How we cite our quotes: (Chapter.Paragraph)
Quote #7
Deryn groaned. Her aching muscles could've done with another minute's rest. But she'd laughed at Newkirk, so the endless competition was on again. She hoisted her feed bag and followed him toward the bow.
Barking hard work, being a boy. (11.44-45)
There's a lot of competition among the middies, which Deryn interprets as part of being a boy. Do girls participate in this sort of "endless competition," too?
Quote #8
The captain hadn't said anything about who'd been aboard longest. He was looking at airmanship, so he wanted to keep his best men.
And that's exactly what she was, man or not. (15.40-41)
Here's the real competition: which of the middies gets to stay aboard. We're not surprised at Deryn's selection, but Newkirk was a bit of a shocker for us.
Quote #9
Deryn took the bag and bowed again. "Of course, ma'am. Sorry to be so thick. It's just that… no one told me you were a lady."
Dr. Barlow laughed. "Not to worry, young man. The subject has occasionally been debated."
With that she turned away and disappeared through the gatehouse door, leaving Deryn holding the heavy valise and wondering if she was seeing things. She'd never heard of a lady boffin before—or a female diplomat, for that matter. The only women who tangled with foreign affairs were spies, she'd always reckoned.
But Dr. Barlow didn't quite have the air of a spy. She seemed a bit too loud for a job like that. (16.16-19)
To be honest, this scene kind of surprised us. It seems like Deryn of all people would understand a woman doing an unexpected job. What do you think is going through Deryn's mind?