The Thunder Child's sacrifice

1 Seen from a balloon, every road out of London is stippled black with six million fugitives

2 Near Tillingham, the brother and Miss Elphinstone see a vast crescent of ships in the mist

3 On the crowded paddle steamer, the brother stands on a bench beside the two Elphinstones

4 The torpedo ram Thunder Child tears past the little paddle steamer.

5 The brother grips the bulwark as a Martian lowers its Heat-Ray at the Thunder Child

6 Seen from the deck of the fleeing paddle steamer, the first Martian topples into the sea

7 The burning Thunder Child drives at a second Martian as her decks burst in a flash

8 The brother cries out as the burning Thunder Child crumples the second Martian

9 Refugees on the steamer watch a huge flat shape drop a black curtain on the Essex shore