(urth) The Two Katharines

[Jeff Wilson]

On 8/15/2010 7:35 PM, António Pedro Marques wrote:
>> but the Holy Katharine maid retains her maid-like appearance for at least
>> 15-20 years. This kind of youth for a human being is unknown in the
>> Book.
>
> Isn't she just a dummy?

In SHADOW XI, Severian details how he has helped haul out and stow away 
the props each year, and is familiar with their true nature: the snakes 
and flowers on the wheel are paper, the blade of execution is wood and 
tinsel. But he does not know who she is or where she comes from, so 
she's not just another prop.

She could be a salvaged animatronic or full robot in partial disrepair 
(she seems to have minimal mobilty and vocabulary). But she also seems 
to resemble Severian's mother.

Ew... could it be some kind of "House of Wax" scenario?


-- 
Jeff Wilson - jwilson at io.com
IEEE Student Chapter Blog at
< http://ieeetamut.org >