That's one cold bastard

[prof_pangaea]

Alright, I've just started reading The Game (yay for libraries); I've actually had it for a few days, but for some reason I didn't immediately jump onto it. In any case, I'm only far enough in for the plot to still be exposition, and Holmes starts explaining what led him to the three year Hiatus. He says that his explanation to Watson about finishing up with the Moriarty gang was false -- so, I think, 'Hmmm... I'm wondering what the real reason was. It must have been important to MAKE YOUR BEST FRIEND IN THE WORLD THINK YOU WERE DEAD FOR THREE YEARS. SO here's what he says:

Once at the top, setting my face to the East, I paused. In fact, I sat among the bushes and stones for so long, I saw Watson reappear in a panic on the path below me. I saw the poor fellow find the note I had left there, saw him... He wept, Russell; my loyal friend broke down and wept, and it was all I could do not to stand and hail him. But I was silent, not because I wished to cause him pain, nor even because I had a thought out plan of action. No, it was merely that I had been given the priceless gift of choice, and could not bring myself to throw it away.

I'm sorry, but... WHAT THE HELL IS THAT??? You don't tell Watson you're alive because you feel like it? That's worse than Doyle's explanation!! MUCH WORSE!

Well, the only other people on my friends list who will care about this exchange have already read this book, so tell me (without spoilers -- I am still on page 26) what you think of this. Holmes doesn't even sound sad, or chagrined, when he says this -- and Russell didn't have what I would call a normal reaction either (i.e., ANY reaction). Is Laurie R. King trying to show us HOW MUCH of an asshole Holmes was back in the day? Is she just saying, "Oh, that Holmes -- he's so zany! You never know what he'll do next!" Or does this have to do with King's overall low opinion of Watson?

Comments

P.S.

[kels.livejournal.com]

"I had reached a point at which the future stretched long and dull ahead of me. I was, remember, a young man, scarcely thirty, and the thought of returning to the choking fogs and humdrum life of London was suddenly intolerable."

Jeez, I feel like that almost every day! And I don't have nearly as much pressure on me as Holmes did then. The man sounds like he was one step away from either a complete nervous breakdown, or suicide. I felt pity and sympathy when I read the whole scene. Yes, it was rather cruel to leave Watson like that, but not unforgivably so. And certainly not intentioanlly so, at least not in my opinion.

Re: P.S.

[prof-pangaea.livejournal.com]

Wah! I just wrote a monster response down under Cesario's comment, in which I address (I hope) both of your guy's points. Not in a disputatious manner, either! (again, I hope) However, I must say I can't imagine you watching me cry over the spot where I thought you had died, and then failing to tell me you were actually alive for three years... I also always pictured Holmes doing rather personal things while he was away, with perhaps the occasional favour for his brother, but that's just my own brain version of events and as such should not be held against Laurie R. King.

Re: P.S.

[kels.livejournal.com]

I must say I can't imagine you watching me cry over the spot where I thought you had died, and then failing to tell me you were actually alive for three years...

Well, as I said before, Holmes had much more pressure on him then I ever have, or probably ever will have.

Perhaps my feelings on the matter have been influenced by the fact that Brandon has been watching a lot of Star Trek TOS lately. I do see a certain parallel between Holmes and Spock... Both make a concerted effort to disguise their emotions. I'm obviously not the first person to see this parallel.

Anyway, I felt a lot of emotion on Holmes' part in that scene... When I read it, I saw a lot of feeling in the pause. I dunno, I am a rather empathic person by nature anyway. I do agree that it is a great loss for King to place such low importance on Watson. An Edward Hardwicke portrayal would be awesome! Ah well.