"The scientists formed up with a precision learned in their military service. Flandry joined. They hadn't issued him weapons, though otherwise they had treated him pretty much as an equal; but he could duck inside their square if violence broke loose." (p. 310)
More inter-species cooperation and more information about the Merseians: at least, a reminder that, friendly though they are, the scientists are all male and have all done military service. If Flandry had not escaped, then he might have continued to work for Ydwyr, exploring other planets outside the sphere of Merseian-Terran rivalry.
The Domrath "...moved somnambulistically..." (ibid.) when approaching hibernation. Intelligence drops to a level allowing only routine tasks and rituals. They gorge and orgy until they fall into deep sleep for more than a Terran year and many will not wake. Over two thirds of their lives are spent in dreams. I wondered how they had become intelligent but this is explained. The ripeness and heat of full summer:
"...called up the full strength and ingenuity of the Domrath. That was needful to them; now they must gather for fall. Females, held closer to home by their young than the males, became the primary transmitters of what culture there was." (p. 311)
Ingenuity plus culture equals intelligence.
1 comment:
Kaor, Paul!
But Flandry was only biding his time till he could seize a chance to escape.
And will the Domrath ever be able to break out of that crippling need to hibernate for such long, long times? They may have to linger in their Old Stone Age for millions of years.
Ad astra! Sean
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