Neogenesis – Chapter 5 part IV

In which the wise person accepts gracefully that which she cannot change.

It’s interesting that Inkirani didn’t know Tocohl had a connection to Korval. If she’d been on the up-and-up, of course, she’d have no reason to find out; whenever the subject first came up during their collaboration over Admiral Bunter, Tocohl would have made it clear that her employer wished to remain anonymous, and that would have been that. But once she decided it was necessary to abduct Tocohl, it might have been prudent to have made some attempt to discover who would take notice of Tocohl’s absence.

Perhaps that’s why Inkirani laughs.

Or perhaps it’s because the reason she didn’t take that precaution was that she believed it didn’t matter who Tocohl’s connections were, that even if they found out what had happened there would be nothing they could do against the Institute, and discovering that it’s Korval has suggested to her that here, in fact, is the one group of people in the galaxy who might have a chance.

I expect, though, that this partnership is not going to run smoothly. Tocohl and Inkirani have, for the moment, a common destination and purpose, but there’s inevitably going to be a point where their purposes cross again. Tocohl will be looking to keep the Old One out of the hands of the Institute; Inkirani will still be compelled to carry out her orders, and if she sees a chance to keep herself out of the hands of the Institute she’s likely to try and take it, whatever the consequences for Tocohl.

2 thoughts on “Neogenesis – Chapter 5 part IV

  1. Skip

    After feeling Tocohl suffer so, I found myself unable to trust Inki, or to forgive her, even though at times I felt the text itself pushing me to give her a break. An interesting dilemma.

  2. Ed8r

    Your reaction is exactly the dilemma of anyone who has been betrayed: it is just not possible to trust the betrayer again, or at least it is not wise to do so, unless other behaviors show a marked change in the person.

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