Incorporated into the vehicle lent to Abrams by the Merseians, Dwyr lies in darkness, wills an electronic message to an Intelligence post and feels the electronic web as organisms feel their own blood. His single remaining limb disconnects him from the airboat and he glides out on the small gravsled that carries him and his support systems. He no longer feels fear or courage or even remembers how they felt. He does derive intellectual pleasure from workmanship and can still feel cold hate and fury.
When his surviving arm has been blasted off, he feels pain but is not alive enough to go into shock. His artificial systems damp the pain and stop the bleeding. With his support system terminally damaged, he must remain conscious and fly on for long enough to deliver vital intelligence to Flandry.
"Darkness and great rushing waters..." (p. 124)
1 comment:
Kaor, Paul!
Understatedly moving!
Ad astra! Sean
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