Difference between revisions of "Tharkay"
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Tharkay's father took some pains with his son's education, and Tharkay spoke English with an upperclass accent, but Tharkay was not accepted as a British gentleman by others. At some point in his life he was embroiled in a lawsuit in Scotland and became "tolerably familiar" with the Court of Session in Edinburgh, Scotland's highest civil court. He once told [[Temeraire]], rather sardonically, that lawyers were translators one hires to "say things properly", then added that, "Justice is expensive. That is why there is so little of it, and that reserved for those few with enough money and influence to afford it." | Tharkay's father took some pains with his son's education, and Tharkay spoke English with an upperclass accent, but Tharkay was not accepted as a British gentleman by others. At some point in his life he was embroiled in a lawsuit in Scotland and became "tolerably familiar" with the Court of Session in Edinburgh, Scotland's highest civil court. He once told [[Temeraire]], rather sardonically, that lawyers were translators one hires to "say things properly", then added that, "Justice is expensive. That is why there is so little of it, and that reserved for those few with enough money and influence to afford it." | ||
| − | Tharkay's lawsuit apparently failed, and he went on to spend "the better part of his life in the wild places of the earth" as an experienced and highly competent traveller. In appearance he possessed a lean and angular face with somewhat Oriental features. His eyes were dark and slanting, but more Western in shape than Chinese, and although his skin was "much like polished teak wood" in colour, this was mainly due to sun and weather. He had something of a fondness for taming birds of prey. When [[William Laurence|Laurence]] first met him in the summer of 1806, he had an eagle as a companion, although she was later killed in an avalanche in the Pamirs inadvertently caused by Temeraire. Later on, during Napoleon's occupation, he acquired a kestrel. | + | Tharkay's lawsuit apparently failed, and he went on to spend "the better part of his life in the wild places of the earth" as an experienced and highly competent traveller with a command of many languages, including Chinese, Turkish and the dragon language [[Durzagh]] (which he taught to Temeraire). In appearance he possessed a lean and angular face with somewhat Oriental features. His eyes were dark and slanting, but more Western in shape than Chinese, and although his skin was "much like polished teak wood" in colour, this was mainly due to sun and weather. He had something of a fondness for taming birds of prey. When [[William Laurence|Laurence]] first met him in the summer of 1806, he had an eagle as a companion, although she was later killed in an avalanche in the Pamirs inadvertently caused by Temeraire. Later on, during Napoleon's occupation, he acquired a kestrel. |
At one point in his life Tharkay formed a romantic attachment to [[Sara Maden]], the daughter of Istanbul banker [[Avraam Maden]]. He may have proposed marriage, as when she decided to marry another, whether by her own wishes or out of respect for her parents' wishes, he told her he would not "ask again." | At one point in his life Tharkay formed a romantic attachment to [[Sara Maden]], the daughter of Istanbul banker [[Avraam Maden]]. He may have proposed marriage, as when she decided to marry another, whether by her own wishes or out of respect for her parents' wishes, he told her he would not "ask again." | ||
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| − | Tharkay proved to be an expert guide, bringing the company through the Taklamakan desert and the Pamir Range to Istanbul with only two men lost, [[ | + | <b>The Journey to Istanbul</b> |
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| + | Tharkay often carried messages for the East India Company and others during his travels. He and Laurence first met in Macao in the summer of 1806, when Tharkay appeared at the offices of the East India Company to deliver orders sent by Admiral [[Lenton]] from the [[Dover covert]]. The orders had been forwarded by way of [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charles_Arbuthnot Charles Arbuthnot], the British ambassador in Istanbul, and of Avraam Maden, who in turn had given them to Tharkay to deliver. Laurence and Temeraire were ordered to proceed without delay to Istanbul, there to receive by Mr. Maden's offices three dragon eggs which the British government had purchased from Sultan [[Selim III]]. Unfortunately, the dragon transport [[HMS Allegiance]] had just been severly damaged in a fire and would require at least two months of repairs. Against the advice of Captain [[Tom Riley|Riley]] and [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_Thomas_Staunton George Staunton], Laurence, [[John Granby|Granby]] and Temeraire decided to make the journey to Istanbul overland, hiring Tharkey as their guide. The latter was initially reluctant to accept the commission, saying that he "had not thought of returning to Istanbul" and had "no real business there." However, he eventually agreed. | ||
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| + | Tharkay proved to be an expert guide, bringing the company through the Taklamakan desert and the Pamir Range to Istanbul with only two men lost, [[Macdonaugh]] and [[Baylesworth]]. However, his manner and behaviour initially caused Laurence to distrust him. Experience had taught Tharkay that his face and descent barred him "from the natural relations of gentlemen," who treated him at best as "a superior servant, somewhere between a valet and a trained dog." Knowing that he would not be trusted, he had formed "a habit of anticipation" and preferred to rather "provoke a little open suspicion, freely expressed, than meekly endure endless slights and whispers." | ||
Tharkay's political views were also somewhat different from those held by Laurence. Laurence, who was the son of a wealthy British lord and whose claim to a gentleman's status had never been questioned, had a deep faith in the rule of law in Britain and was convinced of Bonaparte's tyranny. Tharkay, on the other hand, thought it "quixotic" of the French "to have chosen to be unjust to the noble and the rich, in favour of the common," but this did not seem to him to be "naturally worse; or, for that matter, likely to last long." | Tharkay's political views were also somewhat different from those held by Laurence. Laurence, who was the son of a wealthy British lord and whose claim to a gentleman's status had never been questioned, had a deep faith in the rule of law in Britain and was convinced of Bonaparte's tyranny. Tharkay, on the other hand, thought it "quixotic" of the French "to have chosen to be unjust to the noble and the rich, in favour of the common," but this did not seem to him to be "naturally worse; or, for that matter, likely to last long." | ||
| − | As a result, when Tharkay | + | As a result, when Tharkay was discovered to have gone missing in the desert just before the appearance of several horsemen armed with sabres and bows, Laurence immediately assumed that he meant to abandon the party. This suspicion remained even after they followed the horsemen's tracks and found Tharkay waiting for them at a sardoba (store of water). Laurence was thus completely baffled when, during the horsemen's attack that night, Tharkay fought beside the British with gun and knife. On reaching the town of Yutien, Laurence tried to make Tharkay promise that he would not leave camp again without permission. Instead, Tharkay immediately exposed the weakness of Laurence's bargaining position by politely offering to part ways with the British, leaving them to spend perhaps as much as three weeks trying to hire a local guide. With no time to spare, Laurence was forced to keep Tharkay on as their guide. |
| − | Laurence and | + | Tharkay disappeared again in Istanbul, reappearing again just after [[Dunne]] and [[Hackley]] had been flogged. Furious, Laurence told him to take his money and possessions and go - only to once again be brought up short, since Tharkay had returned carrying a dinner invitation from Avraam Maden. Laurence needed to speak with Maden, and he needed Tharkay to bring him to Maden's home. After the dinner, they returned to the palace in which they were being held as "guests" (prisoners) and were about to climb back over the wall when they were spotted by Turkish guards. Tharkay risked his own life to save Laurence's, leading him through an abandoned underground waterway in order to escape the guards. |
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Tharkay then returned to the feral dragons and somehow persuaded many of them to accompany him to "rescue" Temeraire. He and the dragons finally caught up with Temeraire during the [[Siege of Danzig]], where they were able to evacuate the city and foil [[Lung Tien Lien]]. Tharkay then accompanied Temeraire's crew back to Britain, with the feral dragons and [[Iskierka]]. | Tharkay then returned to the feral dragons and somehow persuaded many of them to accompany him to "rescue" Temeraire. He and the dragons finally caught up with Temeraire during the [[Siege of Danzig]], where they were able to evacuate the city and foil [[Lung Tien Lien]]. Tharkay then accompanied Temeraire's crew back to Britain, with the feral dragons and [[Iskierka]]. | ||
Revision as of 00:06, 9 November 2008
Character Profile
| Name: | Tharkay |
| Date of Birth: | |
| Service: | |
| Rank: | |
| Nationality: | British/Tibetan or Nepalese |
| Billets: |
Biography
Tharkay was the son of a British gentleman, a man of property and possibly a senior officer, and a Tibetan or Nepalese woman. His father may have come from the border region of Scotland, as Tharkay showed some familiarity with an estate there for purposes of requisitioning cattle to feed the Aerial Corps' dragons during Napoleon's occupation of Britain (December 1807-March 1808).
Tharkay's father took some pains with his son's education, and Tharkay spoke English with an upperclass accent, but Tharkay was not accepted as a British gentleman by others. At some point in his life he was embroiled in a lawsuit in Scotland and became "tolerably familiar" with the Court of Session in Edinburgh, Scotland's highest civil court. He once told Temeraire, rather sardonically, that lawyers were translators one hires to "say things properly", then added that, "Justice is expensive. That is why there is so little of it, and that reserved for those few with enough money and influence to afford it."
Tharkay's lawsuit apparently failed, and he went on to spend "the better part of his life in the wild places of the earth" as an experienced and highly competent traveller with a command of many languages, including Chinese, Turkish and the dragon language Durzagh (which he taught to Temeraire). In appearance he possessed a lean and angular face with somewhat Oriental features. His eyes were dark and slanting, but more Western in shape than Chinese, and although his skin was "much like polished teak wood" in colour, this was mainly due to sun and weather. He had something of a fondness for taming birds of prey. When Laurence first met him in the summer of 1806, he had an eagle as a companion, although she was later killed in an avalanche in the Pamirs inadvertently caused by Temeraire. Later on, during Napoleon's occupation, he acquired a kestrel.
At one point in his life Tharkay formed a romantic attachment to Sara Maden, the daughter of Istanbul banker Avraam Maden. He may have proposed marriage, as when she decided to marry another, whether by her own wishes or out of respect for her parents' wishes, he told her he would not "ask again."
The Journey to Istanbul
Tharkay often carried messages for the East India Company and others during his travels. He and Laurence first met in Macao in the summer of 1806, when Tharkay appeared at the offices of the East India Company to deliver orders sent by Admiral Lenton from the Dover covert. The orders had been forwarded by way of Charles Arbuthnot, the British ambassador in Istanbul, and of Avraam Maden, who in turn had given them to Tharkay to deliver. Laurence and Temeraire were ordered to proceed without delay to Istanbul, there to receive by Mr. Maden's offices three dragon eggs which the British government had purchased from Sultan Selim III. Unfortunately, the dragon transport HMS Allegiance had just been severly damaged in a fire and would require at least two months of repairs. Against the advice of Captain Riley and George Staunton, Laurence, Granby and Temeraire decided to make the journey to Istanbul overland, hiring Tharkey as their guide. The latter was initially reluctant to accept the commission, saying that he "had not thought of returning to Istanbul" and had "no real business there." However, he eventually agreed.
Tharkay proved to be an expert guide, bringing the company through the Taklamakan desert and the Pamir Range to Istanbul with only two men lost, Macdonaugh and Baylesworth. However, his manner and behaviour initially caused Laurence to distrust him. Experience had taught Tharkay that his face and descent barred him "from the natural relations of gentlemen," who treated him at best as "a superior servant, somewhere between a valet and a trained dog." Knowing that he would not be trusted, he had formed "a habit of anticipation" and preferred to rather "provoke a little open suspicion, freely expressed, than meekly endure endless slights and whispers."
Tharkay's political views were also somewhat different from those held by Laurence. Laurence, who was the son of a wealthy British lord and whose claim to a gentleman's status had never been questioned, had a deep faith in the rule of law in Britain and was convinced of Bonaparte's tyranny. Tharkay, on the other hand, thought it "quixotic" of the French "to have chosen to be unjust to the noble and the rich, in favour of the common," but this did not seem to him to be "naturally worse; or, for that matter, likely to last long."
As a result, when Tharkay was discovered to have gone missing in the desert just before the appearance of several horsemen armed with sabres and bows, Laurence immediately assumed that he meant to abandon the party. This suspicion remained even after they followed the horsemen's tracks and found Tharkay waiting for them at a sardoba (store of water). Laurence was thus completely baffled when, during the horsemen's attack that night, Tharkay fought beside the British with gun and knife. On reaching the town of Yutien, Laurence tried to make Tharkay promise that he would not leave camp again without permission. Instead, Tharkay immediately exposed the weakness of Laurence's bargaining position by politely offering to part ways with the British, leaving them to spend perhaps as much as three weeks trying to hire a local guide. With no time to spare, Laurence was forced to keep Tharkay on as their guide.
Tharkay disappeared again in Istanbul, reappearing again just after Dunne and Hackley had been flogged. Furious, Laurence told him to take his money and possessions and go - only to once again be brought up short, since Tharkay had returned carrying a dinner invitation from Avraam Maden. Laurence needed to speak with Maden, and he needed Tharkay to bring him to Maden's home. After the dinner, they returned to the palace in which they were being held as "guests" (prisoners) and were about to climb back over the wall when they were spotted by Turkish guards. Tharkay risked his own life to save Laurence's, leading him through an abandoned underground waterway in order to escape the guards.
Tharkay then returned to the feral dragons and somehow persuaded many of them to accompany him to "rescue" Temeraire. He and the dragons finally caught up with Temeraire during the Siege of Danzig, where they were able to evacuate the city and foil Lung Tien Lien. Tharkay then accompanied Temeraire's crew back to Britain, with the feral dragons and Iskierka.
Laurence wished Tharkay to stay on in Britain and serve as translator for the feral dragons, now needed to patrol the coasts. But Tharkay was unhappy in Britain and Jane Roland sent him back to the Ottoman Empire to try to find more feral dragons and see if he could convince them to join the Aerial Corps as well. When he came back from the Pamirs he was temporarily commissioned as a captain in the Aerial Corps. After Napoleon's invasion has ended, he decided to sail with Laurence and Temeraire to Australia.
