Quoted By:
>Detectiving
Best to start with the obvious thing, maybe. "But why can't you? Aren't you supposed to be God? That's what Richard said. Was he lying?"
"No."
"No because you're not God, or no because he's not lying?"
The Herald waves her hand, and an overstuffed armchair appears behind her. She collapses into it. "...Both? Or, um... I don't know. It's all so complicated. I guess I'm the Herald. And I— I— it's not that I can't, exactly. Nobody told me not to. It's just that I didn't. The first time, you know."
This again? "You mean, when you were me?"
"Yeah! You get it. I remember being really annoyed I didn't learn anything helpful... oh, sorry! Did you need a chair?" A chair appears beside you.
You don't sit in it. "That's stupid."
"Yeah! See? You're really annoyed!" The Herald is far too pleased with herself. "I remember saying that and everything."
You look down. "Do you know what <span class="mu-i">you're</span> saying in advance? Since I already heard you say it?"
"Huh? Oh, no, it's been forever since this happened. I only remember a little."
"But you're God? At least sort of." Maybe you don't understand what God is. "Shouldn't you know... everything?"
"Ha! No way. Even the WYRM doesn't know everything. I could probably find out, if I really wanted to, but I think that'd be weird. I'd rather say whatever I want."
"Except for helpful things."
"Well, yeah. But even if I didn't know I didn't tell you, I don't know if I would. I don't think knowing the future is that helpful. Either it's good, and you get all lazy and stop trying, or it's bad, and you get all depressed and stop trying. Or you try too hard to stop it, and you get burnt out 'cause you can't. But if you don't know, you have to try the regular amount, and it all works out how it was always going to. You know?"
"No," you say sourly. "Not really."
"Well, you will."
You pull yourself up with the arm of the chair next to you, then settle yourself upon it. "You don't sound the same as you did."
"Huh? Oh, you mean..." She clears her throat. <span class="mu-i">You mean I don't sound like this?</span>
"I guess, but you don't even talk the same. You sound like me. Before, you... I don't know."
"Oh, that? Well, I was different, then. I was the Herald."
If Richard has to alter you, you hope the first step is making you immune to headaches. "But you are the Herald."
"I mean, yes, but... it's like the mug. I told you about the mug?" She searches your face. "Okay, you don't remember. Um, well, think about Richard. When he's a snake, he's a snake, right? He's really a snake. But when he's not a snake, he still is a snake. But he's still him, all the time, right?"
You rub your face in your hands.
"Okay, I— I don't think I'm good at explaining. You'll know soon. I can still go back to being a lizard," she says, as an afterthought. "If that'd be better?"
(1/3)