"The controls of the plane were simple to a man who'd used as wide a variety of machines as [Roan Tom]." (p. 519)
Practical experience counts. I envy Tom such familiarity with machinery. Fran Cobden claimed to be able to "bodge," make improvised repairs, to most machines. I would not know where to start.
The text continues:
"Trickiness came from the broken and twisted airfoil surfaces." (ibid.)
Tom is competent enough to cope with damaged machinery.
And:
"And, of course, he must keep a watch for Weyer's boys." (ibid.)
Alertness to the opposition: he hopes to be able to shoot one down with a lucky shot if it comes to it.
"...you could do special things with gravs if you had the knack in your fingers. Or whatever part of the anatomy it was." (pp. 519-520)
It is in the whole organism and either you have it or you haven't.
2 comments:
Well, you either have the capacity to -develop- it or not. If Tom had been a peasant all his life, he wouldn't have it.
Kaor, Paul!
Besides what Stirling wrote, I was reminded of how Flandry was forced to semi-crash land on Wayland in A CIRCUS OF HELLS. Aside from both of them having ability, Flandry differed from Roan Tom in having the advantages of a thorough scientific education and military training in how to handle both air and space craft.
Ad astra! Sean
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