The third tale of the flying mountains is called "Say it with Flowers";
it is about Lieutenant Robert Flowers, Space Force of the Asterite Republic, during the war for asteroid independence;
Flowers is tattooed with a comet that is also a flag, a dancing naked woman and, as a recent addition, a design of roses and lilies;
on a recent drinking spree, Flowers blacked out, does not now understand why he chose the flowers tattoo and intends to have it removed;
Flowers in his courier boat is captured by an enemy cruiser;
enemy Intelligence is unable to decipher Flower's dispatches;
however, after interrogating him under drugs and brain stimulation, they conclude that he is no one important.
The clue is in the title.
1 comment:
Kaor, Paul!
I remember that story too! And while I agree "The clue is in the title," that's not the only point Anderson was making. He deliberately portrays Flowers in ways designed to make it easy to UNDERESTIMATE him. At first Flowers seems just another dumb roughneck. But, as an Asterite intelligence was to say, that was not true. Despite his rough edges Flowers had to know considerable science and practical engineering in order to both survive and prosper in the asteroid belt.
Sean
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