GRGR(22) - Summary 2

[David Morris]

Slothrop, in this next very short segment (488-491), is about to jump ship 
and thus land in the drink, again.  Greta led him to this Annubis which has 
been a return to the essence of the Casino Hermann Goering, and all the evil 
therein.  That "nothing shall happen" happens to be one of the "General 
Orders" of the Annubis recalls the rule of the European Casino: No Chance.  
It is also the State of Death.

The Annubis is a vessel for the Privileged whose waters are the Oder Haff 
(read "Other Half").  And like the bus driven by the suicidal maniac, 
everyone knows how the journey will end.

Slothrop in this segment has left Greta in search of Bianca, who is not to 
be found.  Why DID Slothrop leave Bianca?

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(490.15)  It [Slothrop's reason for leaving Bianca] matters, but how much?  
Now that Margherita has wept to him across the stringless lyre and bitter 
chasm of a ship's toilet, of her last days with Blicero, he knows as well as 
he has to that it's the S-Gerat after all that's following him, it and all 
the pale plastic ubiquity of Lazlo Jamf. [...] looks like there are 
sub-Slothrop needs They know about, and he doesn't [...] embarrassing [...] 
_What do I need that badly?_
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Slothrop is in over his head.  And he can't retreat because a chasm has 
opened behind him with all bridges down:  That stringless lyre of the 
toilet.  And he's grown emotionally numb (but who wouldn't, being subjected 
to Greta's continual need).  He "_Can't..._ [care]." (491.2)

Yet, when he thinks he sees Bianca again "even at this stage of things - 
even in his distance - he will lunge after her without thinking much. 
(491.30"  Slothrop's "Hero Mode" kicks in, again at his best when he acts 
without thinking.  It is shear lunacy, and pure Hollywood:  Mythological 
Heroism.

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(491.38) and it's adios to the _Annubis_ [...] without a call for help, just 
a meek tearful _oh fuck_, tears that will add nothing to the whipped white 
desolation that passes for the Oder Haff tonight....
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To Be Continued...

David Morris


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