We began by finding it in the strange paving of the covered temple. This paving in fact makes no sense if it does not have a purpose. The paving stones-none of which is cut in a curve-are sometimes placed to give the effect of curves: their apparent disorder curiously resembles a Byzantine mosaic from which the colors have been removed. They contain several shapes that attract the attention : for instance, the curve of an eye outlined by large blocks; the shape of an ear, as well as the channel of the trachea, outlined by a series of juxtaposed slabs.

John is hopelessly trying to compress chapter ideas into paragraphs and even single sentences. Brilliant but amateurish, which defeats brilliance.