Sergeant Astaff at Windhome, ancestral home of the Firstman of Ilion:
"'I know Empire. Traveled through it more than once with Admiral McCormac.' As he spoke the name, he saluted. The average Imperial agent who saw would have arrested him on the spot." (p. 82)
(Aenean Nord Anglic: no definite article, "Empire," not "the Empire.")
This reference to Admiral McCormac is significant to those of us who have reread The Rebel Worlds immediately before The Day Of Their Return. When a rebellion has been defeated, there is an aftermath. This time, we get to read about the aftermath. Flandry has returned to Terra but the Frederiksens and their staff still live on Aeneas. In fact, Ivar's father has inherited the Firstmanship from his brother-in-law, McCormac. It is strange to learn for the first time about these close relatives of the McCormacs but most people have close relatives.
A whole novel's worth of narrative stretches ahead of us, making this section of the Technic History far more substantial than if it had just stayed with one central character, Dominic Flandry.
1 comment:
Kaor, Paul!
Astaff's treasonable salute reminded me of this bit from Chapter XV of THE REBEL WORLDS as Flandry entered McCormac's office/quarters of his flagship: "You might have saluted, Commander," McCormac said quietly. "Against regulations," Flandry replied. "You've forfeited your commission."
To be pedantic, all well run military services need discipline, order, forms of respect appropriate for different ranks, etc. Normally, in happier days, Flandry would have saluted, as befitted a lower ranking officer to his superior. But McCormac's rebellion forfeited his right to such courtesies.
Ad astra! Sean
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