VLVL2 (12): "Wackiness" Summary and Annotations (part 1)

[Tim Strzechowski]

First, we'll dispense with the obligatory "Babies of Wackiness" take on matters:

http://www.mindspring.com/~shadow88/chapter12.htm

CHAPTER 12

Another long, complicated chapter. Thanatoid Weed Atman (in the present, and clearly a ghost, since his unambiguous death is described later) has an (undescribed) interview with DL and Takeshi. In a brief flashback (set, apparently, after still-to-be-told events at the CotS) Weed wanders around Southern California, becoming something of a persona-non-grata. Flashforward to a Thanatoid Roast '84 at which Weed may be Guest of Honor. There are silly Thanatoid jokes, and very...slow...music. In a brief cut-away, we're told that Zoyd is hiding out in a hard-to-find dope-growing community called Holytail. The CAMP anti-smoke assault, headed by ex Luftwaffe Kommandant Karl Bopp, is briefly noted. Paranoia grows in Vineland. Back at the Thanatoid Roast Van Meter sings "Thanatoid World." 

A couple of tourists wander in by accident: a dentist (Dr. Elasmo) and his receptionist Chickeeta. Weed remembers having some contact with Elasmo during the CotS events in Trasero County. A flashback details the story: Elasmo used to run a chain of discount dental franchises. He and Weed pass each other on the Freeway one day, after which Elasmo seems to be following Weed and Frenesi, after which Elasmo sends Weed a form requiring him to come to the dental office. For some reason, Weed complies, and spends days trapped in a vaguely Kafkaesque, Trial-like holding pattern. Elasmo never sees him, but for some reason Weed is powerfully effected by this routine: He grows deeply confused, especially about Frenesi. Moreover, his "disciples" are driving him crazy. Everyone is confused, paranoid, coming apart.

Rex is disappointed by Weed's lack of revolutionary fervor. In a nested flashback Rex proves his fervor by giving his beloved Porsche to a group of black activists. A vaguely-fantastic flashforward to Rex's fantasy of a picnic-in-the-future at which Rex and Weed discuss the fact that the FBI had been setting them up, and joke agreeably about the time that Rex shot Weed. The fantasy-picnic fades back to the main Weed flashback: Behind Weed's back, Frenesi tells Rex that Weed is an FBI plant, and makes plans to film the confrontation when they accuse Weed directly. Who's remembering this part? Not Weed, the presumable owner of this flashback. Probably it's Rex. Meanwhile Frenesi keeps sleeping with Weed -- and Vond.

Vond gives Frenesi a gun, and asks her to give it to Rex. She agrees, and there's a brief flashforward to Frenesi testifying before a grand jury. Back in the main flashback, Weed confronts Frenesi -- with most of 24fps present and filming. He seems to know that she has set him up. Rex appears and shoots Weed. In the end Rex seems to understand that Frenesi is responsible for the action. 24fps moves out into the night to film the inevitable FBI victory. Vond rescues/abducts Frenesi via a mysterious network of secret highways. She ends up in a sequestered "holding area" (i.e., concentration camp) "hours to the north," apparently prepared as a refuge in case of an atomic attack. 



Continued . . .
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