¡¡¡¡I¡¡remember£»¡¡for¡¡my¡¡part£»¡¡another¡¡of¡¡those¡¡hours¡¡in¡¡which¡¡a¡¡pilot¡¡finds¡¡suddenly¡¡that¡¡he¡¡has¡¡slipped¡¡beyond¡¡the¡¡confines¡¡of¡¡this¡¡world¡£¡¡All¡¡that¡¡night¡¡the¡¡radio¡¡messages¡¡sent¡¡from¡¡the¡¡ports¡¡in¡¡the¡¡Sahara¡¡concerning¡¡our¡¡position¡¡had¡¡been¡¡inaccurate£»¡¡and¡¡my¡¡radio¡¡operator£»¡¡Neri£»¡¡and¡¡I¡¡had¡¡been¡¡drawn¡¡out¡¡of¡¡our¡¡course¡£¡¡Suddenly£»¡¡seeing¡¡the¡¡gleam¡¡of¡¡water¡¡at¡¡the¡¡bottom¡¡of¡¡a¡¡crevasse¡¡of¡¡fog£»¡¡I¡¡tacked¡¡sharply¡¡in¡¡the¡¡direction¡¡of¡¡the¡¡coast£»¡¡but¡¡it¡¡was¡¡by¡¡then¡¡impossible¡¡for¡¡us¡¡to¡¡say¡¡how¡¡long¡¡we¡¡had¡¡been¡¡flying¡¡towards¡¡the¡¡high¡¡seas¡£¡¡Nor¡¡were¡¡we¡¡certain¡¡of¡¡making¡¡the¡¡coast£»¡¡for¡¡our¡¡fuel¡¡was¡¡probably¡¡low¡£¡¡And¡¡even¡¡so£»¡¡once¡¡we¡¡had¡¡reached¡¡it¡¡we¡¡would¡¡still¡¡have¡¡to¡¡make¡¡port¡¡¡¡¡after¡¡the¡¡moon¡¡had¡¡set¡£¡¡
¡¡¡¡We¡¡had¡¡no¡¡means¡¡of¡¡angular¡¡orientation£»¡¡were¡¡already¡¡deafened£»¡¡and¡¡were¡¡bit¡¡by¡¡bit¡¡growing¡¡blind¡£¡¡The¡¡moon¡¡like¡¡a¡¡pallid¡¡ember¡¡began¡¡to¡¡go¡¡out¡¡in¡¡the¡¡banks¡¡of¡¡fog¡£¡¡Overhead¡¡the¡¡sky¡¡was¡¡filling¡¡with¡¡clouds£»¡¡and¡¡we¡¡flew¡¡thenceforth¡¡between¡¡cloud¡¡and¡¡fog¡¡in¡¡a¡¡world¡¡voided¡¡of¡¡all¡¡substance¡¡and¡¡all¡¡light¡£¡¡The¡¡ports¡¡that¡¡signaled¡¡us¡¡'¡¡had¡¡given¡¡up¡¡trying¡¡to¡¡tell¡¡us¡¡where¡¡we¡¡were¡£¡¡¡¨No¡¡bearings£»¡¡no¡¡bearings£»¡¨¡¡was¡¡all¡¡their¡¡message£»¡¡for¡¡our¡¡voice¡¡reached¡¡them¡¡from¡¡every¡where¡¡and¡¡nowhere¡£¡¡With¡¡sinking¡¡hearts¡¡Neri¡¡and¡¡I¡¡leaned¡¡out£»¡¡he¡¡on¡¡his¡¡side¡¡and¡¡I¡¡on¡¡mine£»¡¡to¡¡see¡¡if¡¡anything£»¡¡anything¡¡at¡¡all£»¡¡was¡¡distinguishable¡¡in¡¡this¡¡void¡£¡¡Already¡¡our¡¡tired¡¡eyes¡¡were¡¡seeing¡¡things¡¡¡¡¡errant¡¡signs£»¡¡delusive¡¡flashes£»¡¡phantoms¡£¡¡
¡¡¡¡And¡¡suddenly£»¡¡when¡¡already¡¡we¡¡were¡¡in¡¡despair£»¡¡low¡¡on¡¡the¡¡horizon¡¡a¡¡brilliant¡¡point¡¡was¡¡un¡veiled¡¡on¡¡our¡¡port¡¡bow¡£¡¡A¡¡wave¡¡of¡¡joy¡¡went¡¡through¡¡me¡£¡¡Neri¡¡leaned¡¡forward£»¡¡and¡¡I¡¡could¡¡hear¡¡him¡¡singing¡£¡¡It¡¡could¡¡not¡¡but¡¡be¡¡the¡¡beacon¡¡of¡¡an¡¡airport£»¡¡for¡¡after¡¡dark¡¡the¡¡whole¡¡Sahara¡¡goes¡¡black¡¡and¡¡forms¡a¡¡great¡¡dead¡¡expanse¡£¡¡That¡¡light¡¡twinkled¡¡for¡¡a¡¡space¡and¡¡then¡¡went¡¡out£¡¡¡We¡¡had¡¡been¡¡steering¡¡for¡¡a¡¡star¡¡which¡¡was¡¡visible¡¡for¡¡a¡¡few¡¡minutes¡¡only£»¡¡just¡¡before¡¡setting¡¡on¡¡the¡¡horizon¡¡between¡¡the¡¡layer¡¡of¡¡fog¡¡and¡¡the¡¡clouds¡£¡¡
¡¡¡¡Then¡¡other¡¡stars¡¡took¡¡up¡¡the¡¡game£»¡¡and¡¡with¡¡a¡¡sort¡¡of¡¡dogged¡¡hope¡¡we¡¡set¡¡our¡¡course¡¡for¡¡each¡¡of¡¡them¡¡in¡¡turn¡£¡¡Each¡¡time¡¡that¡¡a¡¡light¡¡lingered¡¡a¡¡while£»¡¡we¡¡performed¡¡the¡¡same¡¡crucial¡¡experiment¡£¡¡Neri¡¡would¡¡send¡¡his¡¡message¡¡to¡¡the¡¡airport¡¡at¡¡Cisneros£º¡¡¡¨Beacon¡¡in¡¡view¡£¡¡Put¡¡out¡¡your¡¡light¡¡and¡¡flash¡¡three¡¡times¡£¡¨¡¡And¡¡Cisneros¡¡would¡¡put¡¡out¡¡its¡¡beacon¡¡and¡¡flash¡¡three¡¡times¡¡while¡¡the¡¡hard¡¡light¡¡at¡¡which¡¡we¡¡gazed¡¡would¡¡not£»¡¡incorruptible¡¡star£»¡¡so¡¡much¡¡as¡¡wink¡£¡¡And¡¡despite¡¡our¡¡dwindling¡¡fuel¡¡we¡¡continued¡¡to¡¡nibble¡¡at¡¡the¡¡golden¡¡bait¡¡which¡¡each¡¡time¡¡seemed¡¡more¡¡surely¡¡the¡¡true¡¡light¡¡of¡¡a¡¡beacon£»¡¡was¡¡each¡¡time¡¡a¡¡promise¡¡of¡¡a¡¡landing¡¡and¡¡of¡¡life¡and¡¡we¡¡had¡¡each¡¡time¡¡to¡¡change¡¡our¡¡star¡£¡¡
¡¡¡¡And¡¡with¡¡that¡¡we¡¡knew¡¡ourselves¡¡to¡¡be¡¡lost¡¡in¡¡interplanetary¡¡space¡¡among¡¡a¡¡thousand¡¡inaccessible¡¡planets£»¡¡we¡¡who¡¡sought¡¡only¡¡the¡¡one¡¡veritable¡¡planet£»¡¡our¡¡own£»¡¡that¡¡planet¡¡on¡¡which¡¡alone¡¡we¡¡should¡¡find¡¡our¡¡familiar¡¡countryside£»¡¡the¡¡houses¡¡of¡¡our¡¡friends£»¡¡our¡¡treasures¡£¡¡
¡¡¡¡On¡¡which¡¡alone¡¡we¡¡should¡¡find¡¡¡£¡¡¡£¡¡¡£¡¡Let¡¡me¡¡draw¡¡the¡¡picture¡¡that¡¡took¡¡shape¡¡before¡¡my¡¡eyes¡£¡¡It¡¡will¡¡seem¡¡to¡¡you¡¡childish£»¡¡but¡¡even¡¡in¡¡the¡¡midst¡¡of¡¡danger¡¡a¡¡man¡¡retains¡¡his¡¡human¡¡concerns¡£¡¡I¡¡was¡¡thirsty¡¡and¡¡I¡¡was¡¡hungry¡£¡¡If¡¡we¡¡did¡¡find¡¡Cisneros¡¡we¡¡should¡¡refuel¡¡and¡¡carry¡¡on¡¡to¡¡Casablanca£»¡¡and¡¡there¡¡we¡¡should¡¡e¡¡down¡¡in¡¡the¡¡cool¡¡of¡¡daybreak£»¡¡free¡¡to¡¡idle¡¡the¡¡hours¡¡away¡£¡¡Neri¡¡and¡¡I¡¡would¡¡go¡¡into¡¡town¡£¡¡We¡¡would¡¡go¡¡to¡¡a¡¡little¡¡pub¡¡already¡¡open¡¡despite¡¡the¡¡early¡¡hour¡£¡¡Safe¡¡and¡¡sound£»¡¡Neri¡¡and¡¡I¡¡would¡¡sit¡¡down¡¡at¡¡table¡¡and¡¡laugh¡¡at¡¡the¡¡night¡¡of¡¡danger¡¡as¡¡we¡¡ate¡¡our¡¡warm¡¡rolls¡¡and¡¡drank¡¡our¡¡bowls¡¡of¡¡coffee¡¡and¡¡hot¡¡milk¡£¡¡We¡¡would¡¡receive¡¡this¡¡matutinal¡¡gift¡¡at¡¡the¡¡hands¡¡of¡¡life¡£¡¡Even¡¡as¡¡an¡¡old¡¡peasant¡¡woman¡¡recognizes¡¡her¡¡God¡¡in¡¡a¡¡painted¡¡image£»¡¡in¡¡a¡¡childish¡¡medal£»¡¡in¡¡a¡¡chaplet£»¡¡so¡¡life¡¡would¡¡speak¡¡to¡¡us¡¡in¡¡its¡¡humblest¡¡language¡¡in¡¡order¡¡that¡¡we¡¡understand¡£¡¡The¡¡joy¡¡of¡¡living£»¡¡I¡¡say£»¡¡was¡¡summed¡¡up¡¡for¡¡me¡¡in¡¡the¡¡remembered¡¡sensation¡¡of¡¡that¡¡first¡¡burning¡¡and¡¡aromatic¡¡swallow£»¡¡that¡¡mixture¡¡of¡¡milk¡¡and¡¡coffee¡¡and¡¡bread¡¡by¡¡which¡¡men¡¡hold¡¡munion¡¡with¡¡tranquil¡¡pastures£»¡¡exotic¡¡plantations£»¡¡and¡¡golden¡¡harvests£»¡¡munion¡¡with¡¡the¡¡earth¡£¡¡Amidst¡¡all¡¡these¡¡stars¡¡there¡¡was¡¡but¡¡one¡¡that¡¡could¡¡make¡¡itself¡¡significant¡¡for¡¡us¡¡by¡¡posing¡¡this¡¡aromatic¡¡bowl¡¡that¡¡was¡¡its¡¡daily¡¡gift¡¡at¡¡dawn¡£¡¡And¡¡from¡¡that¡¡earth¡¡of¡¡men£»¡¡that¡¡earth¡¡docile¡¡to¡¡the¡¡reaping¡¡of¡¡grain¡¡and¡¡the¡¡harvesting¡¡of¡¡the¡¡grape£»¡¡bearing¡¡its¡¡rivers¡¡asleep¡¡in¡¡their¡¡fields£»¡¡its¡¡villages¡¡clinging¡¡to¡¡their¡¡hillsides£»¡¡our¡¡ship¡¡was¡¡separated¡¡by¡¡astronomical¡¡distances¡£¡¡All¡¡the¡¡treasures¡¡of¡¡the¡¡world¡¡were¡¡summed¡¡up¡¡in¡¡a¡¡grain¡¡of¡¡dust¡¡now¡¡blown¡¡far¡¡out¡¡of¡¡our¡¡path¡¡by¡¡the¡¡very¡¡destiny¡¡itself¡¡of¡¡dust¡¡and¡¡of¡¡the¡¡orbs¡¡of¡¡night¡£¡¡
¡¡¡¡And¡¡Neri¡¡still¡¡prayed¡¡to¡¡the¡¡stars¡£¡¡
¡¡¡¡Suddenly¡¡he¡¡was¡¡pounding¡¡my¡¡shoulder¡£¡¡On¡¡the¡¡bit¡¡of¡¡paper¡¡he¡¡held¡¡forth¡¡impatiently¡¡to¡¡me¡¡I¡¡real£º¡¡¡¨All¡¡well¡£¡¡Magnificent¡¡news¡£¡¨¡¡I¡¡waited¡¡with¡¡beating¡¡heart¡¡while¡¡he¡¡scribbled¡¡the¡¡half¡dozen¡¡words¡¡that¡¡were¡¡to¡¡save¡¡us¡£¡¡At¡¡last¡¡he¡¡put¡¡this¡¡grace¡¡of¡¡heaven¡¡into¡¡my¡¡hands¡£¡¡
¡¡¡¡It¡¡was¡¡dated¡¡from¡¡Casablanca£»¡¡which¡¡we¡¡had¡¡left¡¡the¡¡night¡¡before¡£¡¡Delayed¡¡in¡¡transmission£»¡¡it¡¡had¡¡suddenly¡¡found¡¡us¡¡more¡¡than¡¡a¡¡thousand¡¡miles¡¡away£»¡¡suspended¡¡between¡¡cloud¡¡and¡¡fog£»¡¡lost¡¡at¡¡sea¡£¡¡It¡¡was¡¡sent¡¡by¡¡the¡¡government¡¡representative¡¡at¡¡the¡¡airport¡£¡¡And¡¡it¡¡said£º¡¡¡¨Monsieur¡¡de¡¡Saint¡¡Exupery£»¡¡I¡¡am¡¡obliged¡¡to¡¡remend¡¡that¡¡you¡¡be¡¡disciplined¡¡at¡¡Paris¡¡for¡¡having¡¡flown¡¡too¡¡close¡¡to¡¡the¡¡hangars¡¡on¡¡leaving¡¡Casablanca¡£¡¨¡¡
¡¡¡¡It¡¡was¡¡true¡¡that¡¡I¡¡had¡¡done¡¡this¡£¡¡It¡¡was¡¡also¡¡true¡¡that¡¡this¡¡man¡¡was¡¡performing¡¡his¡¡duty¡¡with¡¡irritability¡£¡¡I¡¡should¡¡have¡¡been¡¡humiliated¡¡if¡¡this¡¡reproach¡¡had¡¡been¡¡addressed¡¡to¡¡me¡¡in¡¡an¡¡airport¡£¡¡But¡¡it¡¡reached¡¡me¡¡where¡¡it¡¡had¡¡no¡¡right¡¡to¡¡reach¡¡me¡£¡¡Among¡¡these¡¡too¡¡rare¡¡stars£»¡¡on¡¡this¡¡bed¡¡of¡¡fog£»¡¡in¡¡this¡¡menacing¡¡savor¡¡of¡¡the¡¡sea£»¡¡it¡¡burst¡¡like¡¡a¡¡detonation¡£¡¡Here¡¡we¡¡were¡¡with¡¡our¡¡fate¡¡in¡¡our¡¡hands£»¡¡the¡¡fate¡¡of¡¡the¡¡mails¡¡and¡¡of¡¡the¡¡ship£»¡¡we¡¡had¡¡trouble¡¡enough¡¡to¡¡try¡¡to¡¡keep¡¡alive£»¡¡and¡¡this¡¡man¡¡was¡¡purging¡¡his¡¡petty¡¡rancor¡¡against¡¡us¡£¡¡
¡¡¡¡But¡¡Neri¡¡and¡¡I¡¡were¡¡far¡¡from¡¡nettled¡£¡¡What¡¡we¡¡felt¡¡was¡¡a¡¡vast¡¡and¡¡sudden¡¡jubilation¡£¡¡Here¡¡it¡¡was¡¡we¡¡who¡¡were¡¡masters£»¡¡and¡¡this¡¡man¡¡was¡¡letting¡¡us¡¡know¡¡it¡£¡¡The¡¡impudent¡¡little¡¡corporal£¡¡¡not¡¡to¡¡have¡¡looked¡¡at¡¡our¡¡stripes¡¡and¡¡seen¡¡that¡¡we¡¡had¡¡been¡¡promoted¡¡captain£¡¡¡To¡¡intrude¡¡into¡¡our¡¡musings¡¡when¡¡we¡¡were¡¡solemnly¡¡taking¡¡our¡¡constitutional¡¡between¡¡Sagittarius¡¡and¡¡the¡¡Great¡¡Bear£¡¡¡When¡¡the¡¡only¡¡thing¡¡we¡¡could¡¡be¡¡concerned¡¡with£»¡¡the¡¡only¡¡thing¡¡of¡¡our¡¡order¡¡of¡¡magnitude£»¡¡was¡¡this¡¡appointment¡¡we¡¡were¡¡missing¡¡with¡¡the¡¡moon£¡¡¡
¡¡¡¡The¡¡immediate¡¡duty£»¡¡the¡¡only¡¡duty¡¡of¡¡the¡¡planet¡¡whence¡¡this¡¡man's¡¡message¡¡came£»¡¡was¡¡to¡¡furnish¡¡us¡¡accurate¡¡figures¡¡for¡¡our¡¡putations¡¡among¡¡the¡¡stars¡£¡¡And¡¡its¡¡figures¡¡had¡¡been¡¡false¡£¡¡This¡¡being¡¡so£»¡¡the¡¡planet¡¡had¡¡only¡¡to¡¡hold¡¡its¡¡tongue¡£¡¡Neri¡¡scribbled£º¡¡¡¨Instead¡¡of¡¡wasting¡¡their¡¡time¡¡with¡¡this¡¡nonsense¡¡they¡¡would¡¡'do¡¡better¡¡to¡¡haul¡¡us¡¡back¡¡to¡¡Cisneros£»¡¡if¡¡they¡¡can¡£¡¨¡¡By¡¡¡¨they¡¨¡¡he¡¡meant¡¡all¡¡the¡¡peoples¡¡of¡¡the¡¡globe£»¡¡with¡¡their¡¡parliaments£»¡¡their¡¡senates£»¡¡their¡¡navies£»¡¡their¡¡armies£»¡¡their¡¡emperors¡£¡¡We¡¡re¡read¡¡the¡¡message¡¡from¡¡that¡¡man¡¡mad¡¡enough¡¡to¡¡imagine¡¡that¡¡he¡¡had¡¡business¡¡with¡¡us£»¡¡and¡¡tacked¡¡in¡¡the¡¡direction¡¡of¡¡Mercury¡£¡¡
¡¡¡¡It¡¡was¡¡by¡¡the¡¡purest¡¡chance¡¡that¡¡we¡¡were¡¡saved¡£¡¡I¡¡had¡¡given¡¡up¡¡all¡¡thought¡¡of¡¡making¡¡Cisneros¡¡and¡¡had¡¡set¡¡my¡¡course¡¡at¡¡right¡¡angles¡¡to¡¡the¡¡coast¡line¡¡in¡¡the¡¡hope¡¡that¡¡thus¡¡we¡¡might¡¡avoid¡¡ing¡¡down¡¡at¡¡sea¡¡when¡¡our¡¡fuel¡¡ran¡¡out¡£¡¡Meanwhile¡¡however¡¡I¡¡was¡¡in¡¡the¡¡belly¡¡of¡¡a¡¡dense¡¡fog¡¡so¡¡that¡¡even¡¡with¡¡land¡¡below¡¡it¡¡was¡¡not¡¡going¡¡to¡¡be¡¡easy¡¡to¡¡set¡¡the¡¡ship¡¡down¡£¡¡The¡¡situation¡¡was¡¡so¡¡clear¡¡that¡¡already¡¡I¡¡was¡¡shrugging¡¡my¡¡shoulders¡¡ruefully¡¡when¡¡Neri¡¡passed¡¡me¡¡a¡¡second¡¡message¡¡which£»¡¡an¡¡hour¡¡earlier£»¡¡would¡¡have¡¡been¡¡our¡¡salvation¡£¡¡¡¨Cisneros£»¡¨¡¡it¡¡said£»¡¡¡¨has¡¡deigned¡¡to¡¡municate¡¡with¡¡us¡£¡¡Cisneros¡¡says£»¡¡'216¡¡doubtful¡£¡¨'¡¡Well£»¡¡that¡¡helped¡£¡¡Cisneros¡¡was¡¡no¡¡longer¡¡swallowed¡¡up¡¡in¡¡space£»¡¡it¡¡was¡¡actually¡¡out¡¡there¡¡on¡¡our¡¡left£»¡¡almost¡¡within¡¡reach¡£¡¡But¡¡how¡¡far¡¡away£¿¡¡Neri¡¡and¡¡I¡¡talked¡¡it¡¡over¡¡briefly£»¡¡¡£¡¡decided¡¡it¡¡was¡¡too¡¡late¡¡to¡¡try¡¡for¡¡it¡¡£¨since¡¡that¡¡might¡¡mean¡¡missing¡¡the¡¡coast£©£»¡¡and¡¡Neri¡¡replied£º¡¡¡¨Only¡¡one¡¡hour¡¡fuel¡¡left¡¡continuing¡¡on¡¡93¡£¡¨¡¡
¡¡¡¡But¡¡the¡¡airports¡¡one¡¡by¡¡one¡¡had¡¡been¡¡waking¡¡each¡¡other¡¡up¡£¡¡Into¡¡our¡¡dialogue¡¡broke¡¡the¡¡voices¡¡of¡¡Agadir£»¡¡Casablanca£»¡¡Dakar¡£¡¡The¡¡radio¡¡stations¡¡at¡¡each¡¡of¡¡these¡¡towns¡¡had¡¡warned¡¡the¡¡airports¡¡and¡¡the¡¡ports¡¡had¡¡flashed¡¡the¡¡news¡¡to¡¡our¡¡rades¡£¡¡Bit¡¡by¡¡bit¡¡they¡¡were¡¡gathering¡¡round¡¡us¡¡as¡¡round¡¡a¡¡sick¡bed¡£¡¡Vain¡¡warmth£»¡¡but¡¡human¡¡warmth¡¡after¡¡all¡£¡¡Helpless¡¡concern£»¡¡but¡¡affectionate¡¡at¡¡any¡¡rate¡£¡¡
¡¡¡¡And¡¡suddenly¡¡into¡¡this¡¡conclave¡¡burst¡¡Toulouse£»¡¡the¡¡headquarters¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Line¡¡three¡¡thousand¡¡miles¡¡away£»¡¡worried¡¡along¡¡with¡¡the¡¡rest¡£¡¡Toulouse¡¡broke¡¡in¡¡without¡¡a¡¡word¡¡of¡¡greeting£»¡¡simply¡¡to¡¡say¡¡sharply£º¡¡¡¨Your¡¡reserve¡¡tanks¡¡bigger¡¡than¡¡standard¡£¡¡You¡¡have¡¡two¡¡hours¡¡fuel¡¡left¡£¡¡Proceed¡¡to¡¡Cisneros¡£¡¨¡¡
¡¡¡¡There¡¡is¡¡no¡¡need¡¡of¡¡nights¡¡like¡¡the¡¡one¡¡just¡¡described¡¡to¡¡make¡¡the¡¡airline¡¡pilot¡¡find¡¡new¡¡meanings¡¡in¡¡old¡¡appearances¡£¡¡The¡¡scene¡¡that¡¡strikes¡¡the¡¡passenger¡¡as¡¡monplace¡¡is¡¡from¡¡the¡¡very¡¡moment¡¡of¡¡taking¡¡off¡¡animated¡¡with¡¡a¡¡powerful¡¡magic¡¡for¡¡the¡¡crew¡£¡¡It¡¡is¡¡the¡¡duty¡¡of¡¡the¡¡ship's¡¡captain¡¡to¡¡make¡¡port£»¡¡cost¡¡what¡¡it¡¡may¡£¡¡The¡¡sight¡¡of¡¡massing¡¡clouds¡¡is¡¡no¡¡mere¡¡spectacle¡¡to¡¡him£º¡¡it¡¡is¡¡a¡¡matter¡¡of¡¡concern¡¡to¡¡his¡¡physical¡¡being£»¡¡and¡¡to¡¡his¡¡mind¡¡it¡¡means¡¡a¡¡set¡¡of¡¡problems¡£¡¡Before¡¡he¡¡is¡¡off¡¡the¡¡ground¡¡he¡¡has¡¡taken¡¡its¡¡measure£»¡¡and¡¡between¡¡him¡¡and¡¡it¡¡a¡¡bond¡¡is¡¡formed¡¡which¡¡is¡¡a¡¡veritable¡¡language¡£¡¡
¡¡¡¡There¡¡is¡¡a¡¡peak¡¡ahead£»¡¡still¡¡distant¡£¡¡The¡¡pilot¡¡will¡¡not¡¡reach¡¡it¡¡before¡¡another¡¡hour¡¡of¡¡flight¡¡in¡¡the¡¡night¡£¡¡What¡¡is¡¡to¡¡be¡¡the¡¡significance¡¡of¡¡that¡¡peak£¿¡¡On¡¡a¡¡night¡¡of¡¡full¡¡moon¡¡it¡¡will¡¡be¡¡a¡¡useful¡¡landmark¡£¡¡In¡¡fainter¡¡moonglow¡¡it¡¡will¡¡be¡¡a¡¡bit¡¡of¡¡wreckage¡¡strewn¡¡in¡¡shadow£»¡¡dangerous£»¡¡but¡¡marked¡¡clearly¡¡enough¡¡by¡¡the¡¡lights¡¡of¡¡villages¡£¡¡But¡¡if¡¡the¡¡pilot¡¡flies¡¡blind£»¡¡has¡¡bad¡¡luck¡¡in¡¡correcting¡¡his¡¡drift£»¡¡is¡¡dubious¡¡about¡¡his¡¡position£»¡¡that¡¡peak¡¡begins¡¡to¡¡stir¡¡with¡¡a¡¡strange¡¡life¡¡and¡¡its¡¡threat¡¡fills¡¡the¡¡breadth¡¡of¡¡the¡¡night¡¡sky¡¡in¡¡the¡¡same¡¡way¡¡as¡¡a¡¡single¡¡mine£»¡¡drifting¡¡at¡¡the¡¡will¡¡of¡¡the¡¡current£»¡¡can¡¡render¡¡the¡¡whole¡¡of¡¡the¡¡ocean¡¡a¡¡danger¡£¡¡
¡¡¡¡The¡¡face¡¡of¡¡the¡¡sea¡¡is¡¡as¡¡variable¡¡as¡¡that¡¡of¡¡the¡¡earth¡£¡¡To¡¡passengers£»¡¡the¡¡storm¡¡is¡¡invisible¡£¡¡Seen¡¡from¡¡a¡¡great¡¡height£»¡¡the¡¡waves¡¡have¡¡no¡¡relief¡¡and¡¡the¡¡packets¡¡of¡¡fog¡¡have¡¡no¡¡movement¡£¡¡The¡¡surface¡¡of¡¡the¡¡sea¡¡appears¡¡to¡¡be¡¡covered¡¡with¡¡great¡¡white¡¡motionless¡¡palm¡trees£»¡¡palms¡¡marked¡¡with¡¡ribs¡¡and¡¡seams¡¡stiff¡¡in¡¡a¡¡sort¡¡of¡¡frost¡£¡¡The¡¡sea¡¡is¡¡like¡¡a¡¡splintered¡¡mirror¡£¡¡But¡¡the¡¡hydroplane¡¡pilot¡¡knows¡¡there¡¡is¡¡no¡¡landing¡¡here¡£¡¡
¡¡¡¡The¡¡hours¡¡during¡¡which¡¡a¡¡man¡¡flies¡¡over¡¡this¡¡mirror¡¡are¡¡hours¡¡in¡¡which¡¡there¡¡is¡¡no¡¡assurance¡¡of¡¡the¡¡possession¡¡of¡¡anything¡¡in¡¡the¡¡world¡£¡¡These¡¡palms¡¡beneath¡¡the¡¡plane¡¡are¡¡so¡¡many¡¡poisoned¡¡flowers¡£¡¡And¡¡even¡¡when¡¡the¡¡flight¡¡is¡¡an¡¡easy¡¡one£»¡¡made¡¡under¡¡a¡¡shining¡¡sun£»¡¡the¡¡pilot¡¡navigating¡¡at¡¡some¡¡point¡¡on¡¡the¡¡line¡¡is¡¡not¡¡gazing¡¡upon¡¡a¡¡scene¡£¡¡These¡¡colors¡¡of¡¡earth¡¡and¡¡sky£»¡¡these¡¡traces¡¡of¡¡wind¡¡over¡¡the¡¡face¡¡of¡¡the¡¡sea£»¡¡these¡¡clouds¡¡golden¡¡in¡¡the¡¡afterglow£»¡¡are¡¡not¡¡objects¡¡of¡¡the¡¡pilot's¡¡admiration£»¡¡but¡¡of¡¡his¡¡cogitation¡£¡¡He¡¡looks¡¡to¡¡them¡¡to¡¡tell¡¡him¡¡the¡¡direction¡¡of¡¡the¡¡wind¡¡or¡¡the¡¡progress¡¡of¡¡the¡¡storm£»¡¡and¡¡the¡¡quality¡¡of¡¡the¡¡night¡¡to¡¡e¡£¡¡
¡¡¡¡Even¡¡as¡¡the¡¡peasant¡¡strolling¡¡about¡¡his¡¡domain¡¡is¡¡able¡¡to¡¡foresee¡¡in¡¡a¡¡thousand¡¡signs¡¡the¡¡ing¡¡of¡¡the¡¡spring£»¡¡the¡¡threat¡¡of¡¡frost£»¡¡a¡¡promise¡¡of¡¡rain£»¡¡so¡¡all¡¡that¡¡happens¡¡in¡¡the¡¡sky¡¡signals¡¡to¡¡the¡¡pilot¡¡the¡¡oning¡¡snow£»¡¡the¡¡expectancy¡¡of¡¡fog£»¡¡or¡¡the¡¡peace¡¡of¡¡a¡¡blessed¡¡night¡£¡¡The¡¡machine¡¡which¡¡at¡¡first¡¡blush¡¡seems¡¡a¡¡means¡¡of¡¡isolating¡¡man¡¡from¡¡t