Friendship between Beenay 25 and Theremon 762

The friendship between Beenay 25 and Theremon 762 is one of the novel's most significant relationships, linking the cloistered world of scientific research at the Saro University Observatory with the public arena of journalism at the Saro City Chronicle. Their connection, which began three or four years before the story opens, was initially professional: Theremon came to the Observatory to interview a scientist about the Apostles of Flame. From that encounter, a close personal friendship developed, built on a foundation of mutual respect that transcended their different backgrounds. Beenay, a graduate student and assistant professor in astronomy, valued having a friend entirely outside university politics, while Theremon, a worldly journalist some five years older, appreciated knowing someone who had no interest in exploiting his influence. Their bond was strong enough that Beenay trusted Theremon with his most devastating scientific discovery, and Theremon, in turn, offered crucial advice and support, even when their views diverged catastrophically.

Origins and Nature of the Bond

The friendship was first struck when Theremon visited the Observatory to interview a scientist about the latest manifesto of the crackpot Apostles of Flame group. Over time, they became close friends, despite their different temperaments and ages. Theremon was a seasoned, somewhat cynical newspaperman, while Beenay was a dedicated, earnest astronomer. The relationship was a source of genuine pleasure for both: Beenay liked having a friend with no involvement in university politics, and Theremon was delighted to know someone who wasn't interested in exploiting his journalistic influence. This mutual disinterest in using each other for gain formed the bedrock of their trust. Their friendship was also marked by a willingness to accommodate each other's schedules, as seen when Theremon agreed to meet Beenay at the unusual hour of Onos-rise, a time when the astronomer would normally be asleep, simply because he needed a statement for his column.

The Friendship as a Conduit for Information and Support

The friendship served as a critical channel for the exchange of vital information. When Beenay discovered a devastating anomaly in his calculations of Kalgash's orbit—one that seemed to challenge the Theory of Universal Gravitation—he immediately turned to Theremon for counsel. In a state of near-hysteria, he called Theremon to change their appointment to an earlier time, confessing that he needed to see him. At the Six Suns Club, Beenay poured out his fears, not just about the scientific implications but about the personal impact on his mentor, Athor 77. Theremon, in turn, provided not just a sympathetic ear but sharp, practical advice. He challenged Beenay's assumption that revealing the truth would destroy Athor, arguing that a true scientist would value truth over reputation. He also introduced the crucial idea of an "unknown factor"—a hypothesis that would later prove to be the key to the entire catastrophe. This conversation, a blend of emotional support and intellectual sparring, was instrumental in convincing Beenay to take his findings to Athor.

The Fracture: Scientific Conviction vs. Journalistic Skepticism

The friendship underwent its most severe test in the months leading up to the predicted eclipse. Theremon, who had initially been sympathetic to the Observatory's research, gradually became one of its most vocal public critics. He began writing columns that mocked Athor, questioned the scientists' sanity, and compared their predictions to the ravings of the Apostles of Flame. This shift was driven by a deep-seated journalistic integrity: he believed the scientists were wrong, and he saw it as his duty to prevent public panic. This created a painful rift. Beenay was dismayed, and Siferra 89, who had become a friend through Beenay, was furious, accusing Theremon of being "irresponsible" and "cruel." The personal cost was high; Theremon's columns made him persona non grata at the Observatory, and Athor refused to speak to him. Despite this, the underlying bond of friendship was not entirely severed. Theremon continued to see his role as protecting the scientists from the public's wrath if the eclipse failed to occur, and he proposed a deal to Athor: he would stay at the Observatory to cover the event, and if nothing happened, he would use his influence to shield them from ridicule.

Reconciliation and Shared Fate

On the evening of the eclipse, the friendship was put to its ultimate test. Siferra, acting on her own initiative, invited Theremon to the Observatory as her guest, overriding Athor's explicit ban. Theremon's presence was initially met with fury from Athor, but Beenay and Siferra argued for him to stay. In the final hours before totality, the two friends shared a moment of quiet tension. Theremon, witnessing the first chip in Dovim's disk, was finally forced to accept the reality of the eclipse. He turned to Siferra with a look of profound regret, and later, in the chaos, he and Sheerin shared a drink, with Theremon admitting he had been wrong. The friendship, though battered, endured the cataclysm. In the aftermath, when Beenay was stranded with his injured contract-mate Raissta 717 at a Search station on the Great Southern Highway, it was Theremon and Siferra who stumbled upon him. The reunion was one of relief and immediate collaboration. Beenay, now a respected figure in the new province, used his authority to help his friends, providing them with passports and vital intelligence about the approaching army of the Apostles of Flame. The friendship, having survived the end of the world, became a practical alliance for survival in the new one.