The Winter Road

("Winter Road in rural country of Sweden" by Thomas K.)

The office reserved for download Guthrie when he visits Port Bowen on Luna is:

"...a big chamber, stone-floored, sparely furnished though everything state of the art. Above low walls, a viewdome reproduced the scene outside, stars and Milky Way brilliant above wasteland, Earth almost full, regnant alone in azure and argent."
-Poul Anderson, Harvest Of Stars, 38, p. 356.

(Note for later: download Guthrie is in a robot body resembling a man in armor with a "turret.")

This chapter ends with a significant symbol. Guthrie's company, Fireball, has been drawn into political conflict on Earth. Guthrie will do what he thinks is right, "honor his troth," and afterward:

"...take the blame and the consequences." (p. 363)

When Kyra says, "'We will...'":

"Above and beyond his turret, the galactic belt gleamed. She remembered hearing that in Swedish it was named the Winter Road." (ibid.)

The Swedish reference in appropriate to Poul Anderson. Guthrie and his company now walk the Winter Road.