AtDTdA: (9) 258

[Jasper]

258 The Chums in Venice (continued)

Page 258:
"They appear out of... some other condition, and they vanish back into it."
See Trespassers, p. 134, p. 415, p. 424

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Vibrational rays
(one... more... time...)
See p. 244: Rays, boys, rays
See p. 252: energetic rays
See p. 445: Quaternian-ray weapons

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Tetralith
Modern math term for three dimensional solid formed by merging three 
hyperbolic paraboloids in a manner that they have a common midpoint. See 
Tetralith Photo #2. Pynchon just means a Tetris-shaped projectile, a 
Tetromino.
*wiki*

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Japanese character for "four" being same as that for "death"
Not quite correct. The Japanese kanji (Chinese) characters for four 四 
and death 死 are quite distinct, but can be pronounced in the same way, 
hence the taboo.
*wiki*

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Ryohei Uchida
Ultra-nationalist, founder of the Black Dragon Society (see below), a 
right-wing, paramilitary organization.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ryohei_Uchida
*wiki*

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polny pizdets
Crude Russian: a total screwup.
*wiki*

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Black Dragon Society
A paramilitary, ultra-nationalist, right-wing organization in Japan 
founded by Ryohei Uchida in 1901. Its initial public goal was to support 
Japanese expansion in Manchuria. Therefore, during the period from 1901 
to the end of World War I, it aimed to help the Japanese government 
drive the Russian presence out of that region. During the Russo-Japanese 
War of 1904-1905 (a war fought over Manchuria, with the Russians soundly 
defeated) it was active in espionage, sabotage and assassination against 
the Russians. During the 20's, 30's and later periods the Black Dragon 
Society evolved and expanded its activities around the world, including 
the United States. It was finally disbanded in 1946 by General MacArthur 
after World War II. Wikipedia entry.
*wiki*

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Smirno
Russian: quiet!
*wiki*

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Chinese Eastern Railway
The Chinese Eastern Railway or CER (also known as the Chinese Far East 
Railway) was a railway in northeastern China (Manchuria). It connected 
China and the Russian Far East. English-speakers have sometimes referred 
to this line as the Manchurian Railway.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chinese_Eastern_Railway