That Hideous Strength - Ch 13 - They Have Pulled Down Deep Heaven on Their Heads

Medieval heaven - Thulacandra
is the Earth.  Sulva is the Moon.
Malacandra is Mars.  Perelandra
is Venus.  Arbol is the the Sun.

Merlin stands at the door of St. Francis.  The Director (Ransom) addresses him in Latin, but Merlin insists on speaking to the master of the house.  Since the Director is dressed in modern clothes, Merlin mistakes him for a slave, and it takes some convincing before Merlin believes the Director is the Pendragon whom he must obey.  Merlin only believes in the Director after a series of three questions, which only the Pendragon would be able to answer, and which the Director correctly answers.  (Look at earlier chapters if you want reminding about the role of the Pendragon.)

Meanwhile at Belbury, Frost and Withers distress about their inability to communicate with the person they believe to be Merlin (actually a simple tramp).  They wonder who they have who can communicate with him, and after much pondering, decide upon both Mark and Straik, even if that means bringing them into the inner circle sooner than they had planned to do later, rather than sooner.

Merlin puts most members of the St. Francis house asleep.  Once they awaken, they go looking for him, only to find him and the Director (Ransom) clothed in full robes (the dress of his office) talking intimately with Merlin.  They begin to suspect the Director - who earlier referred to Merlin as the enemy.  However, the Director assures them Merlin adheres to their position.  Suddenly, Merlin loudly objects to Jane.  Apparently, she and Mark should have had a son who would have saved Logres (England).  The Director assures Merlin that Jane adheres to their position and she and Mark have plenty of time to have their child.

The members of St. Francis have a long conversation about Merlin and his times.  They conclude that considering everything, Merlin must be on their side and against the forces at work Belbury, even though it might appear to be otherwise (which is why, apparently,  the folks at Belbury seem to assume Merlin must be on their side).

Merlin hails from a much earlier time in Britain, and finds himself confounded by modern England.  He wants to use magic and his old relationship with nature to fight against the modern forces.  The Director says those methods were never very lawful, and quite ineffectual these days.  Merlin considers the Director (the Pendragon) the King, and does not understand why he does not simply command things to be as they should be, or command others to follow his edicts.  The Director takes pains to explain he is not the king, and he cannot command others.  Instead, he explains their battle engages spiritual reality, and involves angelic beings with supernatural powers.  Merlin wonders how the Director knows the password (about the Oyeresu as Masters).  The Director explains he did not know this was a password, he simply knew it's truth from his experiences (as explained in the first book of the Trilogy).  Merlin seeks help from other quarters, but the Director explains no other help can be found but through elildels.  "The Hideous Strength holds all this Earth in its fist to squeeze as it wishes.  But for their one mistake, there would be no hope left."  And later, "They have gone to the gods who would not have come to them, and have pulled down Deep Heaven on their heads."

Ch 12 - Wet and Windy Night

Ch 14 - Real Life is Meeting

Overview of That Hideous Strength

Character List