Pp. 82-84 are a conversation between Hauksberg and Abrams en route from Starkad to Merseia. After a distant and correct relationship, each sees a need to understand the other. Although Hauksberg's chef transcends himself, we are not told what they eat so we cannot extend our Food Thread. The butler leaves cognac and retires.
Abrams says:
"'Maybe memories of Assyria, Rome, and Germany are built into my chromosomes, I dunno." (p. 83)
They are not. Abrams knows his history but others either do not know it or have an entirely different slant on it. When I was at school in the Republic of Ireland, a couple of pupils were surprised at my lack of knowledge of recent Irish history but I had not heard that talked about at home and had not been interested enough to seek out the information. Knowledge is not innate.
Abrams has an understanding of Merseia and intends to learn more when he is there. Is it possible that he will learn anything to change his opinion? In theory yes but, since this is a work of fiction, the author has loaded the dice. The dominant culture on Merseia is aggressive and expansionist as described by Abrams. Hauksberg is hopelessly unrealistic when he says:
"'If we can discover who the reasonable elements are in their government, we can cooperate with those - most discreetly - to freeze the warhawks out.'" (p. 84)
There are "reasonable" Merseians but not in that government.
It is possible to write a dialogue without specifying a point of view, as in the script of a play. Only at the end of p. 83 do we discern a pov:
"Abrams looked into the blue eyes. They were suddenly very cold and steady. It grew on him that Hauksberg was not at all the fop he pretended to be." (p. 83)
Hauksberg warns Abrams against "'...cloak-and-dagger stuff...'" (ibid.) but that is Abrams' job. This is where different arms of government work against each other.
1 comment:
Kaor, Paul!
I don't think Abrams literally meant it when he talked about memories of past history were genetically hard wired into his chromosomes. He was simply using a metaphor for how some people can be learned in history.
And Abrams had a more correct UNDERSTANDING of Merseia than did Hauksberg. At least of the dominant culture ruling the Roidhunate. Hauksberg error was in wishfully hoping there were "reasonable" Merseians who basically shared his views in the Roidhun's guv't.
Yes, here we two arms of Terra's gov't, diplomacy and intelligence, working at cross purposes. Ideally, the diplomats would have no illusions about the people they were sent to negotiate with and work cooperatively with Intelligence.
Ad astra! Sean
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