ATDTDA (20): It had not occurred to him until lately, 559

[Paul Nightingale]

If the first section deals with the Q-weapon, quickly dropping Kit after a
single mention, the current section focuses on his relationship with Umeki,
the "excuses" they have had to find "to fall into each other's emotional
field". Previously, Kit's "lately-intensifying fascination" (557) with her
had seen him "tagg[ing] along"; here, he has, it seems, only belatedly
realised that she is the reason for his "lingering" in Ostend instead of
going, as intended, to Gottingen. Back in Ch25, Gottingen (in Scarsdale
Vibe's words, "This Germany business", 331) was the answer to his "prayer"
(318); since leaving Yale, however, he has progressed in unexpected ways,
and is now focused on Umeki as a reason why he should delay his departure.