Hospital

I have been visiting a hospital regularly for over a week and have just reread Poul Anderson's account of Philippe Rochefort's hospitalization on Avalon:

"...they had no entertainment except reading and bitching. A majority preferred the latter." (Rise Of The Terran Empire, p. 644)

Mild humor, welcome after the harrowing account of the horrendous effects of the Avalonian environment on its Terran invaders.

"Before long, Rochefort asked for earcups in order that he might be able to use the books lent him. He wore them pretty much around the clock." (ibid.)

Right on, Phil. Exactly what I would do. Tabitha visits but only to "ex-" him. He will get over it and begins to hope for transfer to a hospital on Esperance, where he remembers a particular girl. This is our last sight of Rochefort. He has served several purposes in the narrative but the War, in which he played a major part, is drawing to an end. In a future history, any character might recur but then again might not. The People Of The Wind is the culmination of the Avalon sub-series. The following volume will introduce a very recurrent character, and sub-series hero, Dominic Flandry.