Kelaritan 99
Kelaritan 99 is the director of the Jonglor Municipal Psychiatric Institute, a gaunt, angular little man with a sallow complexion and a hollow chest. He summons Sheerin 501 of Saro University to Jonglor as an expert on mental health to investigate the psychological devastation caused by the Tunnel of Mystery at the Jonglor Centennial Exposition. His physical appearance—described as a "walking skeleton" by Sheerin—immediately sets him in contrast to the ruddy, far-from-gaunt psychologist, and Sheerin finds himself innately suspicious of anyone of adult years who weighs less than half of what he does.
Role in the Tunnel of Mystery Investigation
Kelaritan is the first to use the term "victims" to describe those who suffered psychological harm in the Tunnel, a word that the sleek and polished lawyer Cubello 54 finds unacceptable because it presupposes a causal link between the ride and the harm. Kelaritan mediates between Sheerin and Cubello, urging them not to be adversaries and emphasizing that the shared objective is to discover the truth so that a repetition of the unfortunate events can be avoided. He suggests that the interview process begin with Harrim 682, a longshoreman who is in relatively good shape and can withstand interrogation, before moving on to other patients like Gistin 190 and Chimmilit 97. He explains that Harrim, who won a ticket to the opening day of the Tunnel in a lottery, has undergone a complete symptom reversal: initially suffering from severe claustrophobia that made him refuse to go indoors, he has now swung to claustrophilia, becoming afraid to go outside even though the suns are shining. Kelaritan notes that some patients are completely catatonic and others need sedation at least half the time.
Emotional Response to the Suns
Despite his dour and restrained demeanor, Kelaritan displays a startling enthusiasm when he pauses in the glassed-in passageway leading from his office to the hospital. Taking in the complete panorama of the four-sun sky—the warm rays of Onos and the contrasting beams of Dovim, Patru, and Trey—his pinched features glow with sudden youth and vitality. He cries out, "What an absolutely splendid day, eh, gentlemen! How glorious it is to see four of the suns in the sky at the same time! How good it makes me feel when their light strikes my face! Ah, where would we be without our marvelous suns, I wonder?" This outburst, coming from someone so austere, startles Sheerin and underscores the profound psychological dependence on constant light that characterizes life on Kalgash.
Professional Conduct and Limitations
Kelaritan demonstrates clinical competence in managing the patients, intervening with a sedative when Harrim becomes hysterical during his interview. He correctly identifies the two-phase progression of the trauma: first claustrophobia, then claustrophilia, which he interprets as a sign of healing. However, he also reveals the institutional pressures at play, noting that the city fathers are very eager to find some way to reopen the Tunnel despite the immense investment and the known dangers. When Sheerin, after experiencing the Tunnel himself, delivers his devastating verdict that the ride is deadly and must be shut down for good, Kelaritan is present to witness the psychologist's shaken state, though he does not challenge the conclusion. His role remains that of a facilitator—the one who arranges the inspection, introduces the patients, and provides the clinical context, but who ultimately defers to the outside expert's judgment.
