Editing Tharkay
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Shortly after this, Laurence agreed to accept unwritten orders from General [[Wellesley]] to undertake a kind of guerrilla warfare, knowing that the tactics Wellesley demanded violated all rules of "civilized warfare" (if such a thing can be said to exist). The ferals remained on patrol duty until nearly two months later, in the first week of March 1808, Tharkay and Arkady with three other ferals for escort arrived with a message from Wellesley for Laurence. | Shortly after this, Laurence agreed to accept unwritten orders from General [[Wellesley]] to undertake a kind of guerrilla warfare, knowing that the tactics Wellesley demanded violated all rules of "civilized warfare" (if such a thing can be said to exist). The ferals remained on patrol duty until nearly two months later, in the first week of March 1808, Tharkay and Arkady with three other ferals for escort arrived with a message from Wellesley for Laurence. | ||
− | Wellesley intended that Laurence should make use of them in carrying out the guerrilla tactics, but Tharkay refused, pointing out ironically that ''he'' - unlike Laurence - had not "the luxury of setting aside, for a time, the veneer of civilization." "A temporary viciousness" that "may be pardonable in a gentleman, even admirable," would brand Tharkay "forever a savage." Tharkay then asked Laurence quite plainly, "What are you doing?" | + | Wellesley intended that Laurence should make use of them in carrying out the guerrilla tactics, but Tharkay refused, pointing out ironically that ''he'' - unlike Laurence - had not "the luxury of setting aside, for a time, the veneer of civilization." "A temporary viciousness" that "may be pardonable in a gentleman, even admirable," would brand Tharkay "forever a savage." Tharkay then asked Laurence quite plainly, "What are you doing?" |
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+ | The effect of the question was very much like that of the dragon surgeon [[Dorset]] lancing one of Temeraire's infected wounds. | ||
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+ | Tharkay's insistence on choosing his actions according to his conscience above all other authorities seemed to Laurence "the most miserably solitary existence imaginable." However, Tharkay's willingness and ability to bear "the choice, and all the consequences thereof, alone," provided Laurence with an example to apply in following the course of his own conscience. He wrote to Wellesley, explaining that he and those serving under him would no longer carry out Wellesley's guerrilla war. | ||
Tharkay's independent habits of thought are further illustrated in the ensuing exchange with Laurence, as he displays no compunction against reliance upon a personal and idiosyncratic moral code, rather than an external one, in stark contrast with Laurence who balks at the notion of having "no authority but your own conscience". | Tharkay's independent habits of thought are further illustrated in the ensuing exchange with Laurence, as he displays no compunction against reliance upon a personal and idiosyncratic moral code, rather than an external one, in stark contrast with Laurence who balks at the notion of having "no authority but your own conscience". |