Pros Novel Read-Along - Painted Angels by Angelfish - Chapter Three

[byslantedlight.livejournal.com]

Apologies - I'd hoped to post this morning, but I've had a migraine all day, which is only just fading, and I couldn't bear the screen... (If anyone would like to volunteer to help with the introductions sometimes, then that would be great!) But here we are at last!

Painted Angels by Angelfish.
Cover art by firlefanzine

Chapter Three

Chapter Three
The lads are off on another test, this one apparently to find their way from Point A to Point B in the wilderness, and this time they're working alone. Doyle has reached the end, but instead of the comforting light and warmth and human companionship he's been looking forward to, the clearing is empty - except, he eventually realises, for Bodie peering around in a similar way.

Bodie makes himself known, and seems to be trying to be friendly - but Doyle is wise to this now, and determined not to open himself up to betrayal again. When he heads off to get some water from the river, though, Bodie follows him, and they end up trying to work things out together.

Sure enough, there are further instructions hidden for them in the clearing, and they set off together to find what they hope really is the final end-point. All does not, however, go wrong. Doyle is determined to prove to Bodie that he's equally as capable - which he's already doing with ease - to the point that when Bodie tries to hand him over a rocky outcrop, Doyle refuses his help. Unfortunately Bodie didn't explain why he was trying to give it, and so Doyle lands on a brittle ledge, and plunges them both down the steep hillside into the river below.

Bodie is knocked out by the fall, but Doyle is alert enough to be able to pull him from the river and administer CPR. Bodie revives, Doyle it turns out has four broken ribs and has lost his jacket, and they both limp on as far as they can go - which isn't all the way.

Doyle is becoming dangerously hypothermic, and so Bodie stops them and makes a shelter and a fire so that they can see out the night. They cuddle up close to share body warmth, and Doyle falls asleep. He dreams - and calls out to Gabe, and in his dream they're obviously very close, because Bodie finds himself the subject of sleepy sexuality. Knowing that any response on his part would not be a good idea, Bodie's just about to move them apart when Doyle falls silent and his dream takes a completely different turn - then finally he relaxes into sleep again.

With light comes a searching helicopter, and they hike out a final mile to meet it. Bodie makes the mistake of asking Doyle about Gabe, and Doyle immedately attacks - "Don't you ever... ever even fucking think of saying that name to me again." The lads are rescued - sure they've failed out of CI5 this time - and they're taken back to civilisation. Doyle is hospitalised for a week, although Bodie is passed fit even after his near-escape. Cowley is surprised to find Bodie staying close to the hospital, and in fact to Doyle's bedside. The lads are even more surprised, when Cowley speaks to them, to find that not only have they passed CI5 recruitment - but that it is on the condition that they work together as partners.

So - what do you reckon?! Does this read as our Bodie and Doyle? Is it realistic? What do we think of Bodie's apparent change of heart after the revelation of the last chapter - "Thinks he's made a friend. Spare me." Are you believing in the story?

Comments

[shooting2kill.livejournal.com]

I don't know about anyone else (and I can't find an actual example), but overall I'm finding some of the writing slightly convoluted in that it's sometimes unclear who is saying what and to whoooooom, and I find myself reading something several times just to make sure I'm right in what I'm thinking. I wonder if this is one of the things golden_bastet refers to earlier in her 'fine tuning' comment? I'd love to know.

So - what do you reckon?! Does this read as our Bodie and Doyle? Is it realistic? What do we think of Bodie's apparent change of heart after the revelation of the last chapter - "Thinks he's made a friend. Spare me." Are you believing in the story?

I think it's gradually becoming more canon Bodie and Doyle. Bodie's change of heart? God knows... perhaps the pressure is off very slightly, or he just feels more comfortable doing what he's doing out in the wild, surviving?

[byslantedlight.livejournal.com]

I'm finding some of the writing slightly convoluted in that it's sometimes unclear who is saying what and to whoooooom
Ha - I thought it was just me! Yeah, there's been a couple of places where I've had to go back and check who said what, and a couple of times when the pov change hasn't worked as naturally as it should.

perhaps the pressure is off very slightly,
Ooh, my guess is it's the exact opposite - he's feeling the pressure of being abandoned (as he probably sees it) by Cowley and Murphy ("Up until a week ago, he, Murphy and the old man would plot out these survival tests together. Now the only resource, the only team he has is this stubborn ex-copper, who beneath his friendly exterior is plainly tough as nails, and unwilling to give an inch after being ditched out on yesterday.") Oh, and now I've quoted that - maybe he's also feeling more thrown-in with Doyle, and appreciates that Doyle's actually just as competent as he is in his own way, with his own strengths and so on, so maybe he's almost been pushed into being more friendly to Doyle himself... if just because he feels like he's got no one else just now. Maybe?

[shooting2kill.livejournal.com]

perhaps the pressure is off very slightly.....

Ooh, my guess is it's the exact opposite - he's feeling the pressure of being abandoned (as he probably sees it) by Cowley and Murphy

To be honest I don’t even think I’d managed to convince myself! It was just a throwaway thought for discussion prompted by a remark from Cowley which I can’t find for the life of me find now so was probably drawn more from optimistic imagination than reality BUT there's also a slight implication contained in another observation made by Cowley:

Cowley, limping toward him along the viewing gallery, thinks that he would probably like his face to be blacked up with cork, ready for a night mission or to emerge from the shadows of the range and scare the crap out of whichever recruit whose incompetence has drawn his attention.

i.e. that Bodie would far rather be out and about on manouevres or whatever it is the SAS do. (Sorry can't spell that word but if I go and look for the correct spelling I'll lose this.)

But I think I much prefer your reasoning because of this other comment from Cowley:

The point is this -- can you persuade one of those men out there that he likes you well enough, respects and trusts you enough, to want to work with you? One man, laddie. If you can't do that much, I have no use for you."

There. Bodie is thrown.

In truth, it’s probably a bit of both but it does seem coincidental that Bodie’s suddenly become more accommodating towards Doyle... but would that mean he’s aiming for a partnership with Doyle? Not too sure about that.

[byslantedlight.livejournal.com]

i.e. that Bodie would far rather be out and about on manouevres or whatever it is the SAS do.
Yeah - and that was when he was instructing the other recruits in shooting, wasn't it, so that makes sense. I can't remember now if we've been told what Bodie thinks of his transfer to CI5 - he knows its his last chance, and he wants to make it, but do we know what he thinks of it? Does he think it's lesser than the SAS?

can you persuade one of those men out there that he likes you well enough, respects and trusts you enough, to want to work with you?
Yeah - that was a good bit! *g*

would that mean he’s aiming for a partnership with Doyle
No, I don't think he is - the Bodie we see now would surely rather work alone and scare everyone else with his reputation for getting things done. But when he finds himself alone in the dark, and abandoned by Cowley and Murphy, I can see why he might subconsciously start to cling a little to Doyle, who he's started to respect for his abilities and attitude, at least...

[shooting2kill.livejournal.com]

I can't remember now if we've been told what Bodie thinks of his transfer to CI5 - he knows its his last chance, and he wants to make it, but do we know what he thinks of it? Does he think it's lesser than the SAS?

This is what Cowley thinks:

"I'm out, then."
Neither a question nor a statement. Cowley analyses the words for any sign of feeling -- anger, disappointment, even relief. Bodie wanted the SAS posting more than life, Chief Marsh has told him. Scrambled for it, worked his heart out, trod blindly over army comrades he'd have lain down and died for before the chance came up

....but I'm not sure if Bodie's actually said or thought anything (so far) to make us think the same as Cowley - perhaps it crops up later? The impression I have is that Bodie thinks the SAS is above everything else, but I think that's just an impression gained from reading loads of other stories which imply that, not necessarily one which I've got from this story! But he must know that his career expectancy vis a vis the SAS is pretty limited in terms of fitness etc. More limited that life in ci5.

I agree re the subconscious clinging to Doyle.

[byslantedlight.livejournal.com]

Oh yes, that was Cowley wasn't it - not Bodie at all... Although now that I've picked up the chapter again, Bodie does think contributed to his imprisonment here (at CI5), so maybe that's an indication, maybe he really does resent being shoved to CI5 to start with. Although a bit later there's a bit where he recognises that he only thought he needed the SAS, and that Cowley's actually asking even more of him... Which suggests that he didn't want to leave the SAS, but that he's starting to respect CI5, perhaps...

[shooting2kill.livejournal.com]

i.e. that Bodie would far rather be out and about on manouevres or whatever it is the SAS do. (Sorry can't spell that word but if I go and look for the correct spelling I'll lose this.)

Sorry, I left off the important bit! That maybe Bodie's more relaxed now because he's out and about and away from the eyes of the instructors etc - he's doing what he does best. And I've just remembered, *that's* the observation I'm sure Cowley made but I can't find it!