(urth) Appian's Proxy?

[b sharp]

Regarding Appian, Rex asks:

>who is it that rules in his absence? And do we have any sense how long the 
>former honey->steward is absent from Urth? Or at what stage in his own 
>reign he leaves? Severian waits a decade >before he journeys out and does 
>not return for forty years. But surely his predecessor is not gone >for a 
>similar amount of time.

I don't think Wolfe intends to be clear on these issues.  To even try to 
answer them I am drawn to the scene where Severian meets Appian in the House 
Absolute.  Severian wants to go to "the garden". Appian misunderstands and 
says, "I will show you the way to the Garden, though I am by no means sure 
you will be permitted to enter". Appian pulls out his mirror book, shows 
Tzadkiel to Severian and says, "Go if you dare".

The Garden..hm..more Genesis allusions?  Anyway I always took this to mean 
that Appian used that book to travel to Yesod and take his test.  No need 
for a proxy ruler. He could have been there and back in hours (returned in 
altered form, unfortunately).  Anyway, in Urth, Tzadkiel makes it clear 
Appian's test was a boondoggle intended only to help Severian, through 
acquired memory, later. (though I don't see how it did help Severian).  So I 
think there was no need for 10 years of preparation or a long voyage through 
space for Appian's trip.  If someone has to lose his manhood, best it be 
done quickly as possible, yes?

-bsharp