Norton feels kinship with Egyptologists opening a long lost tomb of a king. But Rama is older than humankind...
No one says a word as Norton enters Rama through the final seal.
And he finds darkness.
He can only see by flashlight, and what he sees looks like nothing more than an old mine.
He throws a flare, and times it to take some pictures as the flare brings light.
He realizes that he is at the top of a world. There are things that look like they might even be forests and frozen lakes - and a cylindrical ocean.
Rama is huge. Shockingly huge. Incromprehensably larger than any human made space object.
And Norton is in awe that he, of all humans, has had the chance to first experience the sight of an alien civilisation. It is an awesome moment for him, and an exciting one for the reader, too!
I cannot wait for him to explore this puppy!
