They seemed to be looking up at us, watching, waiting for us.
"Reception committee," grinned Drake.
I glanced away; over the valley.

It was luminously clear; yet the sky was overcast, no stars showing.

The light was no stronger than that of the moon at full, but it held a quality unfamiliar to me.

It cast no shadows; though soft, it was piercing, revealing all it bathed with the distinctness of bright sunshine.

The illumination came, I thought, from the encircling veils falling from the band of amethyst.
And, as I peered, out of the veils and far away sped a violet spark.
With meteor speed it flew toward us.