Ahab-Esais

In which Tocohl and Inki discuss the next step.

I am looking forward to seeing Tocohl’s thoughts on recent events.

I’m dubious about the hypothesis that the Uncle might have found a way to upload himself into a logic grid; Tolly said fairly definitely on another occasion that such a thing is fundamentally impossible, and I’m inclined to think it beyond even the ingenuity the Uncle displays when it comes to keeping himself alive. Though it’s interesting that Inki, with presumably much the same training and knowledge as Tolly, is more willing to entertain the idea.

It is not, it turns out, the entire board of the Lyre Institute that wants Inki dead, but only one faction. Who will be sending their own agent to try and secure the target, so that’s someone to look forward to meeting. I did wonder briefly if it might turn out that Tolly has been the other agent all along, and all his apparent freedom up to this point just a complicated ruse or a very long string he’s been allowed to run on the end of until needed, but I don’t think that’s likely. It might yet turn out, however, that rescuing Hazenthull will result in him being recruited to act as the other agent.

Perhaps Tocohl did understand Inki’s advice to use lethal force if necessary, but I suspect she will not heed it any more than Hazenthull did Tolly’s attempt to warn her away. The general tendency among this series’ heroes is to try and preserve life where that is possible, and if anything Inki’s recent actions have shown that there is something in her worthy of preservation.

I hope Inki survives long enough to learn who Tocohl’s mentor is. I think she will be amused.