Later, in exchange for some work I did for the City of Amazons, Ikaros translated Thomas Aquinas’s work into Greek and read it to me.

It is my belief that the Masters were right in their decision to exclude Thomas Aquinas from the Republic. Though he had many interesting ideas and speculations, he too often started from conclusions and made up ingenious theories to fit them. This is not the way of a true philosopher. I believe Plato was right that some things should be kept from underdeveloped and fragile minds, lest they do harm.

VII. On Unanswered Questions

Why did Athene take away all the other Workers and leave only me and Sixty-One in the City? Was it meant as punishment or blessing? Was it meant as a punishment for the humans and a blessing for us? Where are all the other Workers? Where did she take them? Are they pursuing excellence where they are?

Why was it Lukretia who asked me to mend the fountain, and not Ikaros, when they were equally responsible for Ferrara? Who had decided that was her job? Would she have agreed with Ikaros that the women giving birth could go to other houses to use the latrine fountains?

Who should decide the priorities? Should everything be examined every time, or should there be guidelines? Are there times for priorities to be delegated?

Is ignorance a burden, or a blessing?

Are will and intellect different? Is will an appetite of the soul? What is will? Is my will different from human will?

Was Ikaros right or wrong to bring his forbidden books?

Why did I never tell Sokrates how much I loved and appreciated him?

11. Jason

11

JASON

“Are you all right, Hilfa?” I asked.

Hilfa stopped rocking and looked up at me. He pulled away from Thetis and scrambled to his feet in his ungainly way. Thetis beside him flowed to hers smoothly and sat down again beside me on the bed. “No. This is too much for me,” Hilfa said, in clear Greek. “I can’t deal with Jathery. I’m sorry.”

“No need to apologize, none of this is your fault,” I said.

Thetis nodded emphatically.

“Oh Jason, I don’t know what is my fault, or my responsibility, or what I am, or why I exist!” Hilfa said.

“Neither do I,” Thetis said.

“Me neither,” I said, realizing how true it was. I laughed. Thetis laughed too. “I wonder how many people do know those things?”

Hilfa laughed too, his strange formal laugh. “But for me it is even more true.”

At that moment, Pytheas came back, and with him were the two most famous and controversial people who had ever been in the Republic.