"Neither Adzel nor Chee Lan would take kindly to the idea of manning oars in a Grecian galley. Not but what they hadn't done equally curious things from time to time, and might again." (p. 80)
This is an understated expression of the passage of time. We know that the trader team has done many things, both routine and curious, in the past even though we have seen them only three times - in fact, only twice if we are reading the Technic History in its original book publication order. They "might again." This is possible although it is less likely with the passage of time and in fact it is no surprise to learn that this novel is to be the last trader team instalment in terms of fictional chronology. In the following chapter, the reassembled team will conduct its mission to Babur as vigorously as it had conducted itself on Ikananka and Merseia and all three team members will be in action again on occupied Hermes later in Mirkheim. But there is a last time for everything.
8 comments:
Kaor, Paul!
You would need a very different kind of ship and marine technology to make rowing practical for very large and massive draco-centauroids like Adzel!
Ad astra! Sean
Perhaps for optimum use of the muscle power of Wodenites, treadmills to use the power of the legs would be best. For human muscle power some sort of sliding seat to allow both leg and arm muscles to be used in rowing is best, or maybe some sort of bicycle type pedals.
Kaor, Jim!
My mind simply boggles at the idea of a shipful of Wodenites "rowing"! (Smiles)
What you said about human rowing is far more plausible.
Ad astra! Sean
Note that everyone who rowed in a Greek (or Roman) war-galley was a volunteer, and quite well-paid by the standards of the time.
Galley slaves were a Renaissance innovation, and probably related to the adoption of cannon.
Sliding seats for rowers are standard in sport rowing these days, but would probably have been too complex (and prone to breaking down) to be practical in the periods when galleys were common.
BTW, rowers didn't, at full tilt, row -sitting-.
They went forward off the bench on the backstroke, sank the oar into the water, then pushed with their legs as well as pulling with their arms, collapsing backward onto the bench as they did so.
Kaor, Mr. Stirling!
I can see how free, well paid rowers would make more sense than slaves. For one thing, in case of need, they could double as fighters, in both naval and merchant ships.
Ad astra! Sean
I have seen the claim that there is evidence that such rowers in classical Greek time used some sort of greased pillow tied to the buttocks to act similarly to the sliding seat. IIRC it was pictures on pottery of men with such pillows on their buttocks carrying oars.
Kaor, Jim!
That makes sense to me.
Ad astra! Sean
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