Part Thirty-Six, Chapter Three - Suspicious Displays of Affection

Bwa ha ha ha!  Gris barely restrains his mirth when he brings the Countess Krak to the airport's waiting area, and watches as she "ruefully" compares her "dingy cloak and hood with the holes in it" to the other women's silk clothes and gold brocade (or more specifically, those parts visible under their veils and cloaks.  I didn't know Turkish women rocked the burqa).  He decides that "the comparison was not favorable" and exults how Heller will have to buy the Countess a better wardrobe.  Truly these are dark days for the forces of righteousness.

His mirth is short-lived, though.  Like one paragraph short.  After snickering at what he made her wear, Gris goes back to urging Krak along, since "just being around her was a pretty nerve-wracking experience."  So she has to remind him to give her Heller's address and Earth alias, and when the guy on the P.A. system directly tells him "You'll miss your flight, Sultan Bey!  Move it!" Gris gets thrown "into confusion."  He tries to find a pencil, gets one from a counter, can't find any paper, finds a scrap in his pocket, scribbles down the address... I can see what Xignals Magazine meant when they said this series had "the kind of adventure and excitement that made all of us fans to begin with."

When they finally reach the gate, it happens - Krak grabs Gris' shoulders and gives him a peck on the cheek, calling him a "good man" and thanking him for his help.  She hurries up onto the plane, while Gris stands in numb shock.

That burst of affection was so unlike her, I knew down to the roots of my soul that it boded no good.  Yes, the more I thought of it, the more certain I became.  Some horrible trick was involved!  I knew her too well!  And to my sorrow!

So here's the first bit of real tension in Fortune of Fear.  Gris is convinced that Krak's uncharacteristic affection must mean she's up to something.  On the one hand, this is a pretty reasonable observation, like Gris noticing that being tortured by sadistic lesbians isn't nearly as fun as the internet makes it out to be.  But on the other hand, the universe exists to prove Gris wrong and otherwise abuse him, so even a logical conclusion like this could very well turn out to be incorrect just to spite him.  So is Gris stating the obvious or once again misinterpreting things?  Guess we'll have to keep reading to find out.

Also, "roots of my soul?"  Isn't Gris a psychologist, and therefore an amoral atheist?  I mean, the guy thought his entire personality would change because his dangly parts got enlarged.


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