Hanno And Moriarty

The Boat Of A Million Years, XVIII, 7.

Senator Moriarty fumes at Tannahill's (Hanno's) magazine editorial. Commenting on Moriarty's policy of "patience abroad but impatience at home," Tannahill writes:

"'"We are to have no patience with, say, South Africa. As for domestic policy, an impatience to complete the destruction of the productive classes in America..."'" (p. 405)

Did Apartheid deserve patience? Who are the productive classes? This is loaded stuff, Hanno. However, I agree with Moriarty's surveillance guy, Stoddard's, implied comment. There is no good reason why Moriarty should let this one opponent annoy him as much as he does. But Moriarty is canny. Faced with Tannahill's shadowy background, he thinks:

"'...I feel it in my bones, something here won't bear the light of day.'" (p. 408)

He is right about that although the something has nothing to do with politics as such. Is Hanno taking a risk by becoming politically vocal? A figure like Moriarty is bound to investigate an opponent's background and to be intrigued when that background proves to be sketchy. This sub-chapter ends with Moriarty ordering surveillance of house and office and a twenty-four-hour tail...

This could turn nasty although Hanno's main way of dealing with enemies is simply to outlive them.