All his life Robert Grainier would remember vividly the burned valley at sundown, the most dreamlike business he'd ever witnessed waking-the brilliant pastels of the last light overhead, some clouds high and white, catching daylight from beyond the valley, others ribbed and gray and pink, the lowest of them rubbing the peaks of Bussard and Queen mountains; and beneath this wondrous sky the black valley, utterly still, the train moving through it making a great noise but unable to wake this dead world.
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Robert Grainier is haunted by a vivid memory of a burned valley at sunset, a scene that evokes an almost surreal beauty. The sky is painted in brilliant pastels with clouds of varying hues drifting above Bussard and Queen mountains. Despite the lively colors overhead, the valley remains eerily quiet and lifeless, creating a striking contrast to the loud train passing through, which seems powerless to disturb the stillness of the landscape.
This moment encapsulates the essence of Grainier’s experiences, blending the beauty of nature with a profound sense of desolation. The juxtaposition of the vibrant sky and the dark valley leaves a lasting impression on him, highlighting the complexity of memory and the impact of such transformative sights throughout his life.
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