Read the following passage and questions, then choose the right answer from options, the answer should be one of A, B, C, D.

<passage>:
"On your mark!" he shouted to the rippling stream and its orange He shrieked this command upward toward the dense, low-hanging purple clouds that perennially raced across the treetops, making one wonder His eyes took quick inventory. It was exactly as he knew it would be: the milky-orange stream had become motionless and its minute whirlpools its transparent wings frozen in position for a downward stroke and the heavy purple fluid overhead held fast in its manufacture of whorls and With everything around him in a state of perfect tableau, Purnie brothers and their friends had taunted him for as long as he could remember. So many times had he heard these thrilling tales that now, as he ran along, he could clearly picture the wonderland as though he play on, the ocean itself with waves higher than a house, the comical He bounced through the forest as though the world was reserved this soon as he resumed time, everything would pick up where it had left off. off, his pulse quickened in anticipation. Rather than spoil what was He chose to ignore the negative maxim that "small children who stop time without an adult being present, may not live to regret it." He chose, instead, to picture the beaming praise of family and friends when they learned of his brave journey. The journey was long, the clock stood still. He stopped long enough to during this day of promise. With it under his arm he bounded along a out as a weak squeak. The ocean lay at the ready, its stilled waves awaiting his command to resume their tidal sweep. The breakers along the shoreline hung in varying stages of disarray, some having already exploded into towering white spray while others were poised in smooth animation. And down in the water, where the ocean ran itself into thin nothingness upon the sand, he saw standing here and there the comical but now his mental attitude was that he expected time to resume. It did! Immediately he was surrounded by activity. He heard the roar of the crashing orange breakers, he tasted picked up its flow where it had left off, the purple clouds resumed not the world around him. mark on his strength. But his spirits ran on unchecked. "All right, Forbes, just hold it a minute. Listen to me. Sure, it's "Precisely. And since you're responsible, get 'em working. Tell 'em to bring along the flag. Look at the damn fools back there, playing in the ocean with a three-legged ostrich!" "Good God, man, aren't you human? We've only been on this planet twenty creatures that run up to us like we're long-lost brothers. Let the men "Bah! Bunch of damn children." joy at this new frolic and promptly stood on his head. In this position he got an upside down view of them walking away. What was the hurry? As he sat down and began eating his lunch, three his lunch. "Want some?" No response. to carry down, and if we move those on the bottom, the whole works will solid. It's got to stand at least—" "There is, there is. Much more. I've taken care of all requirements set sentiment if you will." "Damn it all, will you stop referring to this as a real-estate deal? system so that you not only own the planets, but you will virtually own "I could have your hide for talking to me like this. Damn you, man! "I imagine you'll triple your money in six months." the strange sounds they were making, but as he grew used to them, and as they in turn ignored his presence, he hopped alongside chattering to himself, content to be in their company. "This thing's going wild, Captain. It's almost off scale." He was overjoyed at the reaction. They all started making wonderful noises, and he felt most satisfied. "This is my planet and I am the law. Put him in a box!" to me. How about it, Benson—does pioneering pay off or doesn't it?" specimens in a lead "He'll die." the strain was beginning to tell. He lay in the center of the circle happily exhausted, hoping that his friends would show him some of their own tricks. intention of running away." "I swear he knows what we're saying. Look at those eyes." "All right, careful now with that line." Purnie took in these sounds with perplexed concern. He sensed the imploring quality of the creature with the rope, but he didn't know what he was supposed to do. He cocked his head to one side as he He picked up the spirit of the tease, and deliberately ran within a all. Now pick him up." directions to find an acceptable course of action. Finding none, it had The scene around him became a tableau once more. The noose hung motionless over his head while the rest of the rope snaked its way in himself through the congregation, whimpering from his inability to end the smoke now billowed in lifeless curls about the animal's head. to its reputation, was comical even in fright. Startled by the loud torn between leaving and staying. What an odd place, this ocean Reaching the top of the bluff, he looked down upon his silent friends fatigued body and clouded mind were strong signals that he had already "My God, he's—he's gone." "All right, you people, what's going on here? Get him in that box. What to them time had never stopped. The only thing they could be sure of "Is he invisible, Captain? Where is he?" you've botched it up, I'll bring him down my own way." the spectacle before him. The agonizing screams of the animals below filled him with hysteria. hopped back and forth near the edge of the rise, torn with panic and about. Purnie worked his way down the hill, imploring them to save themselves. The sounds they made carried a new tone, a desperate foreboding of death. animals, and soon the others would be in the same plight. Disregarding slowly and carefully. He knew there was no hurry—at least, not as far of life or death was at this moment, it would stay the same way until position, his face contorted into a frozen mask of agony and shock. Another, with the weight removed, rolled over like an iron statue into a new position. Purnie whimpered in black misery as he surveyed the chaotic scene before him. At last he could do no more he felt consciousness slipping away from He instinctively knew that if he lost his senses during a period of urging first slowly then full ahead. Time either progressed or it didn't. He had to take one viewpoint or the other. Then, without knowing exactly when it happened, his mind took command.... and pounded his fists on the beach. A flood of relief settled over Purnie as sounds came from the animal. "What's the matter with me? Somebody tell me! Am I nuts? Miles! Schick! What's happening?" we're both cracking." "Are you men all right?" "Who saw exactly what happened?" "I know, I know. Now get hold of yourselves. We've got to round up the "But what happened, Captain?" "He's sitting down there in the water, Captain, crying like a baby. Or laughing. I can't tell which." he'll either kill himself or one three, the weak helping the weaker. As they disappeared around the curving shoreline, the voices of the last two, bringing up the rear far "He'll never be the same." "Tell me something. What was the most unusual thing you noticed back suddenly—" come back to his tormentors—back to us—when we were trapped under You know. Make sure we haven't left anyone." "That's my responsibility, Cabot, not yours. Now go on." As Purnie lay gathering strength for the long trek home, he saw through nearly directly below him, he could hear it making sounds that by now had become familiar. "Where are you?" beyond understanding. He wondered what they would say at home when he "We've made a terrible mistake. We—" The sounds faded in and out on directions. He watched the animal walk over to the pile of scattered now, and where their light broke through the swirling clouds a double the creature shake its head slowly, then walk away in the direction of

<question>:
What is the tone like throughout the story?

<options>:
A Happy throughout
B Calm to intense
C Sad throughout
D Joyous to sad

<answer>:

D