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A Saboteur's Mind started originally with Marion and Kristoph at breakfast
and a parcel arriving containing a painting done by Silis in his Tower.
In the end I decided that could wait for a third connected story that
would round of Silis’ story. This concentrated on who sabotaged
Marion’s car.
Kristoph as lord of the manor with many servants under
his command is very significant in this story. Kristoph feels strongly
about being betrayed by people who he not only employs, but provides homes,
health and education for. He is a bountiful lord and cares for his people.
And when one of them betrays him it cuts deep.
Of course, this feudal way of life on Gallifrey is a long
way from any concept of egalitarianism or equality as we understand it
on Earth. Some people might think Kristoph’s benign paternalism
towards the workers of the Lœngbærrow demesne is just a nicer kind
of slavery. Maybe it is. But he believes he is doing the right thing.
And after all, when the traitor is struck down by the neural
bomb he arranges for his medical care and the welfare of his family. He
is genuinely kind. And don’t we just love him for it? Certainly
the reader response is that they like that side of Kristoph as much as
the hard edged, cold and calculating Celestial Intervention Agency man.
They like that he can be magnanimous on the one hand and then efficiently
deadly on the other.

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