Flandry and Kit hide in Weather Station 938:
"Her sigh was a small sound almost lost in the boom of dry hot wind beyond the door." (CHAPTER XIV, p. 94)
A small sigh and a booming wind represent an individual and nature, respectively. Materially, this particular wind more specifically represents the humanly uninhabitable Vixenite northern hemisphere. Metaphorically, it can also stand for the war that rages outside Flandry's and Kit's temporary refuge. I need hardly state yet again that the wind is ubiquitous in the background and almost in the grammar of Poul Anderson's narratives. It underlines and punctuates dialogue.
When the war is over and when Kit has returned home to the temperate southern hemisphere:
"...roses...nodded in a mild summer wind." (CHAPTER XVIII, p. 124)
Wind is hot during war and mild when there is peace: pathetic-fallacy-wise, of course.
1 comment:
Kaor, Paul!
I remember that! And of Flandry wondering why the weather monitoring stations weren't kept stocked with salt, water, rations. With Kit replying that wasn't necessary, inspectors only came during the cooler part of the year in the northern hemisphere.
Ad astra! Sean
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