Flandry is unsubtly contrasted with his fellow ensign, Quarles. They have traveled with Starkadian sea-dwellers. When John Ridenour, the xenologist, asks them, "'How was your trip?'":
"'Wonderful,' Flandry glowed.
"'Alright, I guess,' said Ensign Quarles, who had also been along. 'Good to get back, though. How 'bout putting on a girlie tape for us?'" (p. 78)
"Good to get back..." By contrast, Flandry, on returning, had been almost repelled by the interior of the Terran dome: narrow, stinking and full of human bodies held down by gravity.
When Ridenour expresses pessimism about his peace mission, the following exchange ensues:
"'We can't start killing the People again!' Flandry protested.
"'Can't we just?' Quarles said.
"'After what we've seen, what they've done for us -'
"'Grow up. We belong to the Empire, not some barnacle-bitten gang of xenos.'" (p. 79)
It is at this point that Ridenour informs Flandry that he must report to Commander Abrams for special duty. Abrams in turn tells Flandry that he has shown himself to be tough and resourceful. The latter will not be said to Quarles. Nor will he become a principal character in a future history series. The Navy, like van Rijn's company, has some jobs for routineers and others for those with initiative.
1 comment:
Kaor, Paul!
I have to agree, Ensign Quarles here shows himself seriously lacking in imagination. He was probably never more than a moderately competent officer who did not rise very far in the Navy (probably no higher than Captain). Albeit, we do need SOME routineers.
Ad astra! Sean
Post a Comment