Something's happening. Cheerilee isn't sure what. All she knows is what she saw, and that's not much to go on—no more than a glint of flame on the dark horizon. Whatever it is, it's very far away.
The moon is high in the sky, but she doesn't plan on sleeping tonight. Instead, she will take her telescope, sit by the lake, and wait. Perhaps she will see more.
Thanks to Sierra Ex for letting me use his beautiful interpretation of a sonic rainboom for the cover!