Thursday 4 February 2016

A Few Words And Terms

SM Stirling, Conquistador (New York, 2004), Chapter Five.

South Africans say "bliddy" for "bloody." SM Stirling captures this detail of their pronunciation, e.g., on p. 144.

Indians ambushing Adrienne and her companions hide among the "...tule reeds..." (p. 143)

Adrienne eats jerky while sheltering behind her sangar and defends herself with her FiveseveN automatic (p. 144)

The rescuing Black Hawk helicopter raises dust with its prop wash. (ibid.) When the pilot fires into the reeds, it is:

"...as if God were running a Weedwacker across them." (p. 145)

Once he fires the rocket pods, possibly at a rancheria. (ibid.) Rescuing soldiers have pintle-mounted machine guns. (p. 148) Another rescuer rides in a Hummer. (p. 149) A captured rifle smells of Break Free gun oil. (p. 150)

Regular readers will know that technical knowledge and a rich vocabulary are valued on this blog.

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