VLVL2 (9.5): "Watch the Paranoia, Please!"

[monroe at mpm.edu]

"Noticing a number of curious looks, he glided out again into the airport
lobby, a centimeter or two above the actual floor surface, remembering just
in time to zip his fly.
   "At the phone number in Carmine's note turned out to be Carmine himself.
'Hey, Fumimota-san!'
   "Takeshi started to shiver.  A young woman with regular features, wearing
a draped white gown, appeared out of the airport crowds, leaned her forearm
on Takeshi's shoulder, whispered, 'Watch the paranoia, please!' and
disappeared again." (VL, Ch. 9, p. 160)


"a centimeter or two above the actual floor surface"

Because "Takeshi had been up for three days" (ibid.)?  Let me know ...


"At the phone number in Carmine's note"

   "Back at the hotel he found a ticket to SFX tonight on the red-eye, with
a note from Two-Ton Carmine expressing sympathy for his recent inconvenience
and the hop that once in San Francisco he would communicate with the
enclosed phone number."  (p. 158)


"A young woman with regular features, wearing a draped white gown"

Guardian angel?  Greek goddess?  Allegorical figure?  But cf. ...

   "Emerging from a pool the size of a small reservoir in plaid swim trunks
from Brooks Brothers, unable even at first glance to be mistaken for any of
the white marble statues surrounding it, Ralph Wayvone, Sr., caped himself
with a towel stole not all that long ago from the Fairmont ...." (p. 92)


"'Watch the paranoia, please!'"

Indeed ...