The sky has nearly completed its darkening. Each minor spectator display brings a small burst of applause, carefully metered to match the size of the display. Though loudness and size are important factors, we also look for duration - the longer, the more time we are allowed to use to make our judgement. The voices are still louder as their number increases. We are now closely packed.
Darkness is now complete.
Moving figures are limned with the red flames of flares which they bring to outline the apparatus which has taken shape on the staging. These are the assistants to the artist aField, who is a Flame Master of great repute, though he has never been seen, and his existence is only projected. The applause and cheering rises to a crescendo as the hooded artist steps forward to take a flaming wand from an assistant. He takes no notice of our jubilance. The appreciation is important, of course, but more important is the appearance that we take no awareness from without our art.