GRGR(20): Emil and Tyrone

[Jeremy Osner]

Slothrop's conversation with Bummer on p. 438 cries out for annotation.

"It is something very complicated having to do with American yellow-seal
scrip..."

I'm trying to figure out why Springer (notice the definite article has
been dropped here, making it sound more like a proper name) broke up the
counterfeiting operation. My two attempts: (1) Bummer had been paying
Springer off using his counterfeit Reichsmarks; because Allied forces
are now reluctant to accept them, they have lost value as a bribe. (2)
Springer has been speculating in pounds Sterling, and does not want
Bummer devaluing Reichsmarks by increasing the supply. I don't really
understand monetary trading well enough to gauge the validity of (2);
Occam's razor would seem to suggest (1), though I don't know if it
applies here.

"It is gone where the woodbine twineth."

I don't have Weiserburger; anyone want to lay some Jubilee Jim Fisk and
Jay Gould on me?

"Whoever They are, Their game has been to extinguish, not remind."

A fine line.

"Well, I can sell by the ounce" ... "Rocketman is above all that shit"

At first I thought Slothrop was threatening to keep the hash in lieu of
payment but now I realize he's just talking about the fractional kilo he
left at home with Greta. And Bummer's "You aren't angry. You really
aren't" is not pleading but surprise, which makes "Rocketman is above
all that shit" make much more sense.

"He tells Säure about the run-in with Tchitcherine..."

I guess this is by way of explaining how he lost the money Bummer had
fronted him.