The City & the City

by

China Miéville

The City & the City: Chapter 10 Summary & Analysis

Summary
Analysis
Early the next morning, Borlú learns that Gadlem wants to speak with him urgently. He tries to hide, before reluctantly going to Gadlem’s office. Gadlem asks about the Gearys, then says that he has a “tremendously intriguing case” for Borlú—the one that Borlú is already working on. The Oversight Committee has decided not to hand over the case to Breach, on the grounds that there is “insufficient evidence” that breach took place. Gadlem shows him a surveillance videotape of Khurusch’s van. Borlú can make out the edge of Copula Hall, and sees the van drive in and out. This means that the van went from Besźel to Ul Qoma and back legally after all.
This passage provides another stark reminder of the ridiculousness of borders. The video footage indicates that, in the midst of committing murder, the killer made sure to cross the border legally—a decision reflective of the disproportionate seriousness with which breach is treated in the world of the novel.
Themes
Borders and Doubles Theme Icon
Seeing vs. Unseeing Theme Icon
Crime vs. Punishment Theme Icon
Paranoia, Conspiracy, and Illicit Knowledge Theme Icon
The narrative switches to a statement made by the Oversight Committee regarding their decision not to invoke Breach. The statement describes the discovery that the van passed through an official checkpoint at Copula Hall, which means that breach did not occur. Smuggling does not inherently involve breach, although “most breach is committed in order to smuggle.” Mahalia’s murder, the smuggling of her body, and the theft of Khurusch’s van are all crimes that will be properly investigated and punished, but Breach will not be involved.
On one hand, this decision could be perceived as a victory for real justice. After all, Breach is so opaque, mysterious, and all-powerful that their prosecution of the case may not have felt like justice to Mahalia’s family. At the same time, Breach’s power means that they would likely have been better equipped to actually find the murderer than Borlú and the rest of the policzai.
Themes
Borders and Doubles Theme Icon
Seeing vs. Unseeing Theme Icon
Crime vs. Punishment Theme Icon
After reading the report, Borlú angrily exclaims that it’s “bullshit,” and asks how they are supposed to solve the crime without Breach’s help. Gadlem agrees that it is unfair, but he encourages him to take a more positive approach. Borlú will be sent over to Ul Qoma. Gadlem mentions that “this is an exciting new era of cross-border policing,” a phrase taken directly from a brochure that came with the police station’s new computer equipment. Borlú asks to take Corwi with him, but Gadlem refuses. He mentions his disapproval of Borlú’s unauthorized trip to the True Citizens headquarters, which he heard about from Syedr. Gadlem indicates that it is likely this unauthorized visit was the reason why the Oversight Committee reversed course on invoking Breach.
This passage presents a significant piece of information. The Oversight Committee may have chosen not to forward the case to Breach not because they genuinely think breach did not occur, but rather for political reasons. Syedr’s association with the True Citizens leads him to retaliate against Borlú for going to their headquarters—although, intriguingly, this retaliation takes the form of forcing Borlú to keep working on the case.
Themes
Borders and Doubles Theme Icon
Crime vs. Punishment Theme Icon
Paranoia, Conspiracy, and Illicit Knowledge Theme Icon
While Borlú prepares to go to Ul Qoma, he receives the copy of Between the City and the City that he ordered online through a link from fracturedcity.org. Buying it was not a great risk, as the censorship of books is generally not taken too seriously. The book was “published by a long-gone anarcho-hippy press.” Borlú calls both his lovers and tells them he is going to Ul Qoma for an investigation. He asks Sariska if she has read Between the City and the City and she replies that she did as an undergrad and loved it. Yet she now thinks the book is “ridiculous” and associates it with adolescence. After, Borlú calls Corwi and suggests that before he leaves, they investigate the footage of the van. She agrees.
Like many conspiracy theories, Orciny is associated with the immaturity of adolescence. This is a time in life at which many people are especially impressionable, because they are figuring out their own views of the world. Furthermore, adolescence is also a point at which people are naturally inclined to seek out countercultural beliefs due a desire to rebel against their parents and the status quo. 
Themes
Borders and Doubles Theme Icon
Seeing vs. Unseeing Theme Icon
Crime vs. Punishment Theme Icon
Paranoia, Conspiracy, and Illicit Knowledge Theme Icon
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