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A Wake |
Although Lars and Anna are twins,
there's enough of a chemistry between them to suggest an almost
incestuous relationship on first reading, but this passes as the
story develops. Augustus's address to the Trust heads at the wake is
mostly based on lies, to further the schemes that began in
New Tricks, implicating Graves and
uniting the houses around himself. No full reason is given
for the animosity between the Rome boys, but maternal favouritism
towards Remi is evident, even in small things like veal cutlets. The
headlights of the car in the Rome's garage reveal the first of many
sevens seen in this arc, heralding the arrival of the seventh
Minuteman. Remi's fear at being caught with a woman by his mother
seems odd once his history is revealed. The civil wars referred to
by Medici and Lono appear to be Trust versus Trust, the one avoided,
to be replaced by Trust versus Minutemen. Lono asking Medici which
side he should be on, or more implicitly, seen to be on, should
raise some doubt about his motivation as the story unfolds. Bobby
Irillo meeting with Remi adds fuel to the fire of the meat thefts,
but the real reason is more seedy. Anna's comment to Lars about over tipping
the waiter seemingly implies some homosexual advance in an overly
close relationship scene. When the waitress is seen, it becomes more
obvious. Remi's present to his Ma is insulting
considering he broke her hair dryer in the first place, so it's no
surprise Ronnie looks pissed off. The knife throw is a clue to which
of these two is the seventh Minuteman. Ronnie fumbles badly, nothing like
Cole catching the baseball in The Right
Ear, Left in the Cold. How the restaurant set up between Anna and
Lars works is unexplained, but Lono must have had a tip that Vasco
and Vermeer were meeting Lars, which he used to his own ends,
turning the siblings against each other. Bobby's 'boys magazine
collection' is a little worrying, but the fact that neither Rome
sees the word on the car is explained by the presence of the gun,
which holds the full attention of both. Lono's "she's fucking
royalty, not you" comment sets up the Lady Die moniker he gives
Anna, which would make no impression on her when spoken, as the 'e' is
silent. Vic's reply to Loop's "what's going down" can be read as a
simple sexual innuendo, but as it comes from Vic, it's more likely
that he sees the imminent demise of both the Nagel siblings. The
ambiguity of the hidden Minuteman remains through the Rome's
car journey, Ronnie is distracted, but has a lot to deal with, and Remi's sweating could
just be down to the coke he took
earlier. The brief exchange between Vic and Graves says much with
few words. Dog walking and baby sitting refer to Lono and Loop
respectively. The ambiguity lies in the "watch your back" part. Cole
is behind Graves at that point, but who is Vic warning Graves about?
The wild card reference becomes clear when you see that Graves gave
the attaché to the 'wrong' brother, rather than the sleeping
Minuteman. Considering Lars was leaving the restaurant as Lono and
company arrived, it takes Lars along time to get home, long enough
for Lono to smoke an entire cigar. Lars' reference to Axel's heart
giving out echoes Neil Walker's death in
Sleep, Walker. Were the same pills
responsible?
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