Atdtda26: A perfect accomplice, 739-741

[Paul Nightingale]

Kit has suggested they "just [stand] back" and here is another development
that has nothing to do with the Traverse brothers: Scarsdale Vibe's presence
at the ball. In the previous section he has invoked "the forces of History"
as a reason to do nothing; here, "[e]verybody [is] waiting for something
..." etc as they take refuge from the weather. 

Reef resents (or: is at least uneasy about) the way his personal quest for
justice can be taken over. That Scarsdale Vibe 'belongs to' others seeking
justice threatens his perspective. At the same time he has appeared anxious
to 'put Dally in her place' and restore conventional gender roles:
throughout, she has challenged his notion of her, eg 737 ("... Reef agreed
after a short period of wordless stupor ..." etc). Here, she produces a
pistol, but for Reef it's just as likely she will "meet some Italian prince,
fall in love ..." etc (740). As "the perfect accomplice" Dally would provide
cover, serve as a distraction while the real work is done by someone else,
ie Reef: one thinks of Stray describing their working relationship to Frank
(eg, on 645: "I used to come in, pretend to be his sister ..." etc). We last
saw Stray selling guns in Ch46; here, Dally has started to prove herself by
demonstrating some kind of gun-toting expertise. Nontheless, she will be
allowed to enjoy herself ("a party's a party") while Reef/Kit remain busy,
"outside doing some reconnaissance". The section begins on 739 by reminding
the reader that Dally is reluctant to attend the ball; and one might infer
that "the interesting piece of news that one of the guests would be
Scarsdale Vibe" is what finally persuades her.