Dale saw everything with perfect clarity. The tall African-American Coastie who had addressed him was wearing a bemused look on his face. Dale could practically read his mind. First a glowing purple bubble, then we find Robinson Crusoe stepping out of the woods—what’s next, the Loch Ness Monster? And would he be shocked when he saw what was next. Clearly, his second did—his eyes were bugging out of his head as he spotted Lyra. Dale saw his mouth beginning to open, as if he were about to scream.