The trees began softly to sing a hymn of twilight.

The sun sank until slanted bronze rays struck the forest.

There was a lull in the noises of insects as if they had bowed their beaks and were making a devotional pause.

There was silence save for the chanted chorus of the trees.
Then, upon this stillness, there suddenly broke a tremendous clangor of sounds.

A crimson roar came from the distance.
The youth stopped.