In CHAPTER NINE, Hauksberg, Abrams, Flandry and Persis travel to Merseia. As if on cue, CHAPTER TEN begins by describing the Merseian co-capitals, traditional Ardaig and brawling Tridaig. So far, the three men have each been a viewpoint character so we might expect one of them to experience Ardaig for us. However, the narrative point of view shifts back to the Merseian, Brechdan, who had been the viewpoint character of CHAPTER THREE. At a welcoming reception in the Terran Embassy, Brechdan does not meet Persis because the Terrans observe the Merseian custom of not having females present on such occasions. Brechdan correctly judges that he must play close attention to both Hauksberg and Abrams but dismisses Abrams' alert young aide as "...very junior." (p. 94) Later, he thinks that Abrams is such an obvious spy that maybe he is a stalking horse for someone else. Not quite. But Flandry would have warranted more attention. Brechdan also does not suspect that the agent whom he afterwards interviews is a double working for Abrams. Alert readers should realize this.
3 comments:
Kaor, Paul!
But I had not realized Dwyr the Hook had become a double agent when Brechdan Ironrede interviewed him the first time I read ENSIGN FLANDRY.
Ad astra! Sean
Sean,
Abrams captured him burgling his office. Then he, Dwyr, lied to his superiors about what had happened.
Paul.
Kaor, Paul!
Yes, but it was only in Chapter Twelve of ENSIGN that I first found out Dwyr had been "turned" by Abrams, and why.
Intelligence operations can be complex! There are such things as triple agents, as when the Tsarist Okhrana infiltrated agents, double agents, triple agents into revolutionary/terrorist organizations. Sometimes these agents, lost in the thrill of the game, got confused about their real loyalties.
Ad astra! Sean
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