GR translation: On the beam

Monte Davis montedavis49 at gmail.com
Fri Dec 25 13:15:11 CST 2015


Specifically, on the right course or path -- from 1930s/40s aircraft
navigation systems that monitored the strength of a "beacon" signal. It
would still have had a high-tech, slang-of-the-future sound as of 1945, so
it's appropriate for this then-science-fictional context.

More generally, Myrtle is acknowledging and agreeing to Slothrop's
unfinished request: "OK, I'm following your intended course, carrying out
what I know you want."

On Fri, Dec 25, 2015 at 1:18 PM, Mike Jing <gravitys.rainbow.cn at gmail.com>
wrote:

> V679.7-14   “Uh, Myrtle . . .” Slothrop approaches gold-snooded M.M. a
> little deferent, “uh, do you think you could . . .” Jesus they run through
> this same routine every time—doesn’t Myrtle wish Sniveling Slothrop would
> cut this wishy-washy malarkey ’n’ be a man fer once! She lights a
> cigarette, lets it droop from one comer of her mouth, juts out the opposite
> hip and sighs, “On the beam,” exasperated already with this creep—
>        And Los! the miracle is done, they’re now zipping along the
> corridor-streets of the Raketen-Stadt like some long-necked sea monster.
>
> What does "On the beam" mean here?
>
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