Sev's family tree

Jeff Wilson · 28 Jan 2011, 03:13 · from 2011-January.txt.gz

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From: jwilson at io.com (Jeff Wilson)
Date: Thu, 27 Jan 2011 21:13:48 -0600 (CST)
Subject: (urth) Sev's family tree
In-Reply-To: <30B8173FA890478CBCAC80F48D3B5FA7@jill>
References: <SNT123-W25C62CAB686174CDDF6FEBCFFF0 at phx.gbl><454A2FAE-7B89-408B-A433-DC9AE77CC631 at butcherbaker.org><AANLkTikZgvy6hZD9675H1kxFN-Zc38qUuG0Rnm_v7ZJp at mail.gmail.com><249C0E3BF446437A88AF4E5110DF594B@jill>
	<700d4de317d0e735d9d175a63697d664.squirrel at webmail.prismnet.com>
	<30B8173FA890478CBCAC80F48D3B5FA7@jill>
Message-ID: <1357b21c2d1e66f2f2cd2714d519b7c9.squirrel at webmail.prismnet.com>

>
> From: "Jeff Wilson" <jwilson at io.com>
> Gerry.Quinn:
>>> The reading seems problematic.  Casdoe chose to leave Severian alone in
>>> the dark with the alzabo, when she could with little risk have hung a
>>> light for him.  Doubtless she intended that the alzabo would devour
>>> Severian and rush off to find his family, leaving her and her own
>>> family
>>> safe.
>>
>> Is there any real evidence that the alzabo is motivated to hunt by
>> family
>> in preference to proximity and opportunity?
>
> It seems obvious that family and/or close acquaintaince are the basis of
> its
> modus operandi. It comes to the door crying to be let in in the voice of a
> family member, and in Sev's conversation with what might be called 'the
> spirit of Becan' within it, it indicates that it is motivated to bring his
> family to join him.
>
> We don't know for sure how it operates, but it would seem a reasonable
> assumption, and gives a plausible motivation for Casdoe's actions.

It's hard to isolate the variables given the action takes place in an
isolated cabin in the woods. The only nearby people the previous victims
know of are family of course, and surprise guest Severian is largely
unknown other than being very fit and well armed.

If the creature is hungry enough to challenge an armed man only a day
after devouring a another armed man, it would be risking starvation or
fatal weakness against other predators to travel more than a few days
between victims; it could not have a survival instinct that would cause it
to abandon visible prey for some that could be anywhere in the region.

Of course, maybe Casdoe is just hoping for the one day's grace after
letting it eat Sev....

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