# II: A Right-Hand Glove explained — The Big Time > Chapter companion for The Big Time by Fritz Leiber. ## What happens Bruce Marchant delivers a passionate tirade against the Change War and the Spiders, questioning the value of Resurrection and the morality of their operations. The New Girl, Lili Foster, wins him over by producing a perfectly fitting glove for his bare right hand, breaking the tension. The group debates the nature of the Change War, the Conservation of Reality, and the fate of nations, while Doc has a traumatic flashback to a Nazi salt mine. Lili and Bruce bond over their shared history from World War I. ## Themes in this chapter ### War and Meaninglessness Bruce condemns the endless wars of the Change War, calling them 'crueler and stinkinger,' and questions the purpose of fighting for an 'almighty power so bloody ineffectual.' ### Reality and Illusion Beau explains the 'Conservation of Reality,' where changes to the past barely alter the future, and Bruce challenges the morality of the Spiders' methods, such as kidnapping Einstein. ### Change and Identity Bruce questions whether a Resurrected Doubleganger is truly himself, and the narrator reflects on how he has changed since Dave's death, fearing the Change Winds disturbing the past. ## Character check-ins ### Bruce Marchant Rages against the Spiders and the Change War, questioning the morality of Resurrection and the purpose of endless conflict. He is calmed by Lili's gift of a glove. ### Lili Foster Introduced as the New Girl, she deftly handles Bruce's outburst by providing a glove that fits his right hand, earning his attention and the narrator's respect. ### Unknown Narrator Observes the interactions, whispers with Sid, and reflects on the budding romance between Bruce and Lili, recalling his own lost love Dave. ### Sidney Lessingham Whispers to the narrator about Bruce's fiery speech and suggests using the New Girl to calm him, showing his manipulative and theatrical nature. ### Erich von Hohenwald Reacts to Bruce's mention of Change Death and translates Doc's traumatic mutterings from German, showing his connection to the Nazi past. ### Beau Lassiter Engages in philosophical debate with Bruce about the Conservation of Reality and the resilience of nations, defending his vision of a Greater South. ### Doc Has a flashback to his time in a Nazi salt mine, chanting in German about salt and a whip, before snapping out of it with a shrug. ### Greta Forzane Mentioned only in passing as part of the group, but not directly active in this chapter. ## Key lines > great men can rarely be Resurrected. Their beings are too crystallized, sir, their lifelines too tough. Beau argues that exceptional individuals are too rigid to be brought back from the dead. _Beau's explanation of why great men are not typically Resurrected._ > I believe that most great men refuse to make the bargain with the Snakes, or with us Spiders either. They scorn Resurrection at the price demanded. Bruce counters that great men reject the terms offered by both sides in the Change War. _Bruce's skepticism about the motives of the powerful._ > Brother, they ain't that great. The narrator dismisses the idea that great men are truly exceptional. _The narrator's cynical interjection._ > When they pulled me out of my line at Passchendaele in '17 ten minutes before I died, I grabbed at the offer of life like a drunkard grabs at a drink the morning after. Bruce describes his desperate acceptance of Resurrection at Passchendaele. _Bruce's personal account of his Recruitment._ > But what did I find the Spiders wanted me for? Only to fight more wars, over and over again, make them crueler and stinkinger, cut the swath of death a little wider with each Big Change, work our way a little closer to the death of the cosmos. Bruce laments that his Resurrection only led to more warfare and destruction. _Bruce's disillusionment with the Spiders' goals._ > The wind with our name in it may leak through the Door. Bruce warns that Change Death can strike anyone at any moment. _The concept of Change Death introduced._ > Halts Maul, Kamerad! There's always another Resurrection. Erich dismisses Bruce's fear of Change Death, insisting on the possibility of being brought back again. _Erich's attempt to reassure the group._ > Is there? I know the Spiders promise it, but even if they do go back and cut another Doubleganger from my lifeline, is he me? Bruce questions whether a second Resurrection would truly restore his identity. _Bruce's existential doubt about the continuity of self._ > an almighty power so bloody ineffectual, it can't furnish one poor Soldier pulled out of the mud of Passchendaele, one miserable Change Commando, one Godforsaken Recuperee a proper issue of equipment! Bruce mocks the Spiders for failing to provide basic gear to their soldiers. _Bruce's complaint about the lack of a glove._ > Probably just turned the other one inside out—that turns a left into a right—I've done it myself. The narrator speculates that Lili simply reversed a left-handed glove. _The narrator's humorous theory about the glove._ > Salz, Salz, bringe Salz. Kein' Peitsch', gnädige Herren. Salz, Salz, Salz. Doc chants in German about bringing salt and begging for no whip. _Doc's traumatic flashback to a Nazi salt mine._ > Nations are monsters, boy, with guts of iron and nerves of brass. Waste not your pity on them. Sid argues that nations are resilient and not worth worrying about. _Sid's perspective on the durability of nations._ > the law of the Conservation of Reality: that when the past is changed, the future changes barely enough to adjust, barely enough to admit the new data. Beau explains that changes to the past have minimal impact on the future. _The principle of Conservation of Reality._ > The bough swings in the wind, the night is deep; Look at the stars, poor little ape, and sleep. Lili quotes Bruce's sonnet, which reflects on human insignificance. _Lili's flattery of Bruce's poetry._ ## Links - HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_big_time_se/chapters/ii-a-right-hand-glove - Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_big_time_se - All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_big_time_se/chapters