ATDTDA (12): Another mustache, 326-328

[Paul Nightingale]

Surviving the journey to Tesla's tower has been, Kit and Fax have to "[get]
used to being alive and on dry land again". This trip has been taken behind
Vibe's back, and we get the impression of a significant break here: Fax has
already emerged (bottom of 325) as a stranger to his father.

Tesla has "hypnotic eyes" (326) and Kit "[sits[ unblinkingly attentive as
[he speaks]". Fax has nothing to say for himself, and appears inattentive.
He doesn't respond when Tesla refers to "dealings with your father"; more
accurately, perhaps, no response is recorded in the text. Cf. "the exquisite
stupor of assumption" shared by Kit and Fax, "none of it ever stated aloud,
all pregnant eyebeaming and circumlocution" (325). Subsequently Fax is
"drowsing" (327) and "appear[s] to be asleep" (328), all from Kit's pov. In
particular: "Suddenly apprehensive, Kit looked over at Fax ." etc (327).

Given that he initiated the trip, so Kit could introduce him to Tesla ("your
pal", 325), one might have expected some kind of reaction from Fax: having
served his purpose at this time, however, he simply drops out of the action.
On his first appearance he was established as a sportsman, "a classic
'Corinthian' of the day" (158), so should one expect him to be simply
exhausted here? He is there, a presence, as a representative of Vibe. Tesla
remembers Kit from Colorado, and, on that occasion, it was "Kit's sidekick
Jack Gigg" (99) who pushed him into going to seek work; Jack subsequently
disappeared.

Tesla's backstory begins with a reference to European politics: "My native
land is not a country but an artefact of Habsburg foreign policy ." (326), a
reminder of both the anarchist connection and, encouraging hindsight, the
age of nationalism that will follow World War 1. He goes on to emphasise
personal image, the gap between imagination and execution: "Everything
since, all you have seen in the press, has been theatrical impersonation-the
Inventor at Work." (327) If his "native land" is a construct, then so is
Tesla himself. Science-as-work is simply not spectacular; Tesla must
"exhibit only virtues likely to appeal to rich sponsors".

At this, Kit glances over at "his drowsing classmate"; and then confirms the
bond (an "expression of solidarity") with Tesla. Fax, having brought him
here, can now be 'sent back': "I have been around them long enough, Dr
Tesla. They have no idea what any of us are about." This speech refers to
Scarsdale Vibe's lack of understanding (eg, his "offended righteousness",
320); it also reminds us that Fax has been just as bemused by Kit's
behaviour (the "interplanetary range" separating them, 318).

By the end of the section Tesla has thanked Kit for his work in Colorado
(328). Kit considers he has been thanked "[w]ith interest". Tesla can't
offer him a job, but he has been seduced, just as he was earlier by Foley
Walker on behalf of Vibe (99ff), albeit more effectively.