Couldn't the rays that reflect off the center to illuminate the interior also
reflect up through the openings? Also, maybe the Sun rays passing through the
various bodies of water which surround the earth have more to do with
lighting the interior. If the area around the equator is much thicker than
the polar regions, maybe it is acting more like a magnifying glass and
concentrates the light on the center. If the lit part of the central Sun
corresponds to the side of the outer Sun, it would support this theory,
therefore the central Sun would be acting more like a Moon; reflecting the
concentrated Sun light. This would account for a night & day situation inside
the HE, too.
MM