[ There's something there, a level of sincerity in that last sentence that could play out in his favor at some pointβHarding's not class-conscious, none of these people are, but he seems to have a trace of recognition of how abysmal the system he lives under is. It's something, like the faint glimmer of intelligence and lucidity occasionally present in a dog's eyes.
And, more importantly, he seems to be easing up enough to do what he just reprimanded Vasiliy for. Not that alcoholics are ever particularly subtle (at least from his experience), but he wasn't openly spiking his coffee before the revelation that they occupy adjacent fields. Vasiliy takes notice of the fact that he doesn't offer any to him, though half of that's probably just the American stinginess with cigarettes and drinks.
He shrugs. ]
Better than Soviet Union. [ It's not. ] Warmer.
[ He knows better than to ask Harding where he's from; it's the kind of meaningless small talk anyone who's conducted an interrogation could see right throughβand he has no doubt the man's been involved in several. Instead he opts for a question about as sincere as he can muster in a conversation with the enemy. ]
You always want to be police officer?
[ And then he chooses not to dwell on why that's the first question that comes to mind. ]
no subject
And, more importantly, he seems to be easing up enough to do what he just reprimanded Vasiliy for. Not that alcoholics are ever particularly subtle (at least from his experience), but he wasn't openly spiking his coffee before the revelation that they occupy adjacent fields. Vasiliy takes notice of the fact that he doesn't offer any to him, though half of that's probably just the American stinginess with cigarettes and drinks.
He shrugs. ]
Better than Soviet Union. [ It's not. ] Warmer.
[ He knows better than to ask Harding where he's from; it's the kind of meaningless small talk anyone who's conducted an interrogation could see right throughβand he has no doubt the man's been involved in several. Instead he opts for a question about as sincere as he can muster in a conversation with the enemy. ]
You always want to be police officer?
[ And then he chooses not to dwell on why that's the first question that comes to mind. ]