ATDTDA (12): Foley's voice, 329-335 #1
Paul Nightingale
isreading at btinternet.com
Mon Jul 2 23:33:19 CDT 2007
Kit climbs another tower to see Scarsdale Vibe. Foley Walker ("the dedicated
substitute", 330) is seen first, but Vibe speaks. He continues, as before,
to insist on the usefulness of Kit's work in maths. The scene has been given
from Kit's pov as he journeys upwards to the office, but suddenly we are
given access to Vibe's thoughts: "Scarsdale was aware immediately that he
might have misplayed his hand". Together his with opening speech, inserted
as the text dwells on FW's appearance, what Kit sees as he comes through the
door, this amounts to an attempt to assert himself in opposition to the
alter egos. Back on 104, FW describes Kit's deal as "paid conscription",
directly connecting it to the deal he himself made with SV; so Kit and FW
have that much in common (the point emphasised with the reference to the
Civil War on 331). And cf. the way SV dominates the scene with Professor
Vanderjuice (33ff).
About to enter the office Kit sees himself as an actor going on-stage; and
down the page it is apparent that SV also is putting on an act, "implacably
cordial" (331). Hence: "This might be all in code ." etc. SV is "smirking,
secure in unquestioned might, unable to imagine how all he believed
protecting him had just turned to glass". Cf. his earlier "offended
righteousness" (320), just as much a performance. What has happened since is
that Kit has been told of his father's death, in a letter SV is well aware
of.
After Kit has departed, FW calls him "[a] tough one to figure"; and then
wonders if he might be "another Red in the root cellar like his old man"
(331). Cf. SV on "the old capitalist's curse" (157); and now his confession
that he "coveted the bloodline of [his] enemy" (332). At this point, one
might wonder if FW's words can be taken at face-value, given his
identification with Kit, as opposed to SV. Vibe insists that FW identify
with him ("We used to be such splendid fellows"); but FW fails to confirm
the deal, answering one question, non-committally, with another.
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