When Ridenour tells Evagail that he and she must not make love, she asks:
"'Why?' The wind raved louder, nearly obliterating her words." (p. 103)
Why should the wind sound - not only sound but "rave" - just then? It seems to be automatic in Poul Anderson's texts that the wind not only punctuates but also comments on the dialogue at dramatic moments.
Ridenour's reason, which he does not articulate to her, is:
"You are my enemy, and I will not betray you with a kiss." (ibid.)
An explicit Biblical reference that does not need any chapter and verse reference.
On pp. 104-105, a conversation between Ridenour and Karlsarm is recounted as if observed and heard by a third party. There is no point of view narration. At the bottom of p. 105, in a new narrative passage, we are given Karlsarm's pov after the two have parted.
5 comments:
Kaor, Paul!
Excellent, this deft use of the Bible by Anderson. For a man who thought of himself as at least mostly agnostic Anderson made very frequent use of the Scriptures.
Another line which has passed into fairly frequent use was the "Et tu, Brute" allegedly exclaimed by Julius Caesar to Lucius Junius Brutus as the Dictator was being assassinated.
Ad astra! Sean
Lap top might go the shop for a service for a day or two.
Kaor, Paul!
I'm sorry about that. I hope it's soon fixed and lasts a long time with no further trouble.
Ad astra! Sean
Nothing much wrong. Just an annual health check as part of the care plan.
Kaor, Paul!
Ha! Amusingly put.
Ad astra! Sean
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