There was a drowsy hum of insects, but no other sound disturbed the warm midday stillness.
Venters saw ahead a turn, more abrupt than any yet.

Warily he rounded this corner, once again to halt bewildered.
The canyon opened fan-shaped into a great oval of green and gray growths.

It was the hub of an oblong wheel, and from it, at regular distances, like spokes, ran the outgoing canyons.

Here a dull red color predominated over the fading yellow.

The corners of wall bluntly rose, scarred and scrawled, to taper into towers and serrated peaks and pinnacled domes.
Venters pushed on more heedfully than ever.