Chapter One: Another City in the Sky

When the aurora appeared, Shen Yan was photographing an apartment tower in which nobody lived. The developer wanted the unfinished crane removed, the river made bluer, and warm lights added to the model apartments—as if illuminated windows could conjure people waiting for someone to come home. “Clouds are clearing, Mr. Shen,” his assistant said through the headset. Shen Yan looked up. The first green ribbon rose from the northern horizon. It resembled a river plucked by invisible fingers more than ordinary light. Green waves crossed the financial district’s spires, edged in violet and red. Within seconds they swallowed the sky. Cheers erupted along the embankment. Traffic slowed. Thousands of phones rose together.