Thinking And Habit

"Hiding Place."

"'I suppose Old Nick is sitting and thinking,' said Yamamura in an edged voice." (p. 590)

Yes, like Poirot with the "little grey cells."

Captain Torrance, like Eric Wace in The Man Who Counts, does not understand van Rijn's contribution:

"'He sits in his suite with a case of brandy and a box of cigars. The cook, who could be down here helping you, is kept aboard the yacht to fix him his damned gourmet meals. You'd think he didn't care if we're blown out of the sky!'" (pp. 590-591)

Torrance also remembers his oath of fealty and his official position although he thinks that they seem nonsensical:

"...on the edge of extinction. But habit was wrong.'" (p. 591)

Habit is so strong that a James Blish character still thinks in terms of company time even after Armageddon - and even after an Armageddon with an unexpected outcome!