i stared forward and saw across john 's face the shadow of a dove moving upwards - and then i saw the bird itself rising into a great opening of deep blue sky , and i heard a whisper against my ears , a whisper that penetrated the sound of the wings , as though a pair of lips had touched both ears at the same time , and faint as it was , soft and secretive as it was , it seemed the edge of an immense echo .