This is the only solder I've seen, and he's in a state of shock. I ask what happened.

His reply? "What hasn't happened?" He describes how his entire battalion was wiped out by heat rays before they could fire a single shot. he only survived because he had fallen to the ground when the ray hit. Everything was wiped out. They never had a chance.

A few men were kept so the creatures could suck their blood. Before they get there, all the soldiers think they can win. And they all die. The Martians are picking off anybody they see in the streets. Walking is too slow. My only hope is to get to the river Thames and find a boat.

Should I try to find the bigger, faster boats? Or look for an something smaller: it will be less obvious, but also much slower if they spot me? Or should I do something else?