Atdtda25: Still in the picture, 722-723

[Paul Nightingale]

As the section begins Cyprian has already spoken to Theign of Yashmeen; she
is therefore absent but reproduced in the form of their discussion. Having
aroused Cyprian, she now inspires Theign's ejaculation of sorts, "what would
soon amount to gallons of mucus and saliva". We return to the earlier scene
on 707, and Theign's thoughtful judgement there: "I wouldn't have preferred
this scenario." Cyprian is asking for help, which would appear to confirm
Theign's authority; however, he experiences it as something else entirely, a
"scenario" that he hasn't in fact authored, or would have wished to author.
Again a domestic still-life is disturbed, Theign "chucking about household
objects ..." etc (722).

He wishes to turn the absent-but-present Yashmeen into "a cherished
photograph" (722). Again, we are reminded of the earlier scene featuring "a
popular facsimile of Venice known as Venedig in Wien" (717). She doubts she
will ever go to Venice; and Ratty subsequently remarks that she is "still in
the picture". Similarly, Cyprian must anticipate his own confinement, ie
loss of liberty in "being sent someplace that would make the Gobi seem like
Earl's Court on a Bank Holiday" (723): another equation-as-representation,
albeit one that cannot be adequately rendered ( eg a "mapless [horror]").