M&D Deep Duck: Section 5 summary

[kelber at mindspring.com]

Part 5:

Back on shore, Mason and Dixon are gripped by paranoia. They want to write a letter to the Royal Society begging off of a mission that is obviously way to dangerous. But Mason is afraid that maybe danger was the whole point. Maybe they've deliberately been put in harms way by … him. No, not God, but the head of the Society. The two speculate further. Why would the French attack such an undergunned ship anyway? Did they know it was a scientific expedition? Maybe that's why they attacked? Rivalry with the British? Or were they perhaps in cahoots with the Royal Society, setting up some insignificant martyrs …?  Mason and Dixon are absolutely convinced that someone out there wants one or both of them dead. But the Royal Society responds to their plea with a scathing letter telling them in no uncertain terms to get their asses back on the Seahorse.

-
Pynchon-l / http://www.waste.org/mail/?list=pynchon-l