CHAPTER I
關燈
小
中
大
nd,aftersunsetithasanewcircumference—orange,meltingupwardsintotenderestpurple.Butthecoreofbluepersists,andsoitisbynight.Thenthestarshanglikelampsfromtheimmensevault.Thedistancebetweenthevaultandthemisasnothingtothedistancebehindthem,andthatfartherdistance,thoughbeyondcolour,lastfreeditselffromblue.
Theskysettleseverything—notonlyclimatesandseasonsbutwhentheearthshallbebeautiful.Byherselfshecandolittle—onlyfeebleoutburstsofflowers.Butwhentheskychooses,glorycanrainintotheChandraporebazaarsorabenedictionpassfromhorizontohorizon.Theskycandothisbecauseitissostrongandsoenormous.Strengthcomesfromthesun,infusedinitdaily,sizefromtheprostrateearth.Nomountainsinfringeonthecurve.Leagueafterleaguetheearthliesflat,heavesalittle,isflatagain.Onlyinthesouth,whereagroupoffistsandfingersarethrustupthroughthesoil,istheendlessexpanseinterrupted.ThesefistsandfingersaretheMarabarHills,containingtheextraordinarycaves.
