Bruce Lee

A jeep was heading purposefully towards the gate, and it looked as though it was crowded with people who were about to shout questions and fire guns and not worry about which order they did this in.

[Crowley] brightened up. This was more what you might call his area of competence.

He took his hands out of his pockets and he raised them like Bruce Lee and then he smiled like Lee Van Cleef. ‘Ah,’ he said, ‘here comes transport.’ (299)

Bruce Lee (1940-1973) was a Chinese-American martial artist and film actor. He is regarded as one of the most influential martial arts experts of the 20th century. Lee studied many martial arts styles, including Wing Chun and boxing, and developed his own fighting system and philosophy, called Jeet Kune Do.

Jeet Kune Do advocates simplicity and fluid motion. There is technically no ‘get-set’ position. The lead hand is loose and relaxed, slightly lower than shoulder height. The palm of the rear hand faces the opponent, in line with the lead shoulder. The hands are in constant motion, ready to attack or defend as needed.

The implication in the passage quoted above is that Crowley is prepared to commandeer the Jeep by any means necessary, and that resistance will be futile.

Other sources:
“Bruce Lee”. Wikipedia. Accessed 17 October 2012. <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bruce_Lee>.
Lee, Bruce. Tao of Jeet Kune Do. Ohara Publications, Inc. 1980.

Edition referenced in this article: UK Gollancz hardcover (2007)
Written by Lynette