GRGR(16): a thing so awesome Even Dzambul could not sing it

[rj]

?> Is The Aqyn's Song the first time the Kirghiz Light is mentioned? &c

Dzaqyp is "Kirghiz" (342.25). He would know of it, I assume. In fact,
I'd say he shares the faith, or is an aqyn himself. Dzaqyp attempts to
communicate with Tchitcherine about important, personal things, through
looks (341.15up).

At 342-3, as the pair ride northward:
"Momentum builds slowly as the two riders plunge ahead. The smell of
forests on the night slowly disappears. Waiting, out in sunlight which
is not theirs yet, is the . . . The . . . Waiting for them, the
unimagined creature of height and burning." (343.12)

At 356.6 they reach "the village they have been looking for." It has
been an intentional journey.

They stumble upon the ajyts, perhaps, but the aqyn's presence in the
village does not seem to be coincidental at all.
At 356.7up there is a conversation, as Dzaqyp warns Tchitchy that the
ajyts might be a long one. Tchitchy is nervy, but Dzaqyp reassures him:
"Are you sure he'll-"
"He'll sing about it. He's ridden right through that country. He'd
betray his profession if he didn't."

Perhaps Tchitchy isn't actually *working* for anyone at this point, I
concede. But the fact that he is taking it down "in stenography" is part
of the inherited Western imperialist disease or mania (i.e. language,
text, "civilisation", "cultural superiority", believing in it all
yourself, solipsism too, maybe), his conditioning if you like. And, it
is this which, of course, will prevent him from experiencing the
numinous vision. Dzaqyp must know this, and it is his question: "Are you
going to get it all?"(357.15up); which is bitterly ironic, for Tchitchy
has never understood those "looks" he gave, nor did he ever learn to
interpret the "great silences of the Seven Rivers"(340.2up -- Vineland
anyone?). Tchitchy's glottal g, that Arabic-ish dry-coughing sound, is
an ego gesture (unapt in itself) -- it is smugness, a sign of his
ultimate revenge on Blobadjian after his own letter's annexation by the
imperial G (and, quite probably, the loss of his job on the NTA
Committee). Dzaqyp must realise here -- but cannot say -- what will
come. After this Dzaqyp will not speak again.

So, it is Dzaqyp who is leading Tchitchy to the Kirghiz Light, not vice
versa, and Dzaqyp is the one who "tends him, anxious as child and
doll"(359.15), when he is crippled by it. They are still master and
servant, the Lone Ranger and Tonto as David Morris perceptively wrote a
while back, but there is "love" and loyalty and tenderness here,
particularly from Dzaqyp. Tchitchy refers to Dzaqyp as "comrade" also.
It is equal. Carpetbagger and carbetbaggee. As one.

best 

David's posts (saving bandwidth):
Subject: 
         GRGR(16) - Those "Eeenes"
   Date: 
         Wed, 15 Dec 1999 21:03:33 CST
  From: 
         "David Morris" <fqmorris at hotmail.com>
     To: 
         pynchon-l at waste.org

Subject: 
         Re: GRGR(16) Some Questions
   Date: 
         Thu, 16 Dec 1999 18:20:47 CST
  From: 
         "David Morris" <fqmorris at hotmail.com>
     To: 
         ppetto at apk.net, pynchon-l at waste.org