ATDDTA(10) Invisible Chilies in The Soup [289:1-29]

[Keith]

Lupita aprons a freshly baked tortilla while assuring the skittish  
Ellmore that La Blanca is not looking for him while Hair-Trigger is  
away. Frank eyes Disco eyeing him, but Ellmore knows this section is  
olfactory and turns the attention to his nose, running from the heat  
of menudo. According to Ellmore, the offending chilies are so small  
they are invisible, and, like dynamite under the moonlight, one can  
kill you and all your friends within a hundred-yards radius.

--------------------------------------------

[289:6] "in the soup"

(Slang) Having difficulties; in trouble. [AHD]

"in a difficulty. orig. U.S." [OED]

(1889) Lisbon (Dakota) Star 26 Apr. 4/2 After collecting a good deal  
of money, the scoundrels suddenly left town, leaving many persons in  
the soup. (1939) H. G. WELLS Holy Terror I. ii. 38 We're in the  
soup... We've got to do 1914 over again.

Why is Disco in the soup? Has he been playing horsey with La Blanca?  
And, remember my marmot friends, splashing soup was a sign of trouble  
back at the Last Supper as well.

--------------------------------------------

[289:10] "pobrecito" = poor little bastard

--------------------------------------------

What do you think of the significance of invisible chilies? Of the  
idea that smaller equals hotter?

The frequency of the word (or connotation of) invisible/invisibility  
keeps increasing in TRP's novels. This one has it about every other  
page.

Why?

--------------------------------------------