Free Pathspace: The Space of Paths by Matthew Kennedy

right around again,
because Ludlow was there.
    She ought to have expected it, because she'd
heard from Mabel that he spent a lot of time in here these days.
Which was probably a good thing, since he didn't fit in anywhere
else. Ludlow was too informed to be a commoner, but too crude and
brusque to be a courtier. In her opinion, he knew a little about
everything, but not enough about anything to fill a useful position
in the Governor's staff.
    In Ludlow's opinion, she knew, he already filled a valuable position – that of a generalist
advisor, an expert of unspecified expertise. He maintained that the
Governor needed someone who knew how different areas of
concentration related to each other. Someone, for example, who knew
what farmers would think if the military demanded more jerky for
field rations instead of more milk for the cheese makers. Or
someone who could suggest ways to convert fabrics seized in border
raids for military bandages.
    But really, she couldn't stand the man! He
was so, so in-between about everything. Never sure what he thought,
until he 'd heard what you thought, so that he could seem to
be agreeing with you. Never interested in anything until he learned you were – at which point he would exclaim that he'd been
fascinated with it for years. He was a human chameleon, with no
color of his own. No, she decided, not a chameleon. Even lizards
had more personality. He was a pool among the rock, reflecting his
surroundings without addition or improvement. A mirror in the shape
of a man.
    And his eyes were always clinging to her as
if trying to pry her clothes off. It always made her want to go and
take a bath.
    “Why, hello, Aria!” he oozed. “What a
pleasant surprise seeing you here today.”
    As if he didn't know she had Geopolitics in
the Map room at nine every morning. Her eyes narrowed. “More
pleasant for some than others,” she said.
    His eyebrow lifted. “Oh dear,” he murmured.
“Has someone spoiled your mood already? Fear not, the day will
improve, I'm sure of it.”
    Not in the way you hope. “Were you
looking for something particular in here?”
    “Alas, no. Just trying to pick up a few more
facts, learn a bit more. You know how it is. I'm always looking for
ways to make myself more useful.”
    Indeed you are. More useful than anyone
wants. Why didn't you just go away when Xander decided you
would never be much of a wizard? “I see,” she said.
    “Aria! Stop wasting time with Mister Ludlow
and get over here!”
    Se closed her eyes and turned toward Miss
Gerloch, erasing him from her existence and avoiding the
conspiratorial wink he was aiming in her direction. “Yes, Miss
Gerloch.”
    “Time for review drill. Name all of the
neighboring countries and for each, give the ruler or rulers, the
form of government, and the main exports.”
    “To the West,” she began, “is the kingdom of
Deseret, a theocracy, ruled by the Prophet. Their main exports are
salt and agricultural products. To the South lies the Empire of
Texas, with a dynastic monarchy ruled by the Honcho, and their
chief exports are beef, leather, and … and livestock.”
    “Continue.”
    “To the East we have the kingdom of
Kansouri, with a constitutional monarchy consisting of the Council
of Nine. Their exports are wood, livestock, and textiles. To the –
”
    “What sort of textiles?” interrupted Miss
Gerloch.
    “Wool, flax linen, and burlap or
sackcloth.”
    “Very well. Continue.”
    “To the North lies the People's Republic of
Wyoming, a communalist union of farm-states with a Worker's
Congress of representatives. Their chief exports are wheat, beef,
and cornflour.”
    Miss Gerloch turned to the wall, which held
a map without labels. It showed the entire continent, without the boundaries of the various kingdoms, those
shattered remnants of the original Union. It was something the
General had put there, twenty years ago. His Dream.
    “Not bad for a start,” she said. “Now go
further. What lies beyond