Earlier he'd been wondering whether there was any sun down here. And now he's got his answer.

After leaving the hut, the tortoise had accompanied him back to the beach, and the dock. As they'd made there way down the jungle path, he'd noticed two things - that the tortoise had grown unusually silent as they moved along, and that the sky had darkened considerably during his short time in the hut with the Bowl.

And now he can see the sunset, in full glory at the beach. He and the tortoise stand side by side at the water's edge and watch the sun going down: a mid size orb of blazing fire about a mile or so off from shore, sending off twirling flames from it's surface as it descends to the sea.

He wishes he had the binoculars from down the beach - here was a much more appropriate spot - because he thinks he can see something spiralling around the sun as it sets… They look like some sort of winged figures...

In short time the sun reaches the water's surface - and then literally sets into the water, sending up clouds of steam that rise and then spread out across the horizon's edge. Above the steam the sky continues to darken, revealing stars that also appear much closer than would be normal. These are the stars within the firmament of this inner world, he thinks.

"T'is a beautiful sight," says a voice from behind. He turns, and finds himself face to face with the Dock Master.

---

Fourteenth chapter in an ongoing serial based on @mariannewest's daily #freewrite writing prompts. Here are the previous chapters listed below:

Chapter One>Chapter Two

Chapter Three>Chapter Four

Chapter Five>Chapter Six

Chapter Seven>Chapter Eight

Chapter Nine>Chapter Ten

Chapter Eleven>Chapter Twelve

Chapter Thirteen

And here is the link to Chapter Fifteen.


Written in five minutes from the writing prompt, "sunset" as part of the #freewrite exercise. Image is also by me. You can view the prompt here and check out the other entries; each one glowing with the lingering light of another beautiful day. Thanks to @mariannewest for ensuring that the sun never sets on this writing challenge.

CONTEST ANNOUNCEMENT

I've just began a Writing Contest here on Steemit, called Write FROM my Music. There's SBD to be won, and I'll think you'll find the concept to be a lot of fun. Please check it out and give it a try! I'd love to read what you come up with.