Perhaps I am a man of exceptional moods. I do not know how far my experience is common. At times I suffer from the strangest sense of detachment from myself and the world about me; I seem to watch it all from the outside, from somewhere inconceivably remote, out of time, out of space, out of the stress and tragedy of it all. This feeling was very strong upon me that night. Here was another side to my dream.
It came to me that I was upon this dark common, helpless, unprotected, and alone. Suddenly, like a thing falling upon me from without, came - fear.
..
The fear I felt was no rational fear, but panic terror not only of the Martians, but of the dusk and stillness all about me. Such an extraordinary silently as a child might do. Once I had turned, I did not dare to look back.