(urth) The mystery of the image of an astronaut cleaned by Rudesind

[David Stockhoff]

It's true that the figure holds the flag. But you have to allow for some 
poetic license as far as visor color and earth distance.

At any rate, we are closer to the image than we were the last time this 
came up.

Jeff Wilson wrote:
> On 7/1/2010 9:47 PM, David Stockhoff wrote:
>> I was referring to the photo in the link. I think that's the photo in
>> Rudesind's gallery, or a painting of it, or a printout on really tough
>> paper and ink.
>
> I do not think it matches the passage. To refresh:
>
> "The picture he was cleaning showed an armored figure standing in a
> desolate landscape. It had no weapon, but held a staff bearing a
> strange, stiff banner. The visor of this figure's helmet was entirely of
> gold, without eye slits or ventilation; in its polished surface the
> deathly desert could be seen in reflection, and nothing more."
>
> and
>
> "'...Today I took the notion to clean it again. And it needs it—see how
> nice it's brightening up? There's your blue Urth coming over his
> shoulder again, fresh as the Autarch's fish.'"
>
> and
>
> "...'Is that the moon? I have been told it's more fertile.'
> "'Now it is, yes. This was done before they got it irrigated. See that
> gray-brown? In those times, that's what you'd see if you looked up at
> her. Not green like she is now.'"
>
>
> The linked, autographed photo does not show a staff, and the visor 
> pointedly shows the flag and the sun more than the moonscape. The 
> earth is above his head rather than either shoulder.
>