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At length a rose-coloured luminescence came. It seemed to rise from and across the surface of the sea, then to infuse the sky, then to occupy the ship herself, and all our faces were illumined with this gentle light. The soft wind through the rigging conjured female voices singing remote and voluptuous songs. I had the impression of palm trees, and a welcoming coast, a paradise. I could already taste its fruits and sip its nectar. In my weariness and confusion, I became intoxicated. In my mind were the words: ‘This is our place, this is our destination, this is our final salvation.’ Instead of shouting them out in joy, I found that my vocal chords were still, and did not respond. I saw similar thoughts on the faces of those around me.
Gradually the boat became quite still. I observed that others had stood up. I too was standing. My body seemed to move without my volition. We stepped over the side of the boat, and walked across the ripples in the calm sea. As we walked, the sea beneath our feet turned imperceptibly into white sand. Across the dazzling beach were palm trees offering shade from the sun. We found ourselves seated. And the nectar and fruit which I had sensed earlier appeared at our sides, in the soft cool grass on which we were sitting. We tasted and sipped, and felt at peace. We had come at last to a long-lost and eternal home, never to depart. The siren voices renewed their song.
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