Though reunions with the Professor were always enjoyable, this time something different, some autumnal disquiet behind the climate of warm celebration, produced psycho-gastric twinges Randolph had learned from experience he could ignore only at his peril.
* * * * * * * * * *
"autumnal disquiet"
I guess autumn is a good metaphor, or adjectival intensifier, of disquiet because the weather is becoming colder and more prone to rain, trees superficially die by shedding their leaves, ponds freeze over, and everybody realizes they're one year closer to death. Plus the description probably just means the disquiet is happening because it's autumn and, well, you know how autumn is! Like I just described! The Chicago World's Fair ran until October 30th, 1893, so the Chums could be visiting in September or October. Although earlier one of the descriptions had been a "midwestern summer evening." Technically that could still mean the boys arrived in September which most people don't regard as summer, instead thinking of it entirely as the coming on of autumn.
"psycho-gastric twinges"
I'm starting to believe that Randolph has some kind of mutant stomach-related super power after this bit and the previous "gastric memories" of the strangled alligator in New Orleans. Maybe Randolph has a limited form of ESP but instead of reading minds, his gut rumbles and growls. Or maybe this is just Pynchon riffing on "gut feelings" and instinct. Man, I hope not. I hope it's a stomach-related super power!
"he could ignore only at his peril"
The Professor is a harbinger of doom!
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