The alien invasion comes to a sudden and ignominious end, and life returns to the ruins of civilization.

The narrator finds the world changed dramatically upon his escape. A big-talking but lazy hanger-on distracts him for a while, but nothing can keep him long from finding his wife and learning what the aliens hold in store for Earth.

The narrator's companion goes insane and is captured by the aliens, while the narrator narrowly escapes discovery. After some time, the aliens suddenly disappear from the pit, leaving the narrator to escape his buried prison.

The narrator and his companion remain trapped in the edge of the pit, and through observation learn the exact nature of their bodies as well as the horrific truth about their food.

A group of refugees escape in boats across the English Channel while the ironclad engage the Martians. The narrator finds himself trapped in the remains of a house after a fifth alien ship lands near him.

The great flight and panic begins as the Martians' launch an undefeatable weapon.

The aliens devise a method of preventing their own destruction, and London panicks at the news of the aliens swarming toward them.

All-out war begins, and the aliens drive across the countryside in clouds of fire and steam.

The military attempts to contain the aliens, while a third cylinder falls, citizens evacuate, and the aliens finally leave the shelter of the pit.

Despite the tragedy on the commons, the world remains largely unaware of the aliens. While life carries on as usual, a second ship lands nearby under cover of darkness.