“But there’s no other way in.” “Ah, there we have a topic for our first lesson. Can you detect the problem with what you just said?” Aedan ran through the words a few times and then smiled. “I should have added ‘that I know of.’” “Just so. You tried to establish a fact from a lack of evidence. Unless the inquiry has been so exhaustive as to explore every possibility, the lack of evidence should never be used to ground a statement of fact. Unlikelihood certainly, but no more. A prematurely assumed fact blocks further inquiry.”
