Date: Fri, 22 Aug 2003 09:15:54 -0700
From: maa32 
Subject: (urth) silk's clean plate

Roy brings up Silk's clean plate.  I suppose I should have been more precise - 
the fact that Silk eats very little and gets sick in winter seems important 
somehow.  And he does say something about watching out for people who appear 
to eat only a little bit, I think.  It's hard to find quotes in the Short Sun 
books!  The unconscious nature of his consumption seems strange, as if he 
didn't remember actually eatting the food.  Alas, no dogs or huses under the 
table to feed it to, I guess.  Does he get sick after that scene?   I need to 
look at it again.  The question is, can an inhumu even attempt to digest food?
 I suppose not; Quetzal just likes to sniff his tea.

Yes, the abnegation of Urthly pleasures through abstemious eating and the love 
he fails to extend to Rose certainly explains the tomatoes.   
Marc Aramini



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