Ensign Dominic Flandry introduces Vice Admiral Juan Enriques of the Imperial Terrestrial Navy to Dragoika, captain-director of the Janjevar va-Radovik. (Scroll down.) When Enrique bows as if to the Empress:
"Dragoika studied him a moment, then touched brow and breasts, the salute of honor." (p. 163)
The Toborko, like the Merseians, have a salute of honor and this one, when described, recalls a Terrestrial gesture:
"She touched brow, lips, bosom, the sign of obedience."
-copied from here.
When Flandry expects that his friend, Jan van Zuyl, will serve the Empire for another four or five decades:
"Enriques spoke so softly that one heard the wind whittering off the sea, through the ancient streets outside. 'Ensign van Zuyl was killed in action four days ago.'
"'Oh, no.' Flandry closed his eyes." (p. 166)
The wind seems to comment yet again. Because the Vice Admiral is subdued, the hostile elements become audible. The ancient streets also contrast with the young life cut short.
Once, I would have said unsympathetically that people are prepared to kill and to die if they join the armed forces. Now, I say essentially the same although with some sympathy. This reminds me of Hauksberg's reflections back in the opening chapter to which I will shortly turn.
In fact, see The Marines and Ensign Flandry.
5 comments:
Kaor, Paul!
You are right! I should have realized long ago that Dragoika's "salute of honor" was much like the Sign of the Cross.
No, disagree with your view of military service. When nations have contending ambitions and hopes and needs, conflict will inevitably arise. And not all such conflicts will be fought for bad motives. Which means we will continue to need armies and navies.
See Anderson's comments about war in the introduction he wrote for SEVEN CONQUESTS. And his most extensive discussion about war is to be found in THERMONUCLEAR WARFARE.
Ad astra! Sean
Sean,
I was thinking not of the Sign of the Cross but of the other practice of touching brow, lips and breast which I also remember from church.
Paul.
Kaor, Paul!
Understood. In the States, however, the common Catholic practice seems to dip fingers into the holy water and then make the sign of the Cross. I was thinking more of Dragoika's first gesture, not the "salute of obedience."
Incidentally, Lord Hauksberg was a little late arriving at that secret conference of the critical members of the Policy Board at the Coral Palace in Chapter 1 of ENSIGN FLANDRY. So, after entering the room where the Board members were waiting, he gave them the "humility salute," to apologize for being late. I have wondered what form that gesture took? A bow with hands pressed together in front of the face?
Ad astra! Sean
Sean,
I have not been rereading cover to cover so I missed that "humility salute." Thus, three species in the Technic History have special salutes.
Paul.
Kaor, Paul!
One of these days I will have to try to find what I THINK Confucius said in THE ANALECTS about how the correct use of rites and ceremonies was one of the marks of a truly cultured man.
Ad astra! Sean
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