All night sheetlightning quaked sourceless to the west beyond the midnight thunderheads, making a bluish day of the distant desert, the mountains on the sudden skyline stark and black and livid like a land of some other order out there whose true geology was not stone but fear.
The quote paints a vivid picture of a tempestuous night characterized by sheet lightning that illuminates the desert landscape, creating an eerie and unnatural atmosphere. The bright flashes are accompanied by ominous thunderheads, suggesting an impending storm that transforms the night into a surreal experience, evoking a sense of dread and foreboding. The contrast between the bluish day-like quality of the lightning and the darkness of the mountains emphasizes a world that feels alien and otherworldly.
Furthermore, McCarthy's description implies a deeper emotional and psychological landscape, where the stark geology of the mountains is replaced by a more visceral element: fear. The imagery suggests that this remote land is not merely uninhabited but evokes a primal response in those who encounter it. The combination of natural elements and the sense of apprehension raises important questions about the relationship between environment and human emotion, making the scene both beautiful and terrifying.
