he tried standing , but the leaf was bending on its stem from his weight and -- oh no it was going down -- he slid down the central vein and fell onto another leaf , which tipped as well , again and again , a cascade of leaves , each larger than the last , until they were wide enough to fit aughra 's entire observatory but so sensitive that they folded at his miniscule weight and he fell , and fell , and there was the ground coming closer , and he was going to -- no , this leaf did n't fold , it held his weight , bowing and springy , and he sat uncertainly and was , at last , at rest .