Character Sketch

My first passage comes from pg. 37. "He (Reston) is a gruff man, frequently caustic and more like a drill sergeant than a tenured professor." He is a paraplegic as well. Navidson and Reston met in India and he took a picture of Reston running from an electrical wire. Here then is our first glimpse of Reston and it is a fair one. He first sends the brothers Navidson to the house armed with a laser leveler. Which of course doesn't work. Then he shows up himself. Instead of allowing himself to be carried into the house, this proud man says "That won't be necessary." And makes it onto the second floor of the house by his arm strength alone. (pg. 55) In fact, we see a bit of a sense of humor about his impediment as well. When Tom says "Too bad you forgot your chair," Reston laughs and says "Well, and fuck you." We see a gruff and serious man, but with a sense of humor and a calm acceptance of his lot in life. This is not the last time we see a softer side of Reston. SPOILERS!!! If you haven't read to 321 DO NOT CONTINUE!!! After Navidson is lost during the shift at the spiral staircase Reston remains at the radios trying to get in touch with Nav even after 5 days. (Pg. 321) He even communicates his hope. When Tom says That Navy's been gone over four days Reston says "There's still a chance."

So we have a gruff character who takes no nonsense but still can have a sense of humor over the bad hand that life dealt him, as well as a sincere devotion to his friends and willing to grab at a shred of hope, even if it's as faint as the light of a flashbulb in the deep darkness of the House.