to the contents page.)Winter and summer, up on the Atreides' roof, the Watchman has been sitting lookout. Now he shouts glad tidings - he has seen the lighting of a distant fire. And he rejoices, for his labour's at an end; it's hard to stand watch day and night, in heat and cold, for flames on far-off Arachnaion. Now the long-awaited signal has appeared. Good fortune brings less joy than was expected. Yet something's clearly been achieved: we have been saved from hopes and expectations. Many things will happen to the house of Atreus - that's a guess that needs no wisdom, now the watchman's seen the light. So no exaggeration. Good is the light, and those who come are good; good, too, their words and deeds. And we would wish that all be fair. But Argos could survive without Atreides. Royal houses aren't immortal. Of course there'll be a lot of people with a lot to say - and we should listen. But we shan't be taken in by words like `Indispensable', `Unique', or `Great'. For someone indispensable, unique, and great invariably turns up straightaway.
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