Came ever dawn so suddenly!
We looked on peaked and lofty lava rocks, upon a clay-colored sea sweeping to a near horizon. Tall steepled, non-verdured isles broke the surface of the sea. The air was heavy, as if we were in a covered pit. Clouds sunk so low that we could almost touch them, dark brown and green-blue clouds, inexpressibly gloomy.
In silence we looked away from each other’s faces; each waited for some one else to say the words:
“It is a star!”
With one bound the sun rose up. Across the shimmering clouds flamed a bewildering gorgeousness surpassing description. The colors of a thousand sunsets were moving in unparalleled radiance above our heads, covering the entire field of heaven. Far, far were we from being pleased to look upon this glory! Oh! dawn of doom! Never was such a daybreak upon our own green world!
The sun rose above the banks of clouds. It sent shafts through the breaks and silvered pinnacles of rock. It marked white circles on the troubled waters. Then the day became gloomy and a storm of rain fell.
Isabella first acknowledged our situation:
“It is certainly a star! Gregg Dempster was right!”
“Poor child, I am sorry that you are here!”
It was Regan who said this, and his words were so softly spoken, so musical and gentle, that I wondered (and raged) when I heard them.