VLVL2 (14) Standard-issue Hippy Freaks, 315-322

[Paul Nightingale]

In Eureka, Zoyd is "suddenly disoriented" when first seeing his car
driven by Van Meter, "a standard-issue Hippy Freak who looked just like
him".

Cf Van Meter subsequently in the Fast Lane Lounge: "You understand,
every guy up here looks just like we do. You're dern near invisible
already" (318).

"[T]he busful of northbound hippies" (314) has become "a great northerly
migration" (318). However, Zoyd finds "old, proud, and strong union
people" who regard him with suspicion: "[I]f they were allowing in over
their doorsills from time to time non-union odd-jobbing Zoyd, it was
only out of sympathy for his hair and life-style, which they blamed on
his mental disability, and love for their distant relative Prairie"
(320). Zoyd is both anonymous, then, just another of the "new hires"
(321), and also distinct (eg "allowed into the Traverse-Becker reunions,
as long as he brought Prairie").

The disability 'cover' is a kind of electronic tag, of course: Zoyd can
both disappear and yet be, at the same time, 'visible' (see Hector's
explanation, 304). Sasha has told him about Vineland (ie the family
connection), citing the "mass migration of freaks" (305). This in turn
means he remains 'visible' in anticipation of Frenesi's return.

Zoyd's character function throughout is to be out-of-sync with the
action, always playing catch-up; yet the chapter ends by noting his
belief that "he must have chosen right for a change" (322).