See Troubled Times Now And Then.
Sections 4 and 5 continue to convey the sense of troubled times.
Mong celebrate the twelve days of Solstice, some "desperately":
"...after the news that had come." (4, p.354)
What news? We must wait nearly two pages for an answer. Vanna writes to Iern:
"Intelligence agents have discovered actions in the Northwest Union which pose an unequivocal, immediate, and enormous danger. Governments of the Five Nations are in emergency conference at the highest levels." (pp. 355-356)
"...the Soldati are being mobilized for joint operations." (p. 356)
"What news comes in from your country is not good either, unrest, outbursts of violence, tension abroad..." (ibid.)
In 5, Jovain the usurper belatedly learns that that he has been guilty of taking his technical staff for granted as if they were part of the machinery. It must be spelt out to him that they are perfectly capable of disobeying orders and of refusing to wage war, especially against their own people. (Workers' power.) His response is rage. He realizes that he has become a prisoner in his office in the stratosphere.
1 comment:
Kaor, Paul!
That's what Jovain got for being so careless! I mean, he should have built up a base of support, and a cadre of administrators and experts who would be genuinely loyal to him before seizing power.
Ad astra! Sean
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