Everard overcomes a guard:
"The sensible thing was to stick a knife in him." (p. 93)
But he doesn't. But might he have done in other circumstances? Or might some other Time Patrol agent have knifed the man? Does the Patrol tell its agents how to operate? Maybe killing would be discouraged because it might involve changing the past? But sometimes killings and massacres have to happen on schedule. There are many unanswered questions about the Time Patrol.
Wearing a stolen helmet, Everard walks along the city wall:
"...briskly, a man on some special errand who should not be hindered." (p. 94)
I used to enjoy scenes in action films where our hero, having penetrated the enemy base, HQ etc, walked around as if he belonged there without immediately being challenged. As a Teacher or a Careers Adviser at an event like a Careers Convention, there is a knack to walking around just quickly enough that you give the impression that you are going somewhere to do something and therefore should not be interrupted.
4 comments:
That's why self-confidence and command of emotions is important. Anxiety or fear or tension attract the eye.
Kaor, Paul and Mr. Stirling!
Paul: More simply, Anderson often had his heroes NOT killing an opponent if it was not necessary. Use only as much force as needed.
Mr. Stirling: I agree. Even a pretense of being calm is less likely to attract attention and possible suspicion.
Ad astra! Sean
Personal illustration of what you can do by acting confident:
In high school in Canada I was in the Governor-General's Foot Guards -- a junior-grade militia.
(This was in the 1970's).
We were stuck with WWII-type SMLE bolt-action rifles. They kept promising us FN automatics (the Canadian army rifle at the time) but never delivering.
So one day we just kitted up in our uniforms, got a teacher in on it, went off to the local armory, and he marched in ahead of us with an official-looking clipboard.
There we packed up the requisite number of FN automatic rifles (and ammunition) took them out to our truck, and drove off. One of the students started singing an FLQ song (Quebec separatist melody) as we did.
They were so embarrassed when they found out they didn't even ask for the rifles back.
Kaor, Mr. Stirling!
An amusing story! A good example of what can be done if you have gall and chutzpah!
Ad astra! Sean
Post a Comment