mistressmaryquitecontrary

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Tomorrow Mary turns thirteen.

The cook is going to make a cake and she is to be let off lessons. Other than that she's not really sure what to make of this; despite the cold weather, she's sitting outside by her tree (now bare) in her garden, trying to decide.

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"I would not discount them! And I do expect them. I do not think it is a safe place, ever."

Mary is constantly emphatic on this point.

"But you cannot plan in specific unless you know what the specifics will be. The rest is only a - is only general watchfulness."

"You might consider applying the lessons learned from history."

The Sahara has nothing on Galadan's voice.

"I hardly assign you your translations based on archaic notions of torture."

"I know that," Mary says.

"But I have not encountered anyone in Milliways who wished to conquer Gaul and divide it into three parts."

"Obviously we'll need to begin work on your abstract thinking."

Galadan is not laughing.

Really.

No, really.

Edited 2008-11-07 04:18 (UTC)

Mary rolls her eyes. Semi-tolerantly.

"I know what you are trying to say. I do. But I am only saying - I know it is important to know history and to see the patterns and to be careful and watch for things. I know all that. But you cannot see the exact future from knowing the past!"

"Ask the Seer of Brennin, Mary, what benefit she gleans from seeing the future."

His eyes are a cool winter-grey, watchful and waiting.

"There is more certainty in the past. And such information as may be found there is--less prone to inspiring fear. Self-fulfilling prophecies are all well and good, but they are quite difficult to fight."

"Well - I am not saying I would want to know the exact future either," Mary says, straightening a little.

"I know some futures that may be, and that is enough."

Beat.

"I do not know who the Seer of Brennin is."

"Kimberly Ford. She is a doctor, as it happens. I suspect you'll be able to find her in the infirmary, shall you choose to seek her out."

There is a momentary twitch of Galadan's lip. It might be faint amusement.

"Her hair is white, though she is hardly what one might call 'old'. Even one so young as you, Mary Lennox."

"I used to call everyone old," Mary points out.

"I do not quite as much anymore, now that I have met more and more people who are truly old." Like Galadan! For example.

"And she sees the future? Why should I wish to seek her out, then - if you said it was not good to see the future?"

Galadan's eyebrows lift, one slightly more arched than the other.

"Have you truly no idea of why I might suggest you speak with her?"

"I think you want me to hear that there is no benefit to seeing the future." Mary's voice is impatient. "So that I will not think I should try. But it is not as if I could try anyways."

"You might consider, rather, that there are very few absolutes save what has been. That, you can learn from. What may be, here and now or in some future time, is both more and less malleable."

One corner of his lip twists.

"Which is to say there is some value in both, but reading what is to come requires some degree of specialization. I, myself, have the capability to understand what will be by virtue of deduction and rationalization. It's hardly magical, but it serves its purpose."

"I do not believe that you can possibly know everything that will be simply by deducing."

Mary unfolds her arms, the better to fold them again.

"I am the first person to say that rationalization and deduction and - and logic are important - but not everything can be predicted!"

"That may, indeed, be what contingency plans are for."

Someone who does not know Galadan may believe that now he is merely being stubborn, winding Mary up.

They could not be further from the truth.

"And have you a contingency plan for -"

Mary casts around briefly for a thoroughly unlikely scenario.

"- for men from the moon coming down to try to kidnap my uncle?"

"Their planet of origin is fairly irrelevant, but yes, there are several courses of action open to me should someone try to kidnap your uncle. Or you. Or Dickon and Colin, for that matter."

Galadan is thorough.

It's very little to do with having been head of Gabriel's security for quite some time.

He'll elaborate on his plans if Mary presses. This time.

"The planet of origin is thoroughly relevant," Mary says, rather stubbornly. "I wished to know what your contingency plan was for someone successfully kidnapping us to the moon. That is the unlikely part - though someone wishing to kidnap one of us is nearly as unlikely, it is at least conceivable. My uncle is quite rich and such things do happen."

"Ah, to the moon. One ought to be specific from the word 'go', Mary."

Galadan's lips twitch.

"As it happens, I would return to Milliways, and then travel from there to the moon. With the appropriate precautions taken, of course."

This same procedure would occur if, for example, Mary and her uncle were being taken to India. Or Antarctica.

Or New York.

Mary eyes him. "That is hardly a very specific plan. Had you thought about it before I asked? The moon, specifically - and you must tell me truly."

"Other locations, certainly. And such plans are easily altered to fit a plethora of circumstances."

He raises one eyebrow.

"As you might already know, were you inclined to anything resembling 'planning'. It works for your garden, does it not?"

Galadan is one of a very few people who can use the word 'plethora' in conversation and get away with it.

Mary, however, is not thinking of this, because she is too busy saying indignantly, "I do plan! That is not a fair judgment - I have planned a good many things."

"And you will oblige me by providing an annotated list. If you please."

It's not really a request, as such.

"All right," Mary says instantly.

"Should you like me to write it now or ought I to write it up tonight to give to you tomorrow?"

"Tomorrow will be soon enough--though do try not to stay awake all night slaving over it."

His lips twitch.

He may be teasing her.

With an air of triumph: "I shall plan not to."

There you go! That one is going on the list.