The Lurker

Cryptonomicon

What's up with Enoch Root?

When Enoch Root dies, the only other people in the room are Rudolf von Hacklheber, Bobby Shaftoe, and the Swedish doctor.

The doctor checks his watch, then steps out of the room.

Rudy reaches out and closes Enoch's eyes, then stands there with his hand on the late padre's face, and looks at Shaftoe. "Go," he says, "and make sure the doctor files the death certificate."

In war it happens pretty frequently that one of your buddies dies, and you have to go right back into action, and save the waterworks for later.

I had assumed, since Root re-appears later in the story, that we're supposed to read this as a faked death. But those observations are interesting, and I'm definitely going to have to re-read Cryptonomicon soon.

Related topics: Mindless Link Propagation