from Alexey Sklyarenko:
Upon giving some thought to it,
I began to wonder if "ewes-dropper" is
not a pun on "newsdropper". The story about the lost sheep (there is a
lost and found lamb on the night-lights of porcelain in
Ada's and Lucette's rooms at the Marina ranch in Arizona) is from the New
Testament (Matthew, 18:12-13). Euangelion is Greek for "good
news". Lucette brings good news to Van from Ada (who is ready to
reject a suitor and reunite with Van if he wants). Still, this
particular word dream of Van remains enigmatic for me.