Thursday, 8 October 2020

A History Lesson In An Underworld Hangout

(The image shows not an underworld hangout but a Pine Lakes Resort interior.) 

"Flight to Forever."

Poul Anderson presents many inns and taverns. This one is minimally described:

a basement down some stairs from a street, protected by an automatic lock;

smoky;

low-ceilinged;

a few worn wooden tables around a small charcoal fire;
 
large barrels in the background;
 
dark corner seats for a private conversation between Martin Saunders, time traveler, and Belgotai of Syrtis, free companion;
 
the landlord, Hennaly, serves "...tumblers of rotgut remotely akin to whiskey..." (pp. 224-225);
 
Belgotai summarizes a thousand years of history... 
 

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