Hauksberg's telescreen confrontation with Fodaich Runei the Wanderer is described from Hauksberg's pov. Runei leans so far forward that his head and shoulders seem to enter Hauksberg's office.
"Hauksberg managed a smile." (p. 63)
"Hauksberg scowled." (ibid.)
Either Runei or a hypothetical third party could have noticed that Hauksberg smiled with difficulty or that he subsequently scowled. However, immediately after the scowl, we read:
"Speaking for the Empire, he could not utter his full disapproval of that principle." (ibid.)
Only Hauksberg can know that he disapproves. The pov is even more clearly his when the conversation has concluded. Staying with Hauksberg, we read that he is proud of his Eriau and:
"He lit a cigaret. Now what? Now you sit and wait, m'boy." (p. 65)
- and more like that.
Next, he converse with Persis who characterizes quantum jump hyperspace as:
"'Ghosts flitting forever in darkness.'" (p. 66)
Like Wells' Time Traveler? (And when did he get to? He passes through this moment at least twice and might do so again.)
When told that "'...two or three Navy chaps...'" will accompany them to Merseia, Persis brightens and asks, "'Who?'" (p. 67)
In a later chapter, she seems to be taking the initiative with Flandry but then realizes that she is not his first and that he knew what he was doing all along. An affair with an aristocrat's concubine could terminate his career as surely as a Merseian blaster.
1 comment:
Kaor, Paul!
Of course Runei, like Abrams, would have been trained how to make se sne of the facial movements of members of non-Merseian races. And the typical gestures and body language of humans.
Hauksberg is also mentioned as fairly easy going and tolerant, simply as a human being, so he might well NOT have been too harsh with a youth like Flandry having an affair with Persis. That was what Abrams thought, anyhow.
Ad astra! Sean
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