"Esau."
Van Rijn to Dalmady:
"'You wonder why I tell you what you know, ha?'" (p. 523)
We know that he is really telling us, of course. But the intra-narrative reason for van Rijn's apparently redundant speech is that van Rijn needs Dalmady to confirm that van Rijn has understood Dalmady's experience, and actions, on Suleiman:
"'Has I been correct so far?'" (p. 524)
Dalmady responds:
"'Yes,' Dalmady said. 'But -'" (ibid.)
Again, twenty-four pages later, we read:
"'Yes,'Dalmady said. 'But -'" (p. 548)
Dalmady is not repeating himself. The narrative has returned to that same moment. Between the two "'Yes... 'But -'" 's, separated from its framing passages by two double spaces, is an extended flashback entirely for our, the readers', benefits. The flashback tells us what happened on Suleiman - which Dalmady and van Rijn already know. That Dalmady does not at this stage recount his adventure to van Rijn is emphasized by the fact that van Rijn interrupts him:
"'Butter me no buts...'" (ibid.)
- and pursues his interrogation.
Thus, another accomplished transition between a conversation on one planet and a harrowing experience on another.
1 comment:
Kaor, Paul!
Yes, I agree, once you pointed it out, Poul Anderson "designed" and wrote "Esau" in a very ingenious way. And I really "dug," to use your pet word, that picture you found of Nicholas van Rijn!
Ad astra! Sean
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