Search the Sky · Chapter
VII explained
Ross and Helena arrive on Azor and attempt to secure help from Miss Cavallo, the head of Cavallo Machine-Tool Company.
What happens
Ross and Helena arrive on Azor and attempt to secure help from Miss Cavallo, the head of Cavallo Machine-Tool Company. Ross's plea about the danger to humanity is dismissed, and he is threatened with imprisonment on Minerva. That night, Pilot Breuer takes Helena out, then drunkenly tries to seduce Ross, leading to a confrontation when Helena returns. The next day, they fly to Novj Grad, where Ross is left alone in the ship while Helena and the pilot eat, and he learns from a young male worker about the planet's reversed gender roles.
Themes in this chapter
Societal Decay and Stagnation
Miss Cavallo's refusal to acknowledge the collapse of other planets highlights the stagnation and denial that pervade Azor, despite its apparent prosperity.
Generational Conflict and Age Hierarchy
The young male worker's complaints about pilots and the power dynamics on Azor illustrate a generational and gender-based hierarchy where men are subjugated.
Characters to notice
- Ross
Frustrated by the lack of urgency on Azor, Ross tries to convince Miss Cavallo of the galactic crisis but is rebuffed. He later fends off Pilot Breuer's advances and is left alone in the ship at Novj Grad.
- Helena
Helena socializes with Pilot Breuer, gets drunk at Virgin Willie's, and returns to catch Breuer with Ross. She is angry but later seems forgiving, and she leaves Ross alone at the airport to eat with the pilot.
- Cavallo
Miss Cavallo, head of Cavallo Machine-Tool, dismisses Ross's warnings about the dying planets, threatens him with Minerva, and orders him out of her office.
- Pilot Breuer
Pilot Breuer takes Helena out, then drunkenly attempts to seduce Ross in his room, brandishing a pistol. She is caught by Helena and flees.
Key passages
“Miss Cavallo dropped all traces of a smile. Her face was like flint as she stood up and pointed to the window. "Young man," she said icily, "take a look out there. That's the Cavallo Machine-Tool Company. Does that look as if we're going under?"”
Miss Cavallo's expression hardened as she gestured to her factory, dismissing Ross's warning of decline by pointing to her own thriving business.
Demonstrates Cavallo's denial of the broader galactic crisis.
“"I'll pitch you right through the door," he announced. "And if you give me any more lip I won't bother to open it before I do."”
Ross threatened to throw Pilot Breuer out of the room, adding that he wouldn't even open the door first if she continued to provoke him.
Shows Ross's frustration and attempt to assert control in a compromising situation.
“The boy stiffened and looked disapproving. Then he said with a sigh: "I might as well tell"”
The young man tensed up, frowned, and then reluctantly began to speak, implying he was about to share a personal or sensitive story.
Highlights the social pressures and gender dynamics on Azor.