MDDM Chapter 44 Summary

[John Bailey]

Chapter 44: Summary
Chapter 44 is a relatively brief one, especially considering the momentous 
event it covers…the beginning of the Line! But then, it shouldn’t be a 
surprise that what we might conventionally (?) mark as a beginning is 
depicted by P. as only really important in a psychological kind of way, 
which he makes fun of…
The Chapter begins with another extract from the Rev’s Spiritual Day-Book, 
this one concerning ley-lines and their power to permit flight at incredible 
speeds. The Rev describes M&D’s project as a similar one, but one which is 
of the next order of intensity. The West Line is painted as a sort of 
super-ley-line.

As the crew pull up stakes, Mrs Harland gives the customary wise warning of 
what awaits, though here in a very ironic manner which leaves our perilsome 
pair a bit lost. As her husband is journeying with them, and her farewell to 
him is hard to fathom (‘“She never actually said she wanted him off the 
Crew” Dixon notes’), Mason & Dixon have a bit of an argument over their 
difficulties in communicating with women, Mason taking an air of sagacity 
and experience which is undercut by Dixon, who notes that the former’s 
incessant talk of “Cannibalism, or Suicide, or Bickering among the Whigs” is 
a turn-off. This is a little after Mason escapes entanglement in the 
Harland’s domestic affairs by stating “we are legally restrain’d from 
interfering in anyone’s family business.” This statement will be completely 
reversed by the end of the Chapter.

We next meet Jonas Everybeet, a scryer lost in contemplation of the crystal 
in the Post Mark’d West, or, in fact, in the ‘ghost’ of a perfectly formed 
crystal set within the ostensible one. As a scryer, Everybeet is able to 
‘read’ a face therein, or Pictures, though Mason finds himself viewing some 
kind of terrifying vision of huge, dark eyes. Everybeet joins the party, and 
notes that the row of similar markers which will be laid upon the line could 
be seen to form a different sort of mystical line, which, if thought of like 
Franklin’s Glass Armonica, would produce some kind of effect if something 
were to run along their edge. In fact, he notes that it would only be a 
matter of keeping still while the earth turns the ‘glass’ beneath, which is 
exactly what happens duck-wise later on.

Then comes O’Rooty, a ‘body-jobber’ who comes to find men to work on the 
team. He suggests Swedish axmen as the best for the job, and paints them in 
pretty extravagant terms. M&D are not entirely convinced, but are persuaded 
to take on at least one, named Stig. O’Rooty is followed by an unnamed 
‘”Developer,” or Projector of Land,’ whose very profession occasions in D. a 
murderous desire. M&D play out a funny little scene of partially-feigned 
insanity, though Mason as usual is less aware of the roles which are being 
played out by each.

And then the party sets off, on a Friday, like the ill-fated voyage of the 
Seahorse from Spithead. Ominous beginnings, after a half-week of bad weather 
delays them. The departure doesn’t receive any sort of celebration or 
momentous send-off, and instead we hone in on the crew trudging along, 
already complaining that the instruments receive better attention than they 
do, and engaging in some playful matey banter including, though not limited 
to: insulting each other’s mothers, not-quite-dirty rhymes, a jokey 
telling-off by the overseer and general workaday chat. A week passes in the 
space of a sentence, and the Line runs through someone’s house, and splits 
in half a marriage (see that statement earlier about not interfering….) Mrs 
Price realises that her marriage is only legal on one side of the Line, and 
so moves all of her things to the Maryland side. Mr Price, returning home, 
is not so perturbed, either, and decides to roll the entire house onto the 
Maryland side. A most civil marital breakdown.


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