Wind And Weather

Orion Shall Rise, CHAPTER NINE.

Wind and weather continue their commentary throughout this chapter.

"'Could they be after fissionables? Could that be the basic reason why Norrmen are plotting with members of the Aerogens?'

"Terai, who was no coward, shivered. The gale outside was less terrible than that which Arurturu bespoke." (2, p. 130)

 

For once, the gale fails to match the drama of the dialogue!

 

After assessing the motives of the Federation's current enemy, Terai:

 

"...stopped, short of breath after such an unwontedly long speech. For a while, the storm keened." (p. 131)

 

Keening is an appropriate response to what has been said.

 

"'...the guilty group, with ninety percent certainty, is Northwestern. Our task is to find them, prove their guilt, and break them, before it is too late.'

"He fell silent for a space. The gale ramped." (p. 132)

As the guilty group will ramp if not stopped.

When Terai's partner, Wairoa Haakonu, discusses the seriousness of their mission:

"The wind took the sigh that he heaved and strewed it over the ocean." (3, p. 140)

The wind seems to agree.

 

When Wairoa, despite his pessimism, has said that they still have a chance but that, in any case:

 

"'...come worst to worst, it will be exciting to blow the last trumpet.'" (ibid.)

 

- we are told that:

 

"The ship plunged on into night." (ibid.)

 

"Night" is ambiguous, meaning at least the unknown and possibly also the end.