Raven's Reflections And Sensations

The Night Face, III.

When I quoted "green fragrance" and a blowing horn here, I neglected to mention that the immediately preceding sentence had been full of sounds:

scuffing boots;

chuckling river;

murmuring leaves;

rising thunder.

These sounds are said to stir the silence. Contradiction? The silence is that of Raven, unspeaking because thinking. That the Gwydiona have no dangerous weapons is what frightens him. His fear is of the unknown. I happen to think that a human society without conflict is possible but I agree with Raven that, if we were to encounter anything that was (to us) so unusual, then our initial response should be caution: beware of hidden pitfalls. ("Let the spacemen beware!")

The celebration of the senses continues:

the river roars entering the sea;

sunset makes it molten;

the wind is chill, wet and salty;

flying sea birds are gray.

Since we both smell and taste salt, that is a full complement of the senses. Hail Poul Anderson.