(urth) Sev's Family Tree

[James Wynn]

On 1/27/2011 9:29 PM, Lee Berman wrote:
>> Gerry Quinn: It seems obvious that family and/or close acquaintaince are the basis of its [alzabo]
>> >modus operandi. It comes to the door crying to be let in in the voice of a family member, and in
>> >Sev's conversation with what might be called 'the spirit of Becan' within it, it indicates that it
>> >is motivated to bring his family to join him.
>
> Yes, I think the text reads just this way. As Thecla became a part of Severian (and her desire to sit
> on a throne became partly his) so Becan became a part of the alzabo. Both beast and Becan wanted his
> family to join him, though for different reasons. Becan-in-alzabo was still intelligent and caring as
> a man and father. He knew the family reunion would mean his family would be eaten, dying a painful
> death but, hey, so what. They'd be together. I supposed they neurally thanked Becan and had a biochemical
> group hug inside the alzabo's brain later.

This is the same method used traditionally by vampires. Traditionally, 
they fed on family members. Also, hyenas were said to also use human 
voices to lure their victims.
Also, the Becan Alzabo is an example of a soul/body merger. Becan 
Alzabo's logic is premised on the needs of the alzabo creature. Were it 
not for the Becan part, the alzabo would hunt easier prey. Were it not 
for the alzabo part, Becan would not want his family eaten in order to 
have them reunited until they fade from the animal's mind. He would want 
his children to grow up and further his human genes. The Becan Alzabo is 
a different being from either Becan or the Alzabo as is clearly 
explained to Mani in The Wizard Knight.

When the Becan Alzabo fought to the death he was protecting both his 
family and his food.

u+16b9