GR translation: he’s already stopped believing in the rocket he saw

[Paul Mackin]

On 12/8/2011 11:04 AM, Mark Kohut wrote:
> I have ALSO read this as a simple phenomenological, psychological observation.
>
> Out of sight, out of mind......akin to denial.....wanting to believe he did not see it.....
>
> He saw it by an unusual sunlight bouncing off clouds configuration and
> now "God has plucked it for him, out of its airless sky".....


Like the proverbial streetcar.  They'll be another one along in a few 
minutes.

But one also senses a broader disillusionment.  Just as Slothrop once 
cared but no longer does, Prentiss is loosing faith in the "mission."

P
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: David Morris<fqmorris at gmail.com>
> To: Mike Jing<gravitys.rainbow.cn at gmail.com>
> Cc: Pynchon Mailing List<pynchon-l at waste.org>
> Sent: Thursday, December 8, 2011 10:31 AM
> Subject: Re: GR translation: he’s already stopped believing in the rocket he saw
>
> He's stopped believing in this particular rocket's (the one he saw
> from the roof) power.
>
> On Thu, Dec 8, 2011 at 2:24 AM, Mike Jing<gravitys.rainbow.cn at gmail.com>  wrote:
>> P8.29-35   Pirate goes to the phone and rings up Stanmore after all.
>> Has to go through the usual long, long routine, but knows he’s already
>> stopped believing in the rocket he saw. God has plucked it for him,
>> out of its airless sky, like a steel banana. “Prentice here, did you
>> have anything like a pip from Holland a moment ago. Aha. Aha. Yes, we
>> saw it.” This could ruin a man’s taste for sunrises. He rings off.
>> “They lost it over the coast. They’re calling it premature
>> Brennschluss.”
>>
>> What does it mean that he has "stopped believing in the rocket he saw"?