Bustling off like the prow of a ship
Vincent is in a hurry to get backstage, and the author compares the bustling of the briefcase in front of him to the prow of a ship. The author writes, "Vince bustled off, briefcase in front of him like the prow of a ship cleaving through the crowd." The simile is imperative because the author uses it to show the inquisitive nature of Dave, and Vincent is aware of this, so he excuses himself, saying that he is preoccupied. He is late backstage.
Standing like a tall tree in the midst of the crowd
Dave is looking for his brother, Vincent, among the crowd, and the author uses a simile to compare him to a tall tree. The author writes, "Dave Martyniuk stood like a tall tree in the midst of the crowd that was swirling like leaves through the lobby." When Kevin catches Dave standing tall, he asks what he is doing and tells him that he is looking for Vincent. The simile is momentous because it represents the close bond between Dave and his brother Vincent. Dave cannot stand the idea of not seeing his brother for a long time.
Bustling like a rock audience
The students' excitement waiting for the concert performance is compared to a rock audience. The author writes, "An astonishing crowd of students and academics, bustling like a rock audience with pre-concert excitement, had gathered to hear the man for whom, principally, the late starting date had been arranged." The author uses this simile to show the liveliness of the students at Toronto University, where Professor Lorenzo is an academician and lecturer. The connotation of this simile is linked to Professor Lorenzo's keenness to select the five students that will accompany him to Fionavar to help him solve a complex challenge facing his kingdom.
