Basil Wimborne
Names: Basil WimborneBasilthe Alpine climberthe Alpinistthe climberthe alpinist donthe donProfessor WimborneBasil's BastardsBazclassics professor
First appears in Book 1: The Many-Colored Land, chapter 26 (6)
Appearances
What you know
Book 1: The Many-Colored Land
- Ch 26Basil is an Alpine-garbed prisoner who plays a recorder and has been in the pen six days; he tells Claude how others fared.
- Ch 33Basil plays a recorder, and his lullaby tunes are the signal for the escape; "All Through the Night" starts the attack.
- Ch 33Basil threw a lance like a javelin and killed a soldier by piercing the base of his skull.
- Ch 35Basil persuaded most of the escapees to sail southeast across the lake to the Jura mountains.
Book 2: The Golden Torc
- Ch 18Basil, an alpinist, was freed at the fall of Finiah and will use his climbing skills to scale Castle Gateway's walls.
- Ch 18Basil proposes taking the Spear south and having Aiken Drum recharge it for use against the torc factory.
- Ch 20Basil proposes contacting Aiken Drum early by farspeech, using Elizabeth as a telepathic relay.
- Ch 28Basil, a mountain climber, is forced to sever Felice's golden torc with an iron blade.
- Ch 34Basil, with splinted broken legs, scrapes at the cell wall with a vitredur spoon and tends his dying friends in darkness.
- Ch 38Brede says Basil's action and ingenuity will be needed; equipment and maps from time-travelers are in the room's lockers.
- Ch 40Basil is a former don who whispered an ancient Latin prayer as the flood struck.
Book 3: The Nonborn King
- Ch 6Basil and Burke wear golden tores so they can communicate with Elizabeth and Creyn; Basil promises to help in the Sugoll matter.
- Ch 26Basil will lead the Ship's Grave expedition while Burke stays behind at Hidden Springs.
- Ch 33Basil is an alpinist ex-don who wears a golden tore and leads Basil's Bastards on the expedition.
- Ch 38Basil is the scholarly expedition leader who obeys Chief Burke's orders and is a keen mountaineer.
- Ch 38Basil used Aldo's advice to pose a hypothetical traitor problem, then had Aldo and the Baroness caught and sentenced to hang.
- Ch 41A gold-torc Lowlife leader who ordered Tony and Dougal taken to Hidden Springs for trial before Chief Burke.
- Ch 42Basil is a former Oxford don and alpinist who leads the Lowlife aircraft guards and wears a golden tore.
- Ch 42Basil interprets Dougal's falcon quotation as a warning that the hiding place was betrayed, but is overcome by Cloud before acting.
Book 4: The Adversary
- Ch 8The Bastards' leader was removed from the cell days earlier, presumably to be tortured, but is now said to await them in the courtyard.
- Ch 9Having once worn a golden tore, Basil is the only rescued Bastard experienced enough to speak telepathically in the Tanu mode.
- Ch 9Basil agrees to cooperate with Aiken so that those Bastards who want to return to the Milieu can do so.
- Ch 9Basil, held at Calamosk and wearing a gray torc, contacts Elizabeth by farsensed mental call from his balcony.
- Ch 9Basil says he has not yet climbed his mountain, the Pliocene Everest, so he is unsure whether he would return through the gate.
- Ch 9Basil asks Elizabeth to tell Peo at Hidden Springs that the gate will open, so humans can decide whether to return.
- Ch 15Former Oxford don who leads the climbing expedition and convenes the conference at Camp Bettaforca.
- Ch 15Basil leads the expedition to climb Monte Rosa and retrieve the twenty-seven rhocraft; he had his body modified for high-altitude mountaineering.
- Ch 15Basil's whim led to the aircraft being parked on Monte Rosa originally; he is neither a pilot nor a technician able to start the engines.
- Ch 15Basil plans two assault teams an hour apart, expecting attrition, and will lead both the support and assault teams.
- Ch 20A classics professor and expert climber who leads the pioneering rope team; he is telepathic and laconic, and quotes classical and other poetry in his thoughts.
- Ch 20He survived a crevasse fall by cutting his rope, landing on a shelf and walking out, then survived the avalanche that killed his three companions.
- Ch 20After the avalanche, Basil refuses to turn back and decides to finish the climb and install the winch so the next team can set up Camp 2.
- Ch 20Basil named the chosen couloir Darjeeling Gutter in honor of Nirupam, who suggested it.
- Ch 21Basil is a rejuvenated 72-year-old who has led nearly every support group on the mountain.
- Ch 25Basil leads the climbing party up Monte Rosa and is an experienced mountaineer who longs to conquer the peak.
- Ch 25After the fall, Basil asks the King for one day's rest and then a solo attempt on Monte Rosa's summit, to be presumed dead after three days.
- Ch 25Basil reaches the summit with a broken ankle and torn knees, and is happy while expecting to die.
- Ch 28Basil was healed in Tanu Skin for two days after injuries on Monte Rosa; his ankle was fully restored and he woke ravenously hungry.
- Ch 28Basil, like Creyn, has loved Elizabeth without hope; he is wary of how deeply she is involved with Remillard.
- Ch 34Basil shares Creyn's secret and knows Remillard's mental signature.
- Ch 35Waits with Creyn behind the bleachers; Marc calls him one of three persistent, brave friends of Elizabeth.
- Ch 38Basil, Burke and Phronsie decide to stay in the Pliocene rather than return through the time-gate.
Connections
- ally ofClaude Majewski
- ally ofRichard Voorhees
- ally ofFelice Landrygray-torc escort
- friend ofPeopeo Moxmox Burke
- friend ofSister Annamaria Roccaro
- ally ofPeopeo Moxmox Burke
- leadsBasil's Bastards
- related toPeopeo Moxmox BurkeBasil takes orders from Chief Burke
- ally ofSophronisba Gillisenforcer
- friend ofElizabeth Orme
- ally ofNirupam
- ally ofBleyn the Champion
- friend ofNirupam
- ally ofBleyn
- ally ofElizabeth Orme
- friend ofCreyn
- ally ofBrother Anatoly Gorchakov
Key moments
- Book 1 · Ch 26Claude imprisoned in the people pen
Claude, realizing he was tricked, explores the compound, meets Basil, observes the other prisoners and the chalicotheres, and finds Richard catatonic.
- Book 1 · Ch 33The ambush
At dawn, to Basil's signal, amphicyons attack Epone and her chaliko; disguised Richard kills Waldemar.
- Book 1 · Ch 33Bear-dogs destroy the soldiers
Amphicyons attack and slaughter the soldiers; Richard, Basil, Dougal and the ronin kill the survivors, and the last bear-dogs leap off the cliff.
- Book 1 · Ch 33Epone killed with iron
The remains of Epone seize Richard's mind; guided by Dougal's cry about iron, Richard stabs her heart with a knife, freeing himself. Dougal then discards a golden hoop in the lake.
- Book 1 · Ch 35Escape by lake
The freed prisoners split: most sail south with Basil toward the Jura, while Group Green's remnant sails east, then hides among marshy islands from Tanu catboats.
- Book 2 · Ch 18Farewell supper and planning
On the eve of departure the eleven expedition members and Kawai dine at Madame's table, quarrel over who should go, and agree to bring the dead Spear south for Aiken Drum to recharge.
- Book 2 · Ch 20Council of war at the campfire
The party plans to send the torc-factory strike-force to Muriah by riverboat. Claude's alternative plan changes the time-gate action. They agree to try contacting Aiken Drum by farspeech through Elizabeth.
- Book 2 · Ch 20Plans for the river escape settled
The expedition agrees that Felice leaves at dawn with an escort and a noon broadcast is set, while the others scout a boat at the Roniah wharf.
- Book 2 · Ch 28Ambush at the torc factory
Felice melts the doors and the Host of Nontusvel ambushes the party. Most saboteurs die; Felice is subdued by the combined Host; Amerie, Burke and Basil are captured.
- Book 2 · Ch 34Basil's vision of the strange woman
In the dungeon, Basil sees a bizarre woman who wraps him, Amerie and Burke in a life-giving membrane and promises their gray torcs will be gone.
- Book 2 · Ch 38Brede instructs the humans
Brede leads Basil, Burke and Amerie to Elizabeth's room, assigns their tasks, tells them to stay until dawn, and vanishes.
- Book 2 · Ch 41Elizabeth wakes after the Mêlée
Elizabeth emerges from her fire cocoon, learns of the exotic woman's message, sees the flooded ruin of Muriah, and prepares to meet the survivors.
- Book 3 · Ch 6Inspection of Black Crag Lodge
Elizabeth and friends lunch at the chalet; Elizabeth approves it as her retreat, with Creyn staying. Basil, Burke and Amerie say farewell and leave for Hidden Springs.
- Book 3 · Ch 26Sugoll briefs the Ship's Grave expedition
Sugoll introduces guide Kalipin, shows his true form, and gives Basil and Burke stun-guns from Sharn and Ayfa; they discuss converting ancient flyers into weapons.
- Book 3 · Ch 33Return to Hidden Springs
Burke, Basil, Amerie and the thirty Bastards arrive to a joyful welcome, with a feast and Mass of Thanksgiving. Kawai welcomes Amerie home and she reunites with her cat Dejah.
- Book 3 · Ch 33Strategy talk in Burke's wigwam
Burke, Basil and Denny meet Kalipin and inspect the stun-guns, discuss Firvulag raids, Aiken Drum's weapons, hiding aircraft in the Vale of Hyenas, and a possible search for weapons at Roniah, deferring to Elizabeth.
- Book 3 · Ch 38Number Two-Niner flight test
Betsy and Ookpik finish repairing the last flyer; the Baroness test-flies it successfully, and the Bastards celebrate. Betsy hints that Basil suspects the Baroness of wanting to steal it.
- Book 3 · Ch 38Fleet hidden on Monte Rosa
Basil and Aldo choose a snowbound valley on Monte Rosa for hiding the flyers. Basil poses a hypothetical about a treasonous colleague, and Aldo advises surveillance rather than killing.
- Book 3 · Ch 38Aldo's treachery foiled
Before dawn Aldo and the Baroness try to steal Number One, injuring Nazir. Betsy stuns them, and Basil sentences them to be hanged from the aircraft's belly-hatch.
- Book 3 · Ch 42Capture of the Vale of Hyenas
Cloud enters the camp as a feigned intruder, redacts everyone, cuts Basil's golden tore, and summons Nodonn's knights; the prisoners are knocked unconscious and taken to Afaliah.
- Book 4 · Ch 9Bastards welcomed to Calamosk
Led by Ochal, Basil and the Bastards reach Calamosk. Parthol Swiftfoot greets them and lodges them in a bathhouse complex to bathe and get new clothes before meeting the High King.
- Book 4 · Ch 9Aiken's proposal to the Bastards
Aiken tells them the Remillard children plan a second time-gate and want the Bastards to fly and maintain aircraft. He keeps them torced and demonstrates his power. Basil agrees to cooperate.
- Book 4 · Ch 9Basil's mind-call to Elizabeth
Basil tells Elizabeth of the Children's alliance with Aiken and their plan to open the time-gate. He asks her to tell Peo about the open gate, then waits for her advice.
- Book 4 · Ch 15Veikko tells Irena of the Kyllikki murders
Veikko reveals via Walter that Helayne Strangford killed many aboard Kyllikki, including Arky. Irena grieves, then they join Basil Wimborne's conference.
- Book 4 · Ch 15Basil briefs the expedition
Basil announces the Monte Rosa plan, assault and support team assignments, and the incoming Firvulag force; Veikko adds nineteen days remain and bad news about Marc.
- Book 4 · Ch 20Crevasse fall
Basil falls into a crevasse, cuts his rope to relieve strain on Chazz, lands on a shelf, and walks out; the team recovers him.
- Book 4 · Ch 20Avalanche in Darjeeling Gutter
While Chazz and Derek swap rope positions, a slab avalanche sweeps down; Chazz, Derek and Nirupam die, and only Basil survives.
- Book 4 · Ch 20Basil continues the climb
Basil tells Bleyn he will not turn back and will install the winch for Camp 2; Bleyn reluctantly agrees and watches him climb.
- Book 4 · Ch 25Storm and the Col crossing
After a storm, Basil's party traverses the icy slope above the West Col. Aronn, weakened by altitude sickness, drags Bleyn off; Basil's rope holds them and Betsy winches them up.
- Book 4 · Ch 25Descent and Basil's request
The party slides down an avalanche runnel, reaches the aircraft and reactivates flyers. Basil asks Aiken for a day's rest and a solo summit climb.
- Book 4 · Ch 25Basil teleported from the summit
Injured on the summit, Basil meets an armored being that offers to teleport him by d-jump; he accepts and both vanish as the others depart believing him dead.
- Book 4 · Ch 26Elizabeth and Minanonn arrive at the Castle of Glass
Flying through storms, they land at Goriah and Aiken greets them; Elizabeth reveals she has come on Marc's behalf and that Marc d-jumped Basil Wimborne from Monte Rosa.
- Book 4 · Ch 28Basil healed in Skin
Basil wakes after two days in Tanu Skin, his ankle restored using Remillard's modified program. Creyn tells him about the Adversary, and Basil learns Remillard and Elizabeth work mind to mind.
- Book 4 · Ch 34Evacuation of Black Crag
After the children are healed, Black Crag is evacuated. Minanonn, Creyn, Anatoly and Basil plan to fly to Nionel to find Remillard and appeal to him.
- Book 4 · Ch 35Anatoly accosts Marc at the games
Anatoly reveals he knows Marc's identity and says Creyn and Basil have information. Marc probes his mind, finds him truthful, and goes to meet Creyn.
- Book 4 · Ch 37Aiken takes Elizabeth away
Aiken arrives with advisors and removes Elizabeth for a ride, warning Marc to be gone when he returns.
- Book 4 · Ch 38Time-gate closes; humans stay
After the last of 11,332 returnees passes, Basil, Burke and Phronsie choose to stay, and Phronsie shuts down the Guderian device.