Project Blue question (spoilers, possibly)

[unclelouie]

I tend to overthink and over analyze...

And being a history buff, Im trying to figure out some historical context within a chapter. It's the expanded version, and it's the chapter where Starkey shoots himself at the end of it.

Starkey has been asked to step down by the President. He lets Ceighton know that he needs to contact a man named Cleveland, and let him know that "Rome falls". It is said that Cleveland has men behind the "iron curtain" and the "bamboo curtain". He also states that Clevelands men will act quickly. And also he states the "other side" must never know that this was an artificial virus made by the USA. Also something about our men having "vials" is said as well.

So Im trying to piece together historical context. Im not sure if this chapter was from the original Stand, or the expanded edition.

Sounds like Cleveland is a CIA guy? His men are spies? And he has them in China, and in E. Germany, USSR, etc. But what are these men supposed to be doing? What are these vials all about?

And who is the other side? Im assuming the Soviet Union? But also, I wondered if the "other side" meant the citizens of the USA?

Any thoughts?

[mstay]

I remember thinking that the men with the vials behind the curtains were supposed to release the virus so it would be all over the world instead of just here in America. Scary stuff!
I'm pretty sure that was in the original version as well.

I'm glad you are enjoying it!

[GNTLGNT]

...ain't a'tall helpful, just thought it was kinda coolio...

[TriggerHappy]

It was pretty obvious that he authorized "sleeper cells" in the USSR and Red China to release the Captain Trips virus there. "The other side" refers to these same countries, as they were America's opponents in the Cold War. Personally, I thought this was Mr. King's way of ensuring he wouldn't have to bother with depicting the rest of the world in the epic finale.

[Hteraj Siredog]

i definitely agree with triggerhappy it sounds as if the virus had been planned as biochemical warfare and i wouldnt be surprised if there were spies in the other countries its a clever thing slid into the book and i was talking bout this same thing to a friend of mine and we agreed that that was put in to make it more believable that something like this could happen

[unclelouie]

i definitely agree with triggerhappy it sounds as if the virus had been planned as biochemical warfare and i wouldnt be surprised if there were spies in the other countries its a clever thing slid into the book and i was talking bout this same thing to a friend of mine and we agreed that that was put in to make it more believable that something like this could happen

Well, we all know that if it actually DOES happen... stay away from the dark man, and head to the corn field.