Snow Crash

Raven comes to rescue his fellow Russians, riding in a “one-man kayak” (243). The Mafia members watch helplessly as Raven helps the Russians board a nuclear submarine, which then attacks the boat with Hiro onboard. Hiro and other passengers escape on lifeboats.

While working in a cafeteria, YT meets Raven onboard the Raft. He explains to her that he is Aleut, an ethnic group that has traditionally made its living close to the sea and has been mistreated “worse than any other people in history” (245). Raven offers to help YT get off the Raft. Hesitantly, she agrees. As a cafeteria worker tries to intervene, Raven snatches YT and hauls her onto his shoulders. He carries her out of the cafeteria and rappels down the side of the Raft. As they escape, he explains that his real name is Dmitri Ravinoff, and he has spent the past eight years in recovery for his alcohol addiction. These days, he lists his job as a harpooner. To YT, their conversation feels almost as though she is “on a date with him” (248).