V-2nd - Chapter 12: Keep Cool But Care

[kelber at mindspring.com]

Lackluster as the lowly Chapter 12 is, it's still the source of the oft-quoted: Keep cool but care.  McClintic formulates this little philosophy while he's with Paola.  There always seems to be wind imagery around Paola (including her last name).  McClintic and Paola are driving up the Hudson and here's another wind reference:  "their own wind was cool."

Then:  "She talked to him straight and McClintic kept cool."

She tells him her life story, which causes McClintic to ruminate:

"Love with your mouth shut, help without breaking your ass or publicizing it:  keep cool, but care."

It's a prescription for emotional detachment, for a realization that no one can do much of anything about the state of the world.  Not sure Assange subscribes to this.  Or Dick Cheney.  But certainly, Pynchon does.

Laura