Mary cannot live in the Rustumite lowlands, except in a pressurized house or helmet, whereas Dan, who can live there comfortably, wants to spend most of his life there. They cannot marry. When they have realized this:
"...a rising wind roared in treetops; and over the lake came striding the blue-black wall of a rainstorm that would cleanse and cool." (p. 83)
When Dan realizes that he should instead marry Eva, wind skirls, thunder cannonades, stinging rain smites his face and Eva challenges him "...to make a new beginning." (p. 84)
The rain symbolically cleanses Dan and the story ends with the word, "...beginning."
Dan Coffin has come a long way from the small boy lost in the lowlands and still has a long way to go to become a respected elder statesman and great-grandfather. That is life and the rest is future history.
1 comment:
Kaor, Paul!
Yes, I recall how Eva challenged Dam to make a "new beginning." But first we see Dan having a moment of frustration, even bitterness, when he reflected in his mind, "And you, Eva, inherit me" (italicized in the text).
Sean
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