ATDTDA (11): Flat Frank #2

[Paul Nightingale]

The first section of Ch24 opens with Frank trying to make sense of the scene
in the livery stable; then, "be[ginning] his ascent to the Little Hellkite
Mine (296), he meets Ellmore Disco, last seen at Lupita's (289). As an
informant (of sorts), Ellmore swaps places with Merle, who featured on
291-295. In terms of narrative momentum, Merle's function was (a) to invite
Frank to the mine (291) and (b) to reappear at the end of the chapter and
drop hints about European politics (294). Given what has happened in the
novel thus far, Merle is the first character Frank has met that the reader
'knows' better than he does (put another way, 'knows' independently of
Frank's perspective). Expecting to find Merle he sees Dally (298);
immediately the narrative jump-cuts to a scene in Merle's office. Frank here
is a silent witness (his presence indicated by "Dally assured them .") until
Dally's sudden departure, at which point she gets his name wrong (299).
We're told the father-daughter routine has happened "many times . in many
forms" (298); this might or might not be something Frank realises, since
this is the first time he has actually been present (ie he could have an
impression from observing their interaction). Moreover, "many times . in
many forms" might recall the repetitive storytelling of Dally's childhood
(67). This indicates one way in which Frank's relationships with Dally and
Wren are different.