Tracking dreams

I thought I'd do dreams myself, so this may cross mantis's interpretation. The dreams seem pretty clearly brought on by the staff. Cutthroat gets the staff on the tenth day and throws it away (leaves it behind) on the morning of the 16th. During three of the six nights that it is in his possession, he has horrific dreams of violence. In the first, he relives the episode of Cim's kidnapping, and the Min missile strikes him again, this time much more painfully, and he feels further separated from the Great Sleigh than ever. Two nights go by without dreams, but on the night of the 13th days he relives killing the Min with the endieva wand over and over again, although the Min offers to be his slave. "I was frantic and ashamed, guilty because I was killing someone who only wished to be my friend---yet at the same time, I wanted him to die at once so that no one need know." The next night he dreams of killing Mantru again, and, on waking, has an insight about the power of the staff. The following day, after a dreamless night, he abandons the staff and, despite the pain of his wound, he counts that day as "the happiest of my life." The description of the staff is right out of Weird Tales, and we know right away that it is evil. Only a human can wield it. I guess it represents technology in the unnatural weapons-of-destruction sense, with a sort of ecological moral tied to it---it will destroy for you, but it will destroy you too. Interesting, especially in light of Ratty's insight that everyone loves Cutthroat---welcome back, Ratty!---that though Cutthroat has ordered the Min walled up for the time being, he sees this Min as a potential friend. Though the earlier Min wound may kill him. -alga (not feeling quite mantic enough for this)-

Alga, Your interpretation of the dreams seems right-on to me. For what it's worth. (Horrors, you and I agree with each other more than with Mantis on this story, it seems! Gasp!) Nutria