THE DAZZLING BEAM
Motoring on a lone coast road on a drowning night of rain we turned a corner into the very eye of a searchlight that swept the sea back and forth, lighting every small frothy wave top and hypnotising the crying gulls. We stopped the car in a puddle for want of something better and shouted to the forms silhouetted against the blinding dazzle. "May we come up and see how it works?" A broad voice shouted consent and we climbed the slippery cliff face to where the emplacement was burrowed into the hill. Inside that concrete box was the friendliest atmosphere. A primus sputtered, a pannikin bubbled, toast steamed, and cheese sizzled. Yet, almost as we entered, a telephone rang peremptorily and our three hosts became "the Army "’-swift alert movement, staccato orders, instantly and accurately obeyed. . The light swung out over the sea, cut through with rain spears. Only a white cloud of sleeping gulls rose screaming into its beam. But-looking at three tense faces inthe glare of carbons-it was "War!"
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New Zealand Listener, Volume 2, Issue 33, 9 February 1940, Page 43
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175THE DAZZLING BEAM New Zealand Listener, Volume 2, Issue 33, 9 February 1940, Page 43
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Copyright in the work University Entrance by Janet Frame (credited as J.F., 22 March 1946, page 18), is owned by the Janet Frame Literary Trust. The National Library has been granted permission to digitise this article and make it available online as part of this digitised version of the New Zealand Listener. You can search, browse, and print this article for research and personal study only. Permission must be obtained from the Janet Frame Literary Trust for any other use.
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