Bright MessengersSet just before the time of Rama II, Bright Messengers begins with humanity in the midst of a massive economic depression called the Great Chaos. Yet even as civilization seems on the verge of collapse, a strange vision appears to two people of vastly different backgrounds, holding out the promise of hope - and the threat of danger. To Sister Beatrice, a priestess of the global Order of St. Michael, the cloud of tiny white particles is a message from God, the answer to the prayers of a suffering world. To Johann Eberhardt, a German systems engineer, it is an anomaly of physics, a puzzle just beyond the reach of his rational mind. But to the Rama Society, a group committed to the study of unexplained phenomena, it may be proof of the nonhuman intelligence they've been seeking ever since the brief and enigmatic appearance of a cylindrical spaceship of unknown origin ten years earlier. On Mars, these two will meet: the priestess called by faith and devotion, the engineer drawn by the scientific challenge of terraforming the red planet. What brings them together is the apparent disappearance of an Inter-Asian polar expedition leaving behind nothing but a fabulous account of a vast city beneath the Martian landscape. Soon Beatrice and Johann - mystic and skeptic, woman of spirit and man of science - will embark on a courageous journey into the heart of the unknown. Are the particles angels, as Sister Beatrice believes? Some rational - if unprecedented - natural phenomenon, as Johann argues? Or the harbingers of extraterrestrial life, as the Rama Society contends? Joined by nine Martian colonists, Beatrice and Johann will be chosen to board a strange craft that will hurtle them toward astartling revelation of humanity's ultimate place among the stars. |
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Page 264
... cave , she was beaming . " Well , Brother Johann , " she said . " Would you say that we have been adequately ... cave closest to the fire , each on a separate mat , within an arm's length of one another . Each morning at the first sign ...
... cave , she was beaming . " Well , Brother Johann , " she said . " Would you say that we have been adequately ... cave closest to the fire , each on a separate mat , within an arm's length of one another . Each morning at the first sign ...
Page 313
... cave in view during his entire descent . As he drew closer to the caves Johann spent several minutes at each vantage point , listening for telltale sounds as well as looking carefully for Yasin . There was no indication of any human ...
... cave in view during his entire descent . As he drew closer to the caves Johann spent several minutes at each vantage point , listening for telltale sounds as well as looking carefully for Yasin . There was no indication of any human ...
Page 329
... cave . He was also very careful not to make any noise . He had developed a plan . He expected that sooner or later Yasin would come into the cave to make certain he was dead . When he did , Johann was going to be ready . Many days ...
... cave . He was also very careful not to make any noise . He had developed a plan . He expected that sooner or later Yasin would come into the cave to make certain he was dead . When he did , Johann was going to be ready . Many days ...
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Common terms and phrases
already arms asked Beatrice's become began believe beside boat body Brother Johann called cave changed closed completely continued dark decided don't door eyes face father feeling felt finally finished fire followed four front going hand happened head hear heard hour human hundred inside island It's kind kissed Kwame later laughed least light living looked Mars meters Michael mind minutes morning mother moved Narong never night Order of St particles passed pulled questions reached replied returned ribbon seconds seen showed side Sister Beatrice sitting sleeping slowly smile standing started stood stopped talk tell Thank thing thought told took train tried trying turned Valhalla Vivien voice waiting walked wall watched window woman women Yasin