“I do. It’s part of the Ashmolean, an exhibition of plaster casts and marble copies of Greek and Roman statues. We used to be taken there during art class at school. I haven’t been there for years. I didn’t even know that the Ashmolean was keeping it open.” Theo said: “There’s no particular reason to close it. It doesn’t require much supervision. A few elderly scholars occasionally drift in. The opening hours are on the board outside.” Rolf was suspicious. “Why there?” “Because I like to visit it occasionally and the attendant is used to seeing me. Because it provides a number of accessible
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I actually feel like the books urgency theme railroaded the plot.
At this point, an experienced wonk with high level access in government is compelled to action by five amateurish, uncoordinated, ad hoc revolutionaries. And their big ask is to proselytize social justice to a highly competent, technocratic, semi-dictator. Where is their leverage over Theo; and how /are/ they leveraging it? Where is Theo's over the Warden; and how is he supposed to use it? He isn't a 'true believer' in their cause; nor are we lead to believe he has had a change of heart. And the cost of their errand -- for Theo -- is significant. I'm thinking the rub, as Theo's name is meant to suggest, is that our hero is guided by some (at this point secret, deeply withheld) faith. Idk.
Let's keep reading!
