A long flat shot across the eau . The treacherous expanse of a waterworld flatland. People who live in a flatland are flat, and can only move laterally on the plane of its surface . However, this particular flatland is unpopulated, since everyone who tries to rest on its surface gets wet and sinks, into subspace, a confusing place where you can't breath.
... ont effleuré mon visage, et je me suis mis à pleurer.