As if to underscore the dread both young boys felt at that moment, the air seemed to tremble as if a great disturbance had struck it. Birds launched from trees and buildings all about them. Dogs began barking up and down the street. They both froze in their tracks, waiting for more.
It seemed as if the whole world were holding its breath at that moment. The noise didn’t repeat. Wells took a deep breath. He’d been fearing the worst. On his glance Jules grabbed his new friend’s arm.
Jules stopped him. “Is there no hope?”
Wells grinned. “Come on, Jules, there is always that.”
Jules grinned back. And what about that story about Martians?
Wells frowned. “I think I’ll hold off on that one until this other war is over.”
Jules got serious a moment. “Does your father know where they came from?”
Wells shook his head. “Only thing he knows is that they landed in the Channel.”
“They?”
Wells frowned again. “There was more than one of them. He described them as screaming demons that flung fire behind them as they tore open the heavens.”
“Your father saw one land?”
Wells nodded his head. “More than one I’m afraid. Jules, they seem to be indestructible. They travel at speeds our air force can not possibly hope to match.”
Jules growled. “We will not give up so easily. We have God on our side.”
Wells laughed.
“What’s so funny?”
Wells looked into Jules eyes. “Jules, that is exactly what the Admiral told my father before the bombers took off.”
Jules got a worried look on his face, causing his sandy brown hair to pull down into his eyes and his locks to squash flat against his ears. “That’s not good.”
Wells shook his head. “No. But the RAF isn’t through with them yet.”
“What do you mean?”
“You know those Nazi scientists that defected to France and Britain?”
“Yes.”
“Well they’ve been working on a big weapon.”
“How big?”
Wells gets closer and whispers. “Remember that story I read you about the bomb that could wipe out a city?”
“It was very nice.” Jules said.
“This one is bigger still.”
“Oh!” Jules uttered, his imagination leaping to images of a whole planet consumed in a gigantic fireball of destruction.
“Not that big, silly.” Wells said, prodding Jules in the side, when he realized his friend was going off tangent with the thought.
“But close.”
Those last two words caused both to fall into a silent reverie filled with many thoughts
such young boys should never have to carry. And so it was that their day, which began with
bright expectations, ended with notes of dread and fear. They shook hands before going their separate ways.
