| The third excerpt represents the element of Water. It speaks of pure spiritual influences and feelings of love, and is drawn from End of the Tether by Joseph Conrad: he too did not move, though there was plenty of room
to pass on.
"I heard you say up there," went on the mate--"and
a very just remark it was too--that there's always
something wrong. . . ."
"Eavesdropping is what's wrong with YOU, Mr.
Sterne."
"Now, if you would only listen to me for a moment,
Mr. Massy, sir, I could . . ."
"You are a sneak," interrupted Massy in a great
hurry, and even managed to get so far as to repeat, "a
End of the Tether |
The fourth excerpt represents the element of Earth. It speaks of physical influences and the impact of the unseen on the visible world, and is drawn from An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge by Ambrose Bierce: a water snake. "Put it back, put it back!" He thought he
shouted these words to his hands, for the undoing of the
noose had been succeeded by the direst pang that he had yet
experienced. His neck ached horribly; his brain was on fire,
his heart, which had been fluttering faintly, gave a great
leap, trying to force itself out at his mouth. His whole
body was racked and wrenched with an insupportable anguish!
But his disobedient hands gave no heed to the command. They
beat the water vigorously with quick, downward strokes,
forcing him to the surface. He felt his head emerge; his
eyes were blinded by the sunlight; his chest expanded
An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge |
