"The coffeemaker chimed. Coya rose, tapped a cup, sat back down, and sipped. The warmth and fragrance were a point of comfort in infinite space." (p. 650)
Coya is in a spaceship surrounded by infinite space. We vicariously enjoy the comfort of the coffee - especially, for me, since it is coffee, not tea. I drink the latter only in our meditation group. Tea is strongly associated with Buddhism which even has a myth of its origin. Later in this future history series, Terrestrial tea will spread through the Merseian Roidhunate.
Fiction reflects life. Coya's condition is ours. We are on a planet surrounded by infinite space and, in the midst of the cosmos, appreciate any comfort that we can find. Coya's momentous conversation with van Rijn is punctuated by coffee, tobacco haze and gulps of beer. Real people go the stars.
1 comment:
Kaor, Paul!
That gargantuan two liter beer stein of Old Nick would put me under the table!
Ad astra! Sean
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