| The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from Within the Tides by Joseph Conrad: people had only heard vaguely of fire-ships, and not many of the
younger generation had seen one. On the back path Davidson
strolled in perfect solitude. But he became aware of a bad smell
and concluded he would go no farther.
"While he stood wiping his forehead, he heard from somewhere the
exclamation: 'My God! It's Davy!'
"Davidson's lower jaw, as he expressed it, came unhooked at the
crying of this excited voice. Davy was the name used by the
associates of his young days; he hadn't heard it for many years.
He stared about with his mouth open and saw a white woman issue
from the long grass in which a small hut stood buried nearly up to
Within the Tides |
The second excerpt represents the element of Fire. It speaks of emotional influences and base passions, and is drawn from Aeroplanes and Dirigibles of War by Frederick A. Talbot: slipped into the launching tube. But for some reason or other
the missile jambed.
The situation was desperate. In a few seconds the bomb would
burst and shatter the airship. The bomb-thrower grabbed a tool
and climbing into the rigging below hacked away at the bomb-
throwing tube until the whole equipment was cut adrift and fell
clear of the vessel. Almost instantly there was a terrific
explosion in mid-air. The blast of air caused the vessel to roll
and pitch in a disconcerting manner, but as the airman permitted
the craft to continue its upward course unchecked, she soon
steadied herself and was brought under control once more.
|
