Ensign Flandry.
Sometimes two arms of a single government work against each other. In this case, a diplomat wants peace at any cost whereas an Intelligence officer wants to learn military secrets at any cost.
If Abrams and Flandry had not done their jobs, they could have enjoyed an extended vacation on Merseia.
"In the cause of better understanding between races, as well as hospitality, would Ensign Flandry like to tour the planet in company with some young Merseians whose rank corresponded more or less to his?"
-CHAPTER ELEVEN, p. 103.
"'Hell, yes.'" (ibid.)
But Abrams reminds him that this will not be a vacation. Flandry must play a part while keeping his eyes and ears open. He immediately knows how to conduct himself, to be clumsy and obvious about asking foolish questions without coming across as too inquisitive...
"They would take a couple of hours, at this ambling pace, to reach the preserve which the Vach Dathyr had opened to the public. Flandry had been there before, on a holiday excursion Oliveira arranged for Hauksberg and company. He remembered great solemn trees, gold-feathered birds, the smell of humus and the wild taste of a spring." (p. 109)
Three senses: this time, Abrams and Flandry go there to evade surveillance.
"'...Brechdan personally invited [Hauksberg] and aides to Dhangodhan for a week or two of shootin' and fishin'.'" (p. 111)
A week or two when the continually stalled discussions are supposed to be urgent! Abrams was invited but made his excuses. Yes, Abrams and Flandry could have had a ball if they had not been conscientious. In fact, as Abrams reminds Flandry, there are human beings in Merseian service so maybe Brechdan had even organized that kind of diversion for his guests.
1 comment:
Kaor, Paul!
What I remembered is that Abrams and Flandry discussed how the latter should not only ask "obvious" questions of his minders/hosts but not to be too stupid or silly about that. Flandry should pose as being still very young and a bit naive. Which was not at all that far from the truth!
And that description of the forest opened to the public by the Vach Dathyr reminded me of mature red wood forests on the west coast of North America on Terra.
Mostd likely Brechdan Ironrede had protocol officers on his staff who would organize these deliberately time wasting diversions and tours.
Ad astra! Sean
Post a Comment