The Coordinators, Trevelyan and Smokesmith, have followed Murdoch Juan to a planet where all the inhabitants have probably been killed by radiation from a nearby supernova. If there are any survivors, then Murdoch might be conquering or plundering them. However:
"'It is improbable that such are alive.'
"'True. But if dead -'
"Trevelyan stopped. He looked long outward." (p. 151)
Trevelyan breaks off in mid-sentence but continues to think - thinking is clearly what he is doing while taking a long time to look outward from the spaceship. Here are all the signs of an Andersonian moment of realization. Trevelyan is beginning to suspect what Murdoch might do on a planet with dead inhabitants but still intact buildings.
While he explores the buildings, Trevelyan's thoughts continue:
"...the furnishings remained usable by humans, who were formed quite like the dwellers. Clean and patch up; restore the water supply..." (pp. 155-156)
Murdoch has already told Trevelyan that he aims to attract colonists to:
"'...a functioning physical community built in advance...'" (p. 142)
- while "'...charging irresistibly little...'" (ibid.)
Trevelyan had thought that such a project was economically unviable but now he learns how it might be done. But the Cordies have other priorities.
1 comment:
Kaor, Paul!
I wonder about those furnishings on Good Luck, however. After about 200 years of having been abandoned and unprotected from the elements, how much would still be usable? We are talking about rotten wood and cloth and rusting metal.
Ad astra! Sean
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