The Wave

The Wave Summary | Detailed Summary

This story begins with a rather vivid description of a semicircular cliff overlooking the ocean. The cliff is nearly two hundred feet high. Twenty feet from the cliff's base is a cavern with an opening twenty feet high and a sloping roof that meets the floor at its rear. On either side of the cavern are reefs that jut away from the cliff and into the water.

It is almost high tide and the water is alternately rushing and retreating over the two reefs. As the water crosses the reefs and enters the cove, the waves meet and seem to chase each other toward the cliff. When they reach their destination, the waves strike the cliff's base with a mighty crash before retreating into the sea.

When the tide reaches its highest point, the violence and fury momentarily subside. The cliff is awash in brine, making the surface black. Then, just as quickly as the silence had descended, it is shattered and the waves begin to swell with newly found strength.

It seems as though, for a moment anyway, that the wave is standing still. At this precise moment, the wave is an awesome sight with bands of white, blue and green water accentuating its different heights. At the wave's peak, the white water gives the appearance of an angry swan.

The wave moves toward shore, slowly at first, and then increasing in speed. The cliff, which just moments ago had stood high and strong above the water, now seems small and vulnerable. As the wave reaches its full height and the crest begins to break, the downward falling water gives the appearance of fangs ready to sink into the cliff. As the water finally comes crashing down, the cliff momentarily disappears.

When the water clears and the cliff is again visible, there is a hole above the cavern. Weakened, the sides of the cliff crash down into the cavern below. As the sides cave in, a large film of gray dust rises, completely obscuring the cliff.

Soon, the dust settles and the spot where the mighty cliff had stood is again visible. In the ocean, another wave is beginning to form.