See On The River.
What is the "flesh" taken from the river?
There are:
chuho, fat, flippered, snouted water pigs;
osels, long, brown, web-footed "herd dogs." (p. 168)
By searching the text, we find answers to some of the questions raised.
More about the river:
herding keeps Riverpeople alert and lets them enter the peace and beauty of the river;
the Flone is "...mighty as time..." and "...a foretaste of eternity..." (p. 169)
5 comments:
Kaor, Paul!
I have to disagree with the River People's view of the Flone. That river is only a river, not some kind of mystic entity. It had a beginning and will have an end, when its waters stop flowing. The Flone cannot define its meaning, what we see are people reading into it the meanings they wish to attribute to it.
Ad astra! Sean
Sean,
But anything can be a symbol, like the American eagle.
Paul.
Kaor, Paul!
That is true.
Sean
Sean: I think Paul is right -- they're using the river as a -metaphor- for other qualities.
Of course, in everyday life humans tend to literalize metaphors.
Kaor, Mr. Stirling!
I agree. I just thought the river people were overdoing it.
Ad astra! Sean
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