Flight of the Heron read-along: Part I chapters 3-4

[regshoe]

I have just finished reading a Mary Renault novel and feel, predictably, absolutely awful about it. Time to distract myself with some Jacobites!

Next week we'll finish Part I with chapters 5 and 6.

Comments

[sanguinity]

First time read, so I don't know what's coming, but the bit where Ewen assumes Lachlan couldn't possibly have harmed the heron -- because Ewen said not to! -- thereby stubbornly disregarding the BLATANT fact that mere hours beforehand Lachlan had threatened Keith's life after being explicitly told not to...

I can't help but think that this is foreshadowing for some coming major betrayal from Lachlan. One almost certainly made to protect Ewen, if I were to guess, but one which Ewen would strenuously object to.


And like others, I laughed to see Keith admiring Ewen in a kilt -- and perhaps swooned a little at:

“Captain Windham, are you hurt? God forgive me, what have they been doing? Tied!” And in a moment he had snatched a little knife out of his stocking and was cutting Keith’s bonds. “Oh, why did I let you out of my sight! For God’s sake tell me that you are not injured!”

...because I will always be a sucker for a frantic "say you're not hurt!" Even when they've only known each other for less than a day.

[osprey_archer]

Ewen's "say you're not hurt!" is GREAT here, especially given how short a time they've known each other. Of course some of it is just that he's protective of his honor as a host (can't have Captain Windham getting hurt while he's a guest in Ewen's house!), but the intensity of it feels personal.

[luzula]

I think it feels personal because he respects Keith and can tell that he's an honourable and admirable man, even if there are no stronger feelings yet! With someone he didn't respect much, he would still care for the sake of his own honour, but it wouldn't be as intense in front of Keith.

We see plenty of dishonourable Hanoverian officers later, so really, Ewen was lucky to capture Keith and not someone else.

[regshoe]

Ewen assumes Lachlan couldn't possibly have harmed the heron -- because Ewen said not to! -- thereby stubbornly disregarding the BLATANT fact that mere hours beforehand Lachlan had threatened Keith's life after being explicitly told not to...

Hmm, that is a very good point! As for your speculations, hmm, we shall see... :D

Aargh, yes, I love the 'say you're not hurt!' thing too, and this was a very good one. I agree with osprey_archer that it's mostly about his duties as a host, but the intensity and strength of feeling which Ewen has about his honour and gentlemanly conduct towards Keith is itself great.

[sanguinity]

Belatedly coming back to say that I have raced through the remainder of the novel at a weekend, and V unir arire orra fb qvfznlrq gb or evtug! *funxrf svfg ng zlfrys naq Oebfgre naq gur Sngrf*


Oh, and also the whole bit about the Redcoats not being able to SEE what is happening on the High Bridge, because of angles and treecover and everything? Gung'f n znfgreshy ovg bs frggvat hc n snpg gung jvyy or nofbyhgryl pevgvpny jnl njnl ng gur bgure raq bs gur abiry...

[regshoe]

Ahaha, oh dear... *funxrf svfg jvgu lbh* Ohg gung, bs pbhefr, vf jung svk-vg svp vf sbe. :)

Re. your second rot-13'd bit, that is a really good observation! I'd not thought of that as foreshadowing before, but I can see it—nice, and very clever of Broster indeed.

[sanguinity]

I just gave my wife a summary of zl cerqvpgvba naq vgf shysvyyzrag, naq fur fubbx ure urnq fnqyl. "Arire guvax lbh unir lbhe fvoyvat haqre lbhe guhzo," dhbgu fur. Truly, wisdom for the ages!

[luzula]

Oh, you finished it already! Well, I hope you'll stick with the readalong anyway, and give us your impressions...

Naq V'z gehyl fbeel nobhg gur urnegoernxvat raqvat! Ohg, nf ertfubr fnlf, gung vf jung svkvg svp vf sbe, naq V guvax jr'ir sbhaq fbzr tbbq jnlf nebhaq vg. : )

Huh, that's an intriguing observation about High Bridge.

[sanguinity]

I blew through it last weekend in tandem with a friend; she and I were sending each other quotes all weekend. But yes, I do intend to continue with the readalong; I look forward to a more leisurely read-through, and look forward to seeing all the things Broster set up along the way that I didn't notice on the first pass. I might be late joining in on this week's installment because I started at the beginning again last night, but I trust I'll catch up again shortly.

Naq lrf, svk-vg svp! Nygubhtu V svaq ab snhyg jvgu gur raqvat nf fur jebgr vg -- fbzrgvzrf bar eryvfurf gur urnegnpur bs n ornhgvshyyl jevggra gentrql.

[luzula]

V frr jung lbh zrna nobhg nccerpvngvat gur urnegnpur bs gur gentvp raq va vgfrys! V'ir pregnvayl jevggra svp qvttvat vagb gung, gbb--ohg vg'f avpr gb or noyr gb frr vg nf bayl bar bs gur cbffvoyr bhgpbzrf. : )

[sanguinity]

Absolutely!