On the asteroid, Bo lies on a hill, watching the armed Lungard coming to kill him, then:
"Then, in a crazy blur of motion, he brought his wrench around, closed it on a nut at one side, and turned." (p. 48)
Why does he suddenly move and perform a specific action? Because he has just had an Andersonian moment of realization, in this case how to counterattack: fly right around the small asteroid into Lundgard's back. While orbiting the asteroid, he sees the Southern Cross (scroll down) and Sagittarius, both highly significant in other Anderson works.
The asteroid is small and almost cubical. When Bo climbs from side to another, the sense of gravity shifts alarmingly, as it would have to in such conditions.
This story mentions the Order of Planetary Engineers. What is central in one story is background in another.
1 comment:
Kaor, Paul!
I really do plan to reread the Psychotechnic stories, because of all these comments by you. But, my point here was to wonder why Lundgard didn't immediately take cover and wait till Bo reappeared?
Ad astra and Happy Easter! Sean
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