Gurgling And Drenching

World Without Stars. 

"'They may mean well in spite of their manners,' Bren said.

"'Sure,' I said. 'They may.'" The rain gurgled as it fell onto soaked earth." (IX, p. 62)

As often in Poul Anderson's texts, the elements comment on the dialogue. This time, it is rain, not wind. This new group of natives might mean well. However, their natural environment remains hostile: neither soothing nor nourishing but gurgling and drenching! Anderson's prose not only has built-in sound effects but also adjusts them to the occasion. Much later, when victory has been won:

"A great hush lay on the land. Further down the shore twinkled the fires of ya-Kela's people." (XVI, p. 117)

Ya-Kela's people, of course, are allies.