The Katharine maid

Dan'l Danehy-Oakes · 30 Oct 2006, 19:09 · from 2006-October.txt.gz

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From: danldo at gmail.com (Dan'l Danehy-Oakes)
Date: Mon, 30 Oct 2006 11:09:18 -0800
Subject: (urth) The Katharine maid
In-Reply-To: <001001c6fb9d$e4b767e0$5e3ec6d8 at rclackey.stic.net>
References: <001001c6fb9d$e4b767e0$5e3ec6d8 at rclackey.stic.net>
Message-ID: <1f7617370610301109k5a57e1c6vfffa20a938c8bede at mail.gmail.com>

On 10/29/06, Roy C. Lackey <rclackey at stic.net> wrote:
> It therefore seems to me that your above interpretation of what Severian
> meant by "taken" into the guild can't be correct. His "the children the
> torturers take know no breasts" statement is unqualified, making no
> exception for himself or the hypothetical baby. Even if each and every
> apprentice in the guild came to be there as a result of his mother having
> given birth to him naturally in a cell or by C-section, then who are the
> children the torturers take who know no breasts?

Roy,

Though the statement is unqualified, I think there is an _implicit_
qualification that cuts through this dilemma like Alexander's sword
through a certain knot.

The children the torturers take know no breasts ... _after_ they are
taken. The torturers, obviously, have no control over what happens
_before_ the child is taken.

-- 
Dan'l Danehy-Oakes, writer, trainer, bon vivant
-----
http://www.livejournal.com/users/sturgeonslawyer
http://www.danehyoakes.com
Tragedy is when I cut my finger. Comedy is when you walk into an open
sewer and die.
  - Mel Brooks

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