Bodin's Return

A Knight Of Ghosts And Shadows, XVIII.

"Day broke windless and freezing cold." (p. 569)

For once, no wind! The combination of windlessness with freezing suggests cessation of all normal activities. Dennitza pauses between the defeat of a coup and whatever is to come next, no one knows what.

The text continues:

"The sun stood in a rainbow ring and ice crackled along the shores of Lake Stoyan. Zorkagrad lay silent under bitter blue, as if killed." (ibid.)

Even now, we are able to appreciate Dennitzan natural beauty: a rainbow, crackling ice, vast Lake and blue sky, the last not warm but bitter. The city is as if killed but is not killed because unusual activities continue. Thundering spacecraft arrive and depart. Whistling airships pass. Armored vehicles rumble. Boots slam. When Bodin Miyatovich returns from his arrest by the Imperials, folk celebrate and church bells peal. (A lot of sounds there. The celebrating includes shouting, weeping and singing.)

When Lieutenant Matthews, reporting by phone, asks Flandry what to do about the prisoner, the by now brain-dead Dominic Hazeltine, there is a pause:

"Flandry fell quiet. Miyatovich puffed volcanic clouds. Outside the bells caroled." (p. 575)

Matthews has to prompt Flandry. Life continues, with many people in different mental states:

Flandry reflects;

Miyatovich covers the moment with his, appropriately "volcanic," smoking;

Dennitzans still celebrate;

Matthews needs an answer...