все утро в понедельник; to stick — втыкать, вкалывать; остаться, застрять). Certain it is that many died at home suffocated by the Black Smoke (несомненно, что многие умерли дома от удушения черным дымом).

purpose ['pq: pqs], conquer ['kONkq], complete [kqm'pli: t]

And beyond, over the blue hills that rise southward of the river, the glittering Martians went to and fro, calmly and methodically spreading their poison cloud over this patch of country and then over that, laying it again with their steam jets when it had served its purpose, and taking possession of the conquered country. They do not seem to have aimed at extermination so much as at complete demoralisation and the destruction of any opposition. They exploded any stores of powder they came upon, cut every telegraph, and wrecked the railways here and there. They were hamstringing mankind. They seemed in no hurry to extend the field of their operations, and did not come beyond the central part of London all that day. It is possible that a very considerable number of people in London stuck to their houses through Monday morning. Certain it is that many died at home suffocated by the Black Smoke.

Until about midday the Pool of London was an astonishing scene (примерно до полудня Пул представлял собой удивительное зрелище; Pool of London — участок Темзы ниже Лондонского моста, выше которого океанские суда не поднимаются). Steamboats and shipping of all sorts lay there, tempted by the enormous sums of money offered by fugitives (там стояли пароходы и другие суда, соблазненные баснословными суммами «денег», которые предлагали беженцы), and it is said that many who swam out to these vessels (и говорят, что многих, кто /пытался/ вплавь добраться к этим судам) were thrust off with boathooks and drowned (отталкивали баграми, и они тонули; hook — крюк). About one o’clock in the afternoon the thinning remnant of a cloud of the black vapour (около часа дня редеющие остатки облаков черного газа) appeared between the arches of Blackfriars Bridge (появились = были замечены между арками моста Блэкфрайрз). At that the Pool became a scene of mad confusion, fighting, and collision (тут же Пул стал местом дикого смятения, борьбы и переполоха; collision — столкновение), and for some time a multitude of boats and barges jammed in the northern arch of the Tower Bridge (некоторое время множество лодок и барж загромождали северную арку Тауэрского моста; to jam — сжимать, зажимать; загромождать), and the sailors and lightermen had to fight savagely against the people (морякам и матросам с лихтеров приходилось отчаянно отбиваться от людей) who swarmed upon them from the riverfront (которые толпой напирали с прибрежной зоны). People were actually clambering down the piers of the bridge from above (люди даже спускались сверху по устоям моста; actually — фактически, на самом деле).

enormous [I'nO: mqs], remnant ['remnqnt], sailor ['seIlq]

Until about midday the Pool of London was an astonishing scene. Steamboats and shipping of all sorts lay there, tempted by the enormous sums of money offered by fugitives, and it is said that many who swam out to these vessels were thrust off with boathooks and drowned. About one o’clock in the afternoon the thinning remnant of a cloud of the black vapour appeared between the arches of Blackfriars Bridge. At that the Pool became a scene of mad confusion, fighting, and collision, and for some time a multitude of boats and barges jammed in the northern arch of the Tower Bridge, and the sailors and lightermen had to fight savagely against the people who swarmed upon them from the riverfront. People were actually clambering down the piers of the bridge from above.

When, an hour later, a Martian appeared beyond the Clock Tower (когда часом позже марсианин появился за зданием парламента; Clock Tower — башня здания парламента с часами Биг Бен) and waded down the river (и пошел вниз по реке; to wade — переходить вброд), nothing but wreckage floated above Limehouse (выше Лаймхауза ничего, кроме обломков, на воде не было; to float — плавать, держаться на поверхности).

Of the falling of the fifth cylinder I have presently to tell (о падении пятого цилиндра я расскажу чуть позже). The sixth star fell at Wimbledon (шестая звезда упала возле Уимблдона). My brother, keeping watch beside the women in the chaise in a meadow (брат, неся вахту возле женщин в коляске на лугу; to keep watch — караулить, сторожить), saw the green flash of it far beyond the hills (увидел зеленую вспышку далеко за холмами). On Tuesday the little party, still set upon getting across the sea (во вторник /их/ маленькая группа, все еще настроенная на то, чтобы пересечь море; to set — ставить, помещать; настраивать), made its way through the swarming country towards Colchester (направилась по заполненной беженцами округе к Колчестеру; to swarm — толпиться, кишеть). The news that the Martians were now in possession of the whole of London was confirmed (новость о том, что марсиане уже полностью овладели Лондоном, подтвердилась). They had been seen at Highgate (их видели у Хайгейта), and even, it was said, at Neasden (и даже, поговаривали, — у Нисдена). But they did not come into my brother’s view until the morrow (но они не попадали в поле зрения брата = но брат их не видел вплоть до следующего дня).

meadow ['medqu], confirm [kqn'fq: m], view [vju: ]

When, an hour later, a Martian appeared beyond the Clock Tower and waded down the river, nothing but wreckage floated above Limehouse.

Of the falling of the fifth cylinder I have presently to tell. The sixth star fell at Wimbledon. My brother, keeping watch beside the women in the chaise in a meadow, saw the green flash of it far beyond the hills. On Tuesday the little party, still set upon getting across the sea, made its way through the swarming country towards Colchester. The news that the Martians were now in possession of the whole of London was confirmed. They had been seen at Highgate, and even, it was said, at Neasden. But they did not come into my brother’s view until the morrow.

That day the scattered multitudes began to realize (в тот день разрозненные толпы беженцев стали понимать = ощущать) the urgent need of provisions (острую потребность в пище). As they grew hungry the rights of property ceased to be regarded (по мере того, как они становились голодны, права собственности перестали уважаться). Farmers were out to defend their cattle-sheds, granaries (фермеры выходили защищать свои скотные дворы, амбары), and ripening root crops with arms in their hands (и созревающие корнеплоды с оружием в руках; root — корень; crop — урожай, жатва; посев; /с.-х./ культура). A number of people now, like my brother, had their faces eastward (некоторые люди, как и мой брат, повернули «лица» на восток), and there were some desperate souls even going back towards London to get food (были даже такие отчаянные головы, которые возвращались в сторону Лондона, чтобы добыть /себе/ пищу). These were chiefly people from the northern suburbs (это были, в основном, жители северных окраин), whose knowledge of the Black Smoke came by hearsay (которые знали о черном дыме понаслышке). He heard that about half the members of the government had gathered at Birmingham (он слышал, что примерно половина членов правительства собралась в Бирмингеме), and that enormous quantities of high explosives were being prepared (и что было заготовлено огромное количество взрывчатки) to be used in automatic mines across the Midland counties (чтобы использовать ее в автоматических минах в графствах Мидленда).

provision [prq'vIZ(q)n], granary ['grxn(q)rI], hearsay ['hIqseI]

That day the scattered multitudes began to realize the urgent need of provisions. As they grew hungry the rights of property ceased to be regarded. Farmers were out to defend their cattle-sheds, granaries, and ripening root crops with arms in their hands. A number of people now, like my brother, had their faces eastward, and there were some desperate souls even going back towards London to get food. These were chiefly people from the northern suburbs, whose knowledge of the Black Smoke came by hearsay. He heard that about half the members of the government had gathered at Birmingham, and that enormous quantities of high explosives were being prepared to be used in automatic mines across the Midland counties.

He was also told that the Midland Railway Company had replaced the desertions of the first day’s panic (ему также рассказали, что Мидлендская железнодорожная компания набрала новых сотрудников на должности, покинутые в первый день паники; to replace — заменять, замещать; desertion — дезертирство, уход /из семьи, с работы/), had resumed traffic, and was running northward trains from St. Albans (возобновила движение и пустила поезда северного направления из Сент-Олбэнса) to relieve the congestion of the home counties (чтобы облегчить перевозку людей из окрестных графств; congestion — скопление; затор /движения/). There was also a placard in Chipping Ongar announcing (также в Чиппинг-Онгаре висело объявление, сообщавшее) that large stores of flour were available in the northern towns (что в северных городах имеются: «доступны» большие запасы муки) and that within twenty-four hours bread would be distributed among the starving people in the neighbourhood (и что в течение двадцати четырех часов хлеб будет распределятся между нуждающимися: «голодающими» по соседству = в соседних районах). But this intelligence did not deter him from the plan of escape he had formed (но эта информация не заставила брата /изменить/ план «бегства», который он разработал; to deter — удерживать, останавливать), and the three pressed eastward all day (и /они/ втроем весь день пробирались на восток), and heard no more of the bread distribution than this promise (и, кроме этого обещания, больше не слышали о раздаче хлеба). Nor, as a matter of fact, did anyone else hear more of it (собственно говоря, и никто другой не слышал об этом). That night fell the seventh star, falling upon Primrose Hill (той ночью седьмая звезда упала на Примроуз-Хилл). It fell while Miss Elphinstone was watching (она упала, когда дежурила мисс Элфинстоун), for she took that duty alternately with my brother (поскольку она выполняла эту обязанность поочередно с моим братом). She saw it (она видела падение).

traffic ['trxfIk], congestion [kqn'dZestS(q)n], duty ['dju: tI]

He was also told that the Midland Railway Company had replaced the desertions of the first day’s panic, had resumed traffic, and was running northward trains from St. Albans to relieve the congestion of the home counties. There was also a placard in Chipping Ongar announcing that large stores of flour were available in the northern towns and that within twenty-four hours bread would be distributed among the starving people in the neighbourhood. But this intelligence did not deter him from the plan of escape he had formed, and the three pressed eastward all day, and heard no more of the bread distribution than this promise. Nor, as a matter of fact, did anyone else hear more of it. That night fell the seventh star, falling upon Primrose Hill. It fell while Miss Elphinstone was watching, for she took that duty alternately with my brother. She saw it.

On Wednesday the three fugitives (в среду трое беженцев) — they had passed the night in a field of unripe wheat (они провели ночь в поле невызревшей пшеницы) — reached Chelmsford (достигли Челмсфорда), and there a body of the inhabitants, calling itself the Committee of Public Supply (а там какая-то организация из местных жителей, называющих себя Комитетом общественного снабжения), seized the pony as provisions (завладела их пони как продовольствием), and would give nothing in exchange for it (и взамен не дала ничего) but the promise of a share in it the next day (кроме обещания доли при его /разделе/ на следующий день). Here there were rumours of Martians at Epping (здесь ходили слухи, что марсиане /уже/ у Эппинга), and news of the destruction of Waltham Abbey Powder Mills (и /рассказывали/ новость об уничтожении пороховых заводов в Уолтхэм-Эбби) in a vain attempt to blow up one of the invaders (при тщетной попытке взорвать одного из захватчиков).

People were watching for Martians here from the church towers (жители здесь высматривали марсиан с церковных колоколен). My brother, very luckily for him as it chanced (брат, к счастью для него, как оказалось), preferred to push on at once to the coast rather than wait for food (предпочел сразу же идти к побережью, чем ждать раздачи пищи; to push on — спешить, поспешить, идти поспешно), although all three of them were very hungry (хотя они все трое были очень голодны).

wheat [wi: t], committee [kq'mItI], rumour ['ru: mq]

On Wednesday the three fugitives — they had passed the night in a field of unripe wheat — reached Chelmsford, and there a body of the inhabitants, calling itself the Committee of Public Supply, seized the pony as provisions, and would give nothing in exchange for it but the promise of a share in it the next day. Here there were rumours of Martians at Epping, and news of the destruction of Waltham Abbey Powder Mills in a vain attempt to blow up one of the invaders.

People were watching for Martians here from the church towers. My brother, very luckily for him as it chanced, preferred to push on at once to the coast rather than wait for food, although all three of them were very hungry.

By midday they passed through Tillingham (к полудню они прошли через Тиллингхэм), which, strangely enough, seemed to be quite silent and deserted (который, что довольно странно, казался совершенно безмолвным и покинутым), save for a few furtive plunderers hunting for food (только несколько вороватых мародеров рыскали в поисках пищи; furtive — скрытый, тайный; вороватый, не чистый на руку; to hunt — охотиться; искать, рыскать в поисках /чего-л./; save for… — за исключением, если не считать…). Near Tillingham they suddenly came in sight of the sea (недалеко от Тиллингхэма они вдруг увидели море: «пришли в видимость моря»), and the most amazing crowd of shipping of all sorts (и самое удивительное = такое огромное скопление всевозможных судов) that it is possible to imagine (какое /только/ можно представить).

For after the sailors could no longer come up the Thames (поскольку моряки больше не могли подниматься по Темзе), they came on to the Essex coast, to Harwich and Walton and Clacton (они подходили к берегу у Эссекса, к Харвичу, Уолтону и Клэктону), and afterwards to Foulness and Shoebury (а потом к Фаулнессу и Шубэри), to bring off the people (чтобы вывезти людей). They lay in a huge sickle-shaped curve (они располагались по огромной серповидной кривой; sickle — серп) that vanished into mist at last towards the Naze (которая «в конце концов» пропадала в тумане у Нэйза).

midday [" mId'deI], coast [kqust], curve [kq: v]

By midday they passed through Tillingham, which, strangely enough, seemed to be quite silent and deserted, save for a few furtive plunderers hunting for food. Near Tillingham they suddenly came in sight of the sea, and the most amazing crowd of shipping of all sorts that it is possible to imagine.

For after the sailors could no longer come up the Thames, they came on to the Essex coast, to Harwich and Walton and Clacton, and afterwards to Foulness and Shoebury, to bring off the people. They lay in a huge sickle-shaped curve that vanished into mist at last towards the Naze.

Close inshore was a multitude of fishing smacks (у самого берега было множество рыболовных судов) — English, Scotch, French, Dutch, and Swedish (английских, шотландских, французских, голландских и шведских); steam launches from the Thames, yachts, electric boats (паровые катера с Темзы, яхты, лодки с электрическим приводом); and beyond were ships of large burden (за ними стояли суда большого тоннажа; burden — ноша, груз; грузоподъемность, тоннаж /мор./), a multitude of filthy colliers, trim merchantmen, cattle ships, passenger boats, petroleum tanks, ocean tramps (множество грязных угольщиков, аккуратные торговые суда, суда для перевозки скота, пассажирские пароходы, танкеры, океанские трампы; tramp — бродяга; трамп /грузовой пароход, не работающий на определенных рейсах/), an old white transport even (даже старое белое транспортное судно), neat white and grey liners from Southampton and Hamburg (чистенькие белые с серым лайнеры, /курсирующие/ между Саутхемптоном и Гамбургом); and along the blue coast across the Blackwater (и вдоль лазурного берега через /весь/ Блэкуотер) my brother could make out dimly a dense swarm of boats (брату удалось смутно разглядеть густое скопление лодок) chaffering with the people on the beach (/хозяева которых/ торговались с людьми на берегу), a swarm which also extended up the Blackwater almost to Maldon (сборище /лодок/, которое также тянулось по Блэкуотеру почти до Мэлдона).

inshore [" In'SO: ], launch [lO: ntS], petroleum [pI'trqulIqm]

Close inshore was a multitude of fishing smacks — English, Scotch, French, Dutch, and Swedish; steam launches from the Thames, yachts, electric boats; and beyond were ships of large burden, a multitude of filthy colliers, trim merchantmen, cattle ships, passenger boats, petroleum tanks, ocean tramps, an old white transport even, neat white and grey liners from Southampton and Hamburg; and along the blue coast across the Blackwater my brother could make out dimly a dense swarm of boats chaffering with the people on the beach, a swarm which also extended up the Blackwater almost to Maldon.

About a couple of miles out lay an ironclad, very low in the water (милях в двух /от берега/ очень низко в воде стоял броненосец), almost, to my brother’s perception, like a water-logged ship (почти, как показалось брату, похожий на полузатопленное судно; perception — восприятие, ощущение). This was the ram Thunder Child (это был броненосец “Сын Грома”; ram — баран; таранное судно /мор., ист./). It was the only warship in sight (/в пределах/ видимости он был единственным военным кораблем), but far away to the right over the smooth surface of the sea (но справа вдалеке над гладкой поверхностью моря) — for that day there was a dead calm (поскольку в тот день был мертвый штиль) — lay a serpent of black smoke to mark the next ironclads of the Channel Fleet (вился черный дымок, отмечающий другие суда: «броненосцы» Ламаншской флотилии; the Channel — пролив Ла-Манш), which hovered in an extended line, steam up and ready for action (стоящие растянутой линией под парами и готовые действовать; to hover — парить /о птице/; застывать /в ожидании/), across the Thames estuary during the course of the Martian conquest (поперек устья Темзы на пути победного /продвижения/ марсиан; conquest — завоевание, покорение; победа), vigilant and yet powerless to prevent it (бдительные, однако бессильные ему помешать).

smooth [smu: D], ironclad ['aIqnklxd], conquest ['kONkwest]

About a couple of miles out lay an ironclad, very low in the water, almost, to my brother’s perception, like a water-logged ship. This was the ram Thunder Child. It was the only warship in sight, but far away to the right over the smooth surface of the sea — for that day there was a dead calm — lay a serpent of black smoke to mark the next ironclads of the Channel Fleet, which hovered in an extended line, steam up and ready for action, across the Thames estuary during the course of the Martian conquest, vigilant and yet powerless to prevent it.