If the Earth had been in its path, this would have been followed minutes to hours later by the electrons and protons accelerated by the blast, followed by the CME, a billion-ton cloud of magnetized plasma.

Nanny Broome was looking up at the outer wall. Just under the ceiling there were three lunette windows, heavily barred and blacked out in the normal way by centuries of grime. Their bases were on a level with the pavement outside, a narrow way which was several feet lower than the road behind the house.

On such eyes as maidens cherish Let thy fond adorers gaze, Or incontinently perish In their all-consuming rays!

In so many words, he asked me to give him the answers to the test.