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           TheskydroppedanddarkenedsomuchFeehadtolightthelampsindoors;outinthestockyardsthehorsesshiveredandjumpedattheslightestnoise;thehenssoughttheirperchesandsanktheirheadsintoapprehensivebreasts;thedogsfoughtandsnarled;thetamepigswhichrootedamongtherubbishofthestationdumpburrowedtheirsnoutsintothedustandpeeredoutofitwithbright,skittisheyes.Broodingforcespentintheheavensstruckfearintothebonesofalllivingthings,asthevastdeepcloudsswallowedthesunwholeandpreparedtospewsolarfireovertheearth.

           Thundercamemarchingfromfarawaywithincreasingtread,tinyflickersonthehorizoncastsoaringbillowsintosharprelief,crestsofstartlingwhitenessfoamedandcurledovermidnight-bluedepths.Then,witharoaringwindthatsuckedupthedustandflungitstingingineyesandearsandmouths,camethecataclysm.NolongerdidtheytrytoimaginethebiblicalwrathofGod;theylivedthroughit.Nomancouldhavekepthimselffromjumpingwhenthethundercracked—itexplodedwiththenoiseandfuryofadisintegratingworld—butafterawhiletheassembledhouseholdgrewsoinuredtoittheycreptoutontotheverandaandstaredacrossthecreekatthefarpaddocks.Greatforksoflightningstoodribbedinveinsoffireallaroundthesky,dozensofboltseachandeverymoment;naphthaflashesinchainsstreakedacrosstheclouds,inandoutthebillowsinafantastichide-and-seek.