(Once or twice, there has been a problem with accessing images. That is happening now. Later: images back.)
(Since an occasional blog theme has been the life and times of the blogger, please bear with me while I follow up from the conclusion of the previous post. I arrived at the advertised time but Dalton Square was already full of socially distanced, peaceful, black and white people shouting a name and quoting his words, "I can't breathe!" A great event, unfortunately marred right at the end by a very unpleasant, "I'm not racist but..." intervention. I could write a longer report but let's leave it there.)
Operation Luna, 21.
The Pathetic Fallacy is a major sub-theme during the composition and casting of the mysterious spell discussed in the five preceding posts:
"Outside, the rain had gone heavy, filling the windows with murk. We heard it hammer on walls and roofs. Wind piped. Inside, lights dimmed to embers and dusk laid hold of us." (p. 190)
Why should indoors lights dim? We have already read:
"We were in dusk till Frogmorton barred the door and touched an object. It was a bronze statue, Greek or Roman, of a torchbearer whose branch flared with sudden cold corposant light. More light streamed from the eyes of a grinning Mayan jaguar or feathered serpent or whatever it was." (pp. 185-185)
Does the murk in the windows merely counteract the light from the statue and the Mayan object or do their sources of illumination dim in response to the weather? No. They have dimmed in response to the spell. When it is completed:
"Corposants brightened to normal." (p. 191)
When Frogmorton and the Matucheks relax:
"We sat for a while in companionable silence. The weather wildened." (p. 192)
When Frogmorton says that conceivably he might be able to help but:
"'...cannot promise more.'
"The wind skirled." (p. 193)
He looks into darkness in the corners and under the ceiling despite the lamps. When he might be able to give them a suitable weapon:
"Lightning flared. Thunder crashed." (p. 195)
1 comment:
Kaor, Paul!
And I disagree with those pointless demonstrations (the peaceful ones). Because the police officers involved have been arrested and will face trial on very serious charges (such as murder). And I absolutely disagree with ANYONE who seize the opportunity at times like this to riot, loot, plunder, beat up or kill people. And I have zero use for anyone who try to excuse, defend, or justify violent riots and mayhem.
And I strongly suspect Poul Anderson would agree with me!
Ad astra! Sean
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