shapeshifting Hethor

b sharp · 29 May 2006, 05:13 · from 2006-May.txt.gz

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From: bsharporflat at hotmail.com (b sharp)
Date: Mon, 29 May 2006 01:13:50 -0400
Subject: (urth) shapeshifting Hethor
Message-ID: <BAY103-F24930456FDE34EF082FB8ED79D0 at phx.gbl>

Roy says:

>Well, which is it? It can't be both ways. If confinement forces a
>shapeshifter into true form, why didn't Hethor immediately turn back into a
>slug (or whatever) when he was thrown into the antechamber? It didn't
>happen. He was put into the antechamber at breakfast time and was there all
>day. It was at night when the creature came snuffling in the dark and
>Severian escaped with a slime-covered Jonas. If Hethor had the leisure to
>wait until dark in order to follow one rule before violating the other rule
>against shapeshifting while imprisoned, who's enforcing these rules?

>And I almost cringe to mention that it also offers a solution to the
>problem of the incident in the tunnel beneath the Piteous Gate.

>That would violate another of your rules; the place was packed with prying
>eyes and it wasn't too dark to see him shift.

Excellent points Roy.  I agree completely.

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