“They nearly drowned me and they killed poor Cuff. I don’t see what you’re getting at. They haven’t begun in a very friendly fashion, have they now?”
“Think what the situation must seem like to them. Suppose they come from Mars or the Moonwe know their world must be absolutely different from Earth. They may be terrified. And it can hardly be called an unfriendly act to try and get into your rowing boat. The first unfriendly act was yours, when you struck out with the oar.”
Gregory bit his lip. His friend had a point. “I was scared.”
“It may have been because they were scared that they killed Cuff. The dog attacked them, after all, didn’t she? I feel sorry for these creatures, alone in an unfriendly world.”
“You keep saying ‘these!’ As far as we know, there is only one of them.”
“My point is this, Greg. You have completely gone back on your previous enlightened attitude. You are all for killing these poor things instead of trying to speak to them. Remember what you were saying about other worlds being full of socialists? Try thinking of these chaps as invisible socialists and see if that doesn’t make them easier to deal with.”
Gregory fell to stroking his chin. Inwardly, he acknowledged that Bruce Fox’s words made a great impression on him. He had allowed panic to prejudice his judgment; as a result, he had behaved as immoderately as a savage in some remote corner of the Empire, confronted by his first steam locomotive.
“I’d better get back to the farm and sort things out as soon as possible,” he said. “If these things really do need help, I’ll help them.”
“That’s it. But try not to think of them as ‘things.’ Think of them asas1 know, as The Aurigans.”
“Aurigans it is. But don’t be so smug, Bruce. If you’d been in that boat-”
“I know, old friend. I’d have died of fright.” To this monument of tact, Fox added, “Do as you say, go back and sort things out as soon as possible. I’m longing for the ne)rt install-ment of this mystery. It’s quite the joUiest thing since Sheriock Holmes.”
Gregory Rolles went back to the farm. But the sorting out of which Bruce had spoken took longer than he expected. This was chiefly because the Aurigans seemed to have settled quietly into their new home after the initial day’s troubles.
They came forth no more from the pond, as far as he could discover; at least they caused no more disturbance. The young graduate particularly regretted this since he had taken his friend’s words much to heart, and wanted to prove how enlightened and benevolent he was towards this strange form of life. After some days, he came to believe the Aurigans must have left as unexpectedly as they arrived. Then a minor incident convinced him otherwise; and that same night, in his snug room over the baker’s shop, he described it to his correspondent in Worcester Park, Surrey.
Dear Mr. Wells,
I must apologize for my failure to write earlier, owing to lack of news concerning the Grendon Farm affair.
Only today, the Aurigans showed themselves again!If indeed “showed” is the right word for invisible creatures.
Nancy Grendon and I were in the orchard feeding the hens.
There is still much snow lying about, and everywhere is very white. As the poultry came running to Nancy’s tub, I saw a disturbance further down the orchardmerely some snow dropping from an apple bough, but the movement caught my eye, and then I saw a procession of falling snow proceed towards us from tree to tree. The grass is long there, and I soon noted the stalks being thrust aside by an unknown agency! I directed Nancy’s attention to the phenomenon. The motion in the grass stopped only a few yards from us.
Nancy was startled, but I determined to acquit myself more like a Briton than I had previously. Accordingly, I advanced and said, “Who are you? What do you want? We are your friends if you are friendly.”
No answer came. I stepped forward again, and now the grass again fell back, and I could see by the way it was pressed down that the creature must have large feet. By the movement of the grasses, I could see he was running. I cried to him and ran too.