MDMD (6)----p195,196 Asiatick Pygmies

[Paul Mackin]

Eric writes:
 
> Strange how they inhabit 11 days that do not exist. 
> Nice if strange idea. Overall however,
> I found this moment in the text most perplexing.
> Did anyone have any reaction to this?
> Or perhaps I will understand after another pint 
> at the George?

A trip to the George is the right approach to these magnificent flights of
fancy. Conceit piled on conceit--Asiatic pygmies inhabiting those
eleven stolen days acting out a most pleasing meditiation on mortality or 
possibly immortality--topics never far from Mason's thoughs. We get a hint
as to how we might react a few pages earlier where Macclesfield tells of 
the two setting suns and poor old Bradley forgets to laugh (or possibly
is afraid to). But we needn't forgot. Nor does Mason despite his meloncholy
mood.

In fact he stands pints at the George. Instead of getting mad.

			P.