Description And Action

"Star Ship."

Dougald Anson sails into Krakenau at sunset, in the rain and into uncharacteristic darkness and silence in the city: 

no water front torches or music; 

recently installed street lights unlit. 

A single flash of blue lightning shows him:

the bay;

anchored galleys;

fishing fleet;

wharfs;

town;

hilltop citadel;

sky.

Visualize this vivid scene on screen. 

A street of "...high steep-roofed houses..." (p. 274) resembles a dark tunnel. Darkness is dispelled only when wet cobblestones gleam in the lightning. 

Andersonian description is followed by Andersonian action. Anson ducks a flung javelin and defends himself with sword against four mailed Khazaki warriors. Next, Andersonian political conflict - the warriors wear the brassard of Prince Volakech but:

"'There's more to this than Volakech, and more than a question of the throne,'..." (p. 275)

No doubt but questions of the throne are never far away. Meanwhile, for what it is worth, we have come a long way from Western Reformists building an asteroid base in the Solar System.