Atdtda30: A good thing, 846-847

[Paul Nightingale]

Vesna is introduced at the end of 58.12 (842), at which point Cyprian is
"possessed ... by a smile he could not control". On 844, he is affected by
her song (in combination with ouzo and hasheesh). At the end of 58.14 (top
of 846) it is apparent that Vesna has been present, "listening", albeit
unidentified until her intervention, responding to the rhetorical question
he asks of Danilo: here, she inserts herself into the narrative to insist on
"destiny". Beyond the section break, 58.15 then began with Cyprian's own
declaration, "the plan" confirming that he has taken on the part that he and
Vesna, between them, constructed. 

So it is that, following a sequence of roles adopted by Cyprian, the current
section opens with his separation from Vesna, "as if each were a part of the
other". Cf. Cyprian's parting from Yashmeen on 504 and the role played by
"some perverse variety of Fate". Given that Cyprian has indeed 'become'
Gabrovo Slim, his subsequent comment is noteworthy here: "The important
thing for him ... is to be home again, among his people" (847, having
firstly thought of practicalities, putting himself into Gabrovo Slim's
shoes).

Here, Danilo ("look[ing] on") has spoken of Cyprian's "good thing" (847);
and Cyprian has to confirm this as a reference to Gabrovo Slim returned to
his former--more authentic?--identity. So travelling means a loss of
identity? Or perhaps the simple awareness that identity is easily shifted:
not for the first time, Cyprian brings to mind Kit's own career as
traveller. Cf. the way tourism is constructed on, eg, 574, seen from the pov
of Dally/Beppo: "... changing [Venice] from a real city to a hollow and now
and then failed impersonation of itself".