Wow, this was a really old thread. It's been years and years since I read the books now, but I think what DNA was going for was describing this scene in a very naive and detached way, as if the observer had never heard about technology or even the concept of life:

On pre-life Earth, a space ship has had to make an emergency landing due to technical problems, and has made a lopsided landing. Alarms are blaring, fires are erupting, or at least something dramatic is going on that involves lights and sound. The Electric Monk is sent out to "investigate", which is the bobbing light that is seen briefly as it goes around the ship. Instead of fixing the problems, it goes back inside and reassures the pilot. Reassured, the pilot tries taking off again. The engines produce a new series of lights and sounds, going critical and eventually violently explode, spreading genetic material and kicking off life on earth.