From: matthew.malthouse@guardian.co.uk
Date: Wed, 7 May 2003 12:25:18 +0100
Subject: Re: (urth) The Mine in Saltus




On 06/05/2003 21:41:55 Hubert Rogers wrote:

>Cyriaca's story in Sword of the Lictor and Severian's statement that he
>thinks he knows something of those machines, seem to suggest that there
was
>indeed an entity in the mine at Saltus.

I was happy with "entity".  I'd have quibled with the ealier used
"inteligence".

>What else could Severian be
>referring to when he said that?

I can't look right now (me, office: books, home) but I have a feeling that
I thought the inhabitants of the Wall of Nessus.

Curious though, at the time of the incident with Cyriaca Severian had some
superficial knowledge of the Citadel, had fled whatever approached in the
Mines of Saltus and had gained barely more than a tourist's view of the
House Absolute.

What knowledge could Severian the lictor of Thrax have of such?  I'd have
thought very little. So is Severian, Autarch and Author interpolating
knowledge that he possesses into the conversations of his earlier, more
ignorant self?

Matthew



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