coldhouse

I had always assumed that the victim in the coldhouse prank was Sherry Gold's brother, who was not on the best of terms with his parents and wanted to move out (as I recall from a readiing a few years ago - or was he already living in a boardinghouse?) Perhaps he confronted Weer about his sister after getting a job there (he was looking for a job, right?) and then Weer took the opportunity to play a convenient prank on him. Of course, I need to read Peace again. Just my two cents. At least Gold has motive to get close to Weer, and Weer has reason to get rid of Sherry's brother. Marc Aramini

The coldhouse prank was in 1938. Weer met Sherry around 1954. Sherry was only just born at the time of the prank (1954 - 16 = 1938). Which is rather weird, come to think of it. =mantis= Sirius Fiction booklets on Gene Wolfe, John Crowley 29 copies of "Snake's-hands" until OP! http://www.siriusfiction.com/