GR translation: Maybe not now.

Mark Kohut mark.kohut at gmail.com
Fri Dec 2 06:11:16 CST 2016


Let me lead by saying I second Protomen's straightforward reading as I
reflect.

But, in the spirit of Mike asking for readings, 'interpretations' of what
is in English, as remarked,
perhaps open-endedly ambiguous, I will add one way I have read this over
the years.

Because of the line that follows, the same paragraph, not what could easily
have been a different paragraph
since one "rule" of writing is that words spoken 'should' have their own
paragraph to show that the thought
they express ends, I have often read "Maybe not now" as spoken very
tight-lippedly..."stares him hard as fists"
..controlled anger as in middle class life one person will 'hiss' to
another, "Not now", meaning we won't talk about that NOW, in this
situation.

Controlled anger that 'says', "you bring that up so innocently? With that
(stupid) 'Really?' and stupid remark since
you should KNOW now"....

On Fri, Dec 2, 2016 at 2:42 AM, Mike Jing <gravitys.rainbow.cn at gmail.com>
wrote:

> Thanks. That's what I meant the second time.
>
>
> On Fri, Dec 2, 2016 at 2:19 AM, Protomen <protomen at protonmail.com> wrote:
> >
> > I'd assume the more straightforward:
> > "(the fact that Pavel swore off that) maybe doesn't apply, in the current
> > situation"
> > with the "maybe" a euphemism, hence Enzian feeling out of touch.
> >
> > -------- Original Message --------
> > Subject: GR translation: Maybe not now.
> > Local Time: 1 décembre 2016 6:59 PM
> > UTC Time: 1 décembre 2016 17:59
> > From: gravitys.rainbow.cn at gmail.com
> > To: Pynchon Mailing List <pynchon-l at waste.org>
> >
> > V519.9-18, P528.2-11 Pavel and Maria meant to have the child. Then
> > Josef Ombindi and his people started their visiting. They have learned
> > their vulturehood from the Christian missionaries. They keep lists of
> > all the women of childbearing age. Any pregnancy is an invitation to
> > hover, to tune in, to swoop. They will use threats, casuistry,
> > physical seduction—there’s an arsenal of techniques. Washing-blue is
> > the abortifacient of choice.
> > “The refinery,” suggests Andreas Orukambe.
> > “Really? I thought he’d sworn off that.”
> > “Maybe not now.” The girl’s brother stares him hard as fists.
> > Enzian, old bastard, you really are out of touch . . . .
> >
> > What does Christian mean by “Maybe not now” here? Is he asking Enzian
> > to drop the subject?
> > -
> > Pynchon-l / http://www.waste.org/mail/?list=pynchon-l
> >
> >
> -
> Pynchon-l / http://www.waste.org/mail/?listpynchon-l
>
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