Chapter Five: The Bureau of Corrections

There were no clocks in the corridor. Yet Lin heard ticking from every blank file in the Correctors' hands. Chen extended one hand. “Que is not software. Each time you read an annotation, it borrows your attention to perform a calculation. Eventually you will no longer distinguish your judgment from what it chooses to emphasize.” “So you'll decide for me?” “I will take the burden back.” Lacuna marked the phrase. [Insufficient authorization.] Lin did not trust it automatically. “Why did you try to kill me?” “The falling glass was not ordered by this bureau. Que could predict where you would stop and when it would fall. Saving you ensured your trust.” A chill touched Lin's spine. *It was not an accident* had never identified the culprit.