"Tall white clouds walked in a windy sky." (p. 43)
We have learned to look out for descriptions of nature and for references to the wind in Poul Anderson's works. The wind is blowing. Things are happening.
As Barbara Whitley rides her orsper towards a landed spaceship:
"The wind blew in her face, murmuring of the sea and the Ship whence it came." (p. 44)
Despite the juxtaposition of sea and "Ship," this is not a sea ship but the Ship of Father in which, we gather, human beings had arrived on this very terrestroid planet. The sea is always evocative of far places, especially when it is sensed inland. The wind, which had signified motion and action, now comes to meet Barbara as she approaches the newly arrived ship-shaped object which must carry either Men or Monsters although more probably the latter. A new adventure begins with new protagonists on a new planet. Future history continues.
1 comment:
Kaor, Paul!
Because of you I'm trying to remember to pay more attention to Anderson's use of "wind."
Ad astra! Sean
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