VL-IV: Moving right along... Chapter 9 - Back at it

[kelber at mindspring.com]

John's interpretation sounds right, though I can't help but be reminded of a nasty little short documentary film I saw (well, heard -- I covered my eyes throughout)at the Sundance Festival a week or so ago. It's called "Chop" and showcases a creepy guy who's into chopping off his fingers and toes.  He finds the act of slicing a sensual pleasure, sometimes getting an erection in the process.  He expresses the hope that there are people out there who are similarly turned on by what he does.  Ick.  Could this possibly be a phenomenon that Pynchon's stumbled upon?

Laura 

-----Original Message-----
>From: John Bailey <sundayjb at gmail.com>
>Sent: Feb 1, 2009 7:09 PM
>To: pynchon-l at waste.org
>Subject: Re: VL-IV: Moving right along... Chapter 9 - Back at it
>
>>Regarding the scene of the auction: "Older gentlement with fingertip  deficiencies could be noted circulating in the crowd, attentive as geishas, although to other signals." I'm probably missing something fairly obvious, any ideas? It feels sinister....
>>
>
>If a yakuza member messes up they can save face by lopping off a
>fingertip. These guys are likely paying attention to the complex codes
>and social cues of the gangster crowd.