Atdtda26: Part of the imprimatura, 741-743

[Paul Nightingale]

The opening description is a long-shot, the narrative then cutting to a
close-up as Kit focuses his attention on Dally "and for a heartbeat and a
half just forgot where he was and what he was supposed to be doing here"
(742). With the help of the Principessa, Dally herself is transformed in
appearance, "her incendiary hair" perhaps recalling the earlier "... like a
gong, redirecting his attention" (732). The detail of this passage is in
sharp contrast to what follows, a brief two-line reference to the arrival of
Vibe/Walker, ending with "the unmistakeable snap of a gunshot" (742).
Further down the page, "[f]lame stab[s] out of the muzzles of brand-new
Glisentis", linking the gunfire to Dally's hair, or at least its effect on
Kit. At the very end of the section, Vibe "turn[s] and stare[s] straight at
Kit, leaving no doubt that he recognise[s] him ..." etc (743); after the
lengthy description of Tancredi's death the narrative returns us to Kit's
pov, "the triumphant smirk on [Vibe's] face" replacing the impact Dally's
appearance has had on him (742).

Consider the first appearance of Scarsdale Vibe on 31, "in disguise,
accompanied by bodyguards and secretaries". Here, "bodyguards in black were
rising up from everywhere" (742). On 31 Vibe is approached by "an elderly
woman, respectably though not sumptuously dressed"; here, Tancredi wears "a
borrowed suit, shirt-collar too big" (742), his improvised dress juxtaposed
to Dally's carefully manufactured appearance. Given his appearance, he is
"immediately read as out of place and therefore in disguise, and therefore a
threat": not "part of the imprimatura" (741), then.

On 31, the woman "approache[s] [Vibe] crying, 'If I were your mother I would
have strangled you in your cradle'"; here, Vibe urges the bodyguard to
"[g]ive the little shitass's Mamma something to cry about" (743). A tad
excited, then. Cf. his response to the woman on 31: "Calmly Scarsdale Vibe
nodded ..." etc. Here, the narrative emphasises the impact on Kit, whether
or not Vibe has actually seen him. The introduction of Tancredi/Anarchism on
738 has led to a reassessment of Vibe; he is somewhat more than the villain
of a domestic drama, hence the judgement on "pathetic little pikers" (743),
or perhaps "part of the imprimatura".