Shooting star hits Earth (Red Sonja novel)

That summer, the star fell from the night sky.

When the star fell it caused a light so bright that the people of the villages feared it was the end of the world. Then a terrible series of concussions sounded in the night sky.

They stood at the doors and walls of their huts, mothers protecting children in their arms, staring at the exploding heavens. The brilliant light of the falling star pained their eyes. So bright and loud, it lit the entire steppe from horizon to horizon. The ziggurat erected against the mountainside was thrown into vivid relief by the prolonged explosions of light that blossomed and spread and grew for several long heartbeats. Women shuddered; men whispered in fear and awe; children began to cry. The animals of the village all went lunatic, the cows lowing and stomping, the dogs scampering in all directions, and howling with fear.

Then the flight of the falling star sent huge winds across the landscape, so that the firm huts trembled and the thatching was thrown free. The water of the river was blown up against them in a spray.

As the cascade of light ebbed, the star struck the earth high upon the mountain above the ziggurat. The impact sent more concussions across the steppe, and more wind. The glow died instantly, but a huge flare of flame-lit smoke reached up to the stars, a column of fire that fell away too after a time.

All night, in the returned darkness, the villagers kept vigil outside their huts, watching the mountain, watching the sky. Would the star shine again? Would more fall? What did it mean? Were the gods angry? Was this the end of the world?

Towards dawn, Bo-ugan, the headman of the largest village, whispered in a raspy voice that conveyed fear and anger: "The ziggurat! The madmen in the ziggurat have called forth an evil and mean to destroy the world!"

- Red Sonja: Star of Doom