“That is not My fear. My Peer wants Me to change His Plan or else He would not invite Me.”

“What, then?”

“Thinkest thou that My Peer knows how terrible harm feels to His creations? Or is His experience too removed from theirs for empathy? And if the latter, is it so for Me? If I make My creatures suffer, as He makes His suffer, would I realize it?”

Never again, reader, let me call myself anxious when the great Anxieties of This Infinite Being so dwarf such petty spheres as Earth, and Time. A whole universe could be in torment and He might not know. “I’m sure that isn’t true, Ἄναξ. You care so much. I’m sure You’d know.”

“Yet how could I? If the mote cannot perceive the workings of the Whole, how can the Whole comprehend the anguish of the mote?”

He does not know how to weep, this kindly Visitor so unfluent in the subtleties of body. So I wept for Him. “I’m sure You can perceive suffering, Ἄναξ. You’re learning. You’re learning even now.”

SOURCE: Rosetta Forum, 4/14/2454, 5:30 PM UT

ARTICLE HEADLINE: CONCLAVE PROGRESS

TEXT: Spokesperson Andalusia Whitewing describes the Sensayers’ Conclave as “optimistic” about the plan they will present to the Senate tomorrow in response to the Senatorial Order that the Conclave address the theological questions raised by the attack on J.E.D.D. Mason sixteen days ago. The plan will address both private and public discourse, and proposes action to be taken both by the College of Sensayers and external bodies. An account of J.E.D.D. Mason’s own experience of the attack is also expected. Scientific investigation of the incident is under way, and Whitewing urges everyone to be patient and await the results. Despite reports of their arrest earlier this week, Conclave Head Julia Doria-Pamphili led the deliberations, which, according to Whitewing, focused on seeking a way to satisfy the safety requirements of the First Black Law without interfering with the course of science, or stifling individual dialogue. Deliberations took a turn for the dramatic when the fire alarm system was triggered by two type Yulóng-AI766 dragons, which strayed onto the Conclave roof in the course of removing the equipment Sniper used to escape the Forum after the attack. The dragons’ operator apologized for the error.

CHAPTER THE SEVENTH

Grace

Written July 24–26, 2454

Events of April 14

Zürich, Palma de Mallorca, & transit