PEACE: the sepia photo

Roy C. Lackey · 05 Aug 2002, 02:42 · from urth-v0208.mbox · original

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From: "Roy C. Lackey" <rclackey at stic.net>
Subject: Re: (urth) PEACE: the sepia photo
Date: Sun, 4 Aug 2002 21:42:07 -0500
Message-ID: <urth-v0208-1537 at digest.urth.net>
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Adam Stephanides expressed doubt that Candy was the woman Miss Hadow saw in
the photo, and added:

>Given the problematic nature of Part Five, it's possible that Weer never in
>fact showed the photos to Miss Hadow and that the entire encounter is his
>fabrication.  But even if that's the case, he would presumably have made
>himself and Miss Hadow behave realistically.

I don't see how the text can allow for anyone other than Candy to be the
woman in the photo. But another oddity is Weer's response to Hadow's
comments. Hadow really only makes remarks about the attire and general
appearance of the woman and the tall man. The shorter man is not remarked
upon except for his relative height. She concludes her comments with: "'I
don't mean to be offensive, Mr. Weer. Is she someone you know?'" He answers:
"'No. I've never met either of these people.'"

That sort of answers her question, but note the use of "either" rather than
"any". Is he saying that he's never met the woman or the tall man she
commented on, but that the use of "either" implies that he _has_ met the
other, shorter man? Hadow makes no further comments about the pictures. Is
that just because she is afraid to, or does she, like Weer, recognize the
other man? As secretary to a senior plant officer, she has probably been at
the plant for some time and knows the late Smart by sight. (Besides, Smart's
picture is on the wall of Weer's office.)

-Roy

--=20

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