Simile of a Cavewoman, Chapter Six
"Carried through the streets like a captive Cavewoman."
When Miles goes to Becky's house as a matter of urgency, to keep her from going to sleep and being taken over by the extra terrestrial life form that was slowly metamorphosing into her, he does not explain what is happening there and then but is so anxious to remove her from danger that he picks her up and carries her outside. She jokes that she is like a cavewoman because back in pre-historic times a man would not be required to court the object of his affections but would simply claim her, and Miles' actions are similar to the Neanderthal version of romance.
Simile of Broken Glass, Chapter Six
"On the porch I set Becky on her feet, wondering if I could possibly straighten up without shattering into pieces like broken glass."
Miles had carried Becky for quite some time, and as she was sleepy was somewhat of a dead weight. He also was understandably stressed and tense which is also exhausting. His back ached and his knees were agony when walking which made him feel as if his entire body would shatter throughout the inside of the framework of his skin much like glass shatters within the framework of a window pane or windshield.
Simile of the Girl in a Vacation Advertisement, Chapter Six
Once at Miles' house, Becky changed into pants of Miles' that had shrunk in the laundry, an oversized white shirt, wool socks and loafers. She had given the shirt an appearance of deliberate causality by rolling up the sleeves nonchalantly, and the collar was open. She looked very pretty and ready for an enjoyable afternoon of relaxing outdoor activity, and reminded Miles of a print advertisement for a vacation resort where attractive models look happy and carefree in their recreational clothing.
Simile of Lava, Chapter Nine
"But it was long enough to see the gray substance continue to exude, slowly as moving lava, from the great pods out onto the concrete floor."
Although the color of the substance in the pods was a dull gray, very different from the burning hot orange lava with black crust on top, the pace of its movement and the consistent overpowering flow were reminiscent of volcanic lava and similar to the way the lava overpowers anything in its path. It is a glutenous formation that moves as a large mass and its spread is unstoppable, claiming all in its path,again in the same way that the gray contents of the pod overpower and claim all who are in the proximity.
Simile of Silent Comedy Movie, Chapter Eleven
"It must have looked like an old-time silent-film comedy, only there was no comedy in it."
As the foursome were preparing to make their escape from Mill Valley, they are running around in panic, each preparing in the way they each felt most necessary: Jack taking a butcher knife for defending against a physical threat, Miles and Becky gathering up clothes, Theodora packing canned goods as people do in the face of impending emergency or disaster. However, she had yet to finish dressing, and each one is acting with a bewildered expression and total confusion, running in and out of rooms and banging into each other in the same way as silent comedy stars once did, with no dialogue but an abundance of facial expression.
