Conspiracies, not AIDS

[Greg Montalbano]

Jody Porter NOT writing about AIDS, blankets or red caps:

>The question of whether or not there is a conspiracy afoot involving the
>L.E.D., the Pythoness and Cherrycoke, among others, has still not been
>adequately addressed. I, for one, am convinced that Cherrycoke got turned
>after he was busted for anonymity, and I think he has been working for them
>ever since. This tripe about being paid by "Grandshire Cherrycoke" is just
>that. He's working for the company.
>
>Why did he just happen to be pulled out of the gaol and dropped aboard the
>Seahorse? He's as free as Frenesi. And then, he just happens to turn up at
>39 degrees 43' with the rest of the crew. Right. Somebody's giving him
>assignments.
>
>He's a spook. He was haunting M&D during their career. Now that Mason's
>gone, well, old habits die hard.
>
>Now, who are they, and what do the want?
>
>jody

Thank you, Jody!

I was more or less oblivious to this possibility the first time through;  on
my second read of M&D, I'm noticing little indicators (like the "Mango"
encounter on pg 84-85, where the pair discover Cherrycoke has been
conveniently left behind by the captain of the Seahorse;  and more directly
at the end of that chapter, where the Rev'd notes in his journal:  "...I
sought distraction in the study of other Lives, -- usually without their
Principals knowing of it.")  
That last quote suggests (if the cagey old bastard isn't a TOTAL fabricator)
that Cherrycoke might indeed have been tossed into the action by Them to
observe the observers, but WITHOUT his knowledge -- "They" might have been
counting on his natural propensities.

~G~