Then she became a pearl of white light in the mouth of the dragon. In an 
instant this pearl grew to the size of an airship. Carl Hollywood had the 
presence of mind to close his eyes and turn his head away, but he didn't have 
time to throw himself down; the shock wave did that, slamming him full-length 
into the granite paving-stones of the waterfront promenade and tearing about 
half of his clothes from his body.