"...missionary efforts...shall I say, petered out." (8, p. 78)
The narrator's hesitation signals the approach of a pun. When I was at University in Dublin, a fellow Philosophy student suggested that, "Peter palls and Paul peters out." See also Buildings.
"Balawahdiwa...watched a chessboard. Animated, the pieces fought the game out by themselves." (p. 79)
A magical parallel of the computerized chess games that we have seen elsewhere in Anderson's works. Does Balawahdiwa direct the moves of the pieces or endow them with sufficient intelligence to choose their own moves, like watching a game of football?
Balawahdiwa is "...a leader in his kiva and in pueblo affairs generally." (p. 80)
He considers consulting Nebayatuma or Water Strider. (p. 84) See:
More Information, Mainly Native American
A water strider, an insect that skates on the surface tension
of water, places its feet at the edges of the world.
-copied from here.
Balawahdiwa also says that he will "'...go out into the desert to seek...'" (ibid.) Like Lir Captain going out to sea. See Lir III.
3 comments:
Kaor, Paul!
I STRONGLY regret not remembering or finding this bit about the animated chess men from Chapter 8 of OPERATION LUNA! It would have been a great addition to my "Andersonian Chess" article. I've even wondered if I should revise the essay to include this bit from the book, plus appropriate commentary.
Did Balawahdiwa play one side in this chess game and the other side was enabled by magical means to also play? Or were both colors given sufficient "intelligence" to play by themselves? Other questions and comments can probably be thought of, as well.
Ad astra! Sean
Sean,
Revise. Everything we write is provisional.
Paul.
Kaor, Paul!
Thanks! I seriously think I will!
Ad astra! Sean
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