MDDM Chapter 44 Summary
John Bailey
johnbonbailey at hotmail.com
Wed Apr 3 20:49:53 CST 2002
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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