Octavia E. Butler - Earthseed, Book 1 -… [2097]

The south side still seemed free of fire behind us, but on the north side the fire crawled after us, coming no closer, but refusing to be left behind. — , Octavia E. Butler - Earthseed, Book 1 -…, 2097

Note

Personification that turns a wildfire into a patient pursuer: ‘crawled after us,’ ‘refusing to be left behind.’ The parallel clause structure (‘the south side… / the north side…’) sets up a geography of safety and menace in one sentence, and the fire’s indifference reads as intent.