then gerald , even while still at a trot to keep up , took another look at the line and realized two things : the first was that the line was in fact getting closer , for he noticed the details had grown clearer ; the second thing was that those in the line were no longer the old men and women that had exited , but were now first middle-lifed men and women , then adolescents , then youths , growing shorter and shorter , younger and younger as the line extended to his right .