Before Alan and Peter can separate, a medium-sized golden retriever trots into the corridor, honey-colored coat neatly groomed, carrying a torn paper in his mouth.
Goldy
A boy, a paper, and perhaps a new friend.
The dog drops the scrap at Alan’s polished shoes. His name is visible beside half an unfamiliar instruction, the remaining words torn away.
Peter Hogg
That bears your name, Turing. I have never seen the instruction, and the dog was not with us a moment ago.
The older prefect emerges from his study, tall and rigid, his expression sharpening as he reads the fragment without touching it.
the older prefect
Did you send the animal, Turing, or conceal this message from the House? Answer carefully. A secret instruction would breach the arrangement.
Peter Hogg
Sir, he has not acted. The dog brought it himself, and the paper was already torn when it fell.
“I pat Goldy on the head and tell him that he's a good boy, while reassuring Hogg that there's no need to defend me, and reminding him that one does not address prefects as "sir". I apologise to the older prefect for the disruption, and assure him that I will begin preparing his tea and toast shortly.”
SUCCESS (Legendary Willpower, rolled +1)
Alan Turing
Good boy, Goldy.
Alan pats Goldy’s honey-colored head. The retriever leans into his hand, then sits beside the torn paper, his tail brushing the corridor flags.
Alan Turing
There is no need to defend me, Hogg. And one does not address prefects as “sir.”
Peter Hogg
Yes, Turing. I was trying to be respectful, but I shall remember the distinction.
Alan Turing
I apologize for the disruption, sir. I shall begin preparing your tea and toast shortly.
the older prefect
Accepted. See that the tea and toast are ready after your required duties, and do not neglect the written limits O’Hanlon set.
The older prefect stoops to inspect the torn instruction without touching it. Goldy remains calmly at Alan’s shoes, while Peter keeps his books close and lets the apology stand.
“Will the older prefect use the fragment as a reason to report my behaviour to the senior prefect?”
YES, BUT (Likely, rolled 53)
The older prefect lifts the torn fragment with two fingers and reads Alan’s name again. Goldy noses the paper, smearing a faint line of corridor dust across its edge.
the older prefect
I shall report this to the senior prefect. I will state that the instruction was torn and unexplained, not that Turing has disobeyed.
Peter Hogg
That seems accurate, sir. The fragment proves only that something was addressed to him, not that he concealed or followed it.
The older prefect folds the fragment into his memorandum. A dark smear remains on his thumb, and the paper’s torn edge begins to crumble beneath his grip.
the older prefect
The senior prefect will decide whether the matter requires inquiry. Turing’s authorized service remains unchanged, but this report will be entered.
Peter Hogg
The report is fairer than an accusation, but the torn instruction has still bought us another watchful authority.
Goldy
Woof.
“Will the senior prefect blame me for a dog being in Westcott House?”
NO (Unlikely, rolled 59)
The senior prefect arrives from the Dayroom and examines the folded fragment, the dusty smear, and Goldy sitting quietly beside Alan’s shoes.
the senior prefect
The dog’s presence is not Turing’s responsibility. No charge will be made against him for an animal entering the House.
the older prefect
Then the report concerns only the torn instruction, sir. I did not claim that Turing brought the dog or used it to conceal anything.
the senior prefect
Quite. Record the fragment separately, and make no suggestion that the boy controlled the animal. The House cannot assign blame where no duty was breached.
Peter Hogg
That is clear, sir. Goldy arrived without being sent, and Turing only praised him after he brought the paper.
The senior prefect nods and writes a brief clarification beneath the memorandum. Goldy’s tail thumps once against the flags, while the immediate suspicion leaves the corridor.
the senior prefect
The dog will be taken outside by a responsible boy. Turing’s authorized service and existing duties remain exactly as recorded.
“Will Hogg be punished for following me around instead of attending to his prep in the Dayroom or carrying out errands as all younger boys are required to do?”
NO, BUT (Likely, rolled 72)
The senior prefect notices Peter’s books still unopened and the errand bell waiting in the Dayroom. His expression tightens, though he does not yet issue punishment.
the senior prefect
Hogg, you have remained with Turing instead of attending to your preparation. Explain why your duties have been delayed.
Peter Hogg
Sir, I stayed because the torn instruction and the accusation concerned him. I thought witnessing the matter would prevent another unfair record.
The senior prefect checks the memorandum, then the untouched books. His pencil pauses above the page, weighing concern against the absence of deliberate disobedience.
the senior prefect
You will not be punished for following him on this occasion. But your preparation and errands remain your responsibility, and concern for Turing does not suspend them.
Peter Hogg
Yes, sir. I will return to the Dayroom and complete the work before accepting any further witness duty.
The senior prefect records no offence, but adds a boundary: Peter may witness disputed duties only when summoned or when a record requires him. The Dayroom bell rings once.
“Is it likely that the older prefect will victimise Hogg as a way of fulfilling his grudge against me?”
YES (Likely, rolled 33)
The older prefect watches Peter return toward the Dayroom, his attention lingering on the boy’s books and lowered head. The warning is quiet, but unmistakable.
the older prefect
Hogg, since you are so concerned with Turing’s records, you may assist me with the remaining service accounts after your preparation.
Peter Hogg
Sir, I will complete my preparation first, as the senior prefect ordered. After that, I will report for any authorized duty.
The older prefect’s mouth tightens. He has found a lawful pretext to draw Peter into his orbit, where every delay or omission can be treated as evidence of unreliability.
the older prefect
Very well. I shall note that you required reminding. If your work is incomplete, the responsibility will be yours, not Turing’s.
Peter Hogg
He means to make my loyalty a fault. I must keep every instruction separate and let the written record answer him.
The senior prefect hears the exchange from the Dayroom threshold and looks toward the older boy with renewed suspicion. Peter gathers his books, now watched as closely as Alan.
“Is the older prefect likely to become exploitative towards me if he is attracted by my boyish charms?”
NO, BUT (Likely, rolled 67)
The older prefect studies Alan for a moment, but the inspection remains administrative. Whatever curiosity he feels does not become an attempt to exploit Alan’s appearance or dependence.
the older prefect
Turing, your service will remain within O’Hanlon’s written allowance. I will not turn personal impressions into private authority over you.
Peter looks up from his books. The refusal is not tender, but it removes the darker danger he had feared and leaves the rules plainly visible.
Peter Hogg
Then the boundary is real, sir. Any duty must still be recorded, and neither boy can claim the other’s time without authority.
the senior prefect
Correct. Hogg, finish your preparation. Turing’s service remains limited, and the older prefect will report every errand rather than improvise.
The older prefect accepts the ruling with a stiff nod. His interest, if present, has found no private route; the written service account becomes the safer channel.
Peter Hogg
Turing, if you want the arrangement tested fairly, ask O’Hanlon to review the account at week’s end. That gives us an answer without guessing.
“I ask O'Hanlon to remove all limitations on the older prefect's powers over me, persuading him that it is fairer for all prefects to have the same powers over all younger boys.”
FAILURE (Legendary Willpower, rolled -3)
Alan finds Geoffrey O’Hanlon in the housemaster’s room, where the service account lies open beside the older prefect’s signed entries. Peter waits outside with his books.
Alan Turing
Sir, I ask you to remove the limitations on the older prefect’s authority over me. It seems fairer if every prefect has the same powers over younger boys.
Geoffrey O'Hanlon
You are asking to surrender a safeguard because uniform authority sounds fair. But equal powers do not ensure equal judgment, Turing, especially where personal dislike has already been proved.
O’Hanlon turns the service account toward Alan and points to the older prefect’s unauthorized alteration. The written evidence makes the proposed equality less theoretical than dangerous.
Geoffrey O'Hanlon
I will not remove the limits. The older prefect may assign recorded service within the allowance, but he will not control your punishment or review your records.
Alan Turing
The written safeguard is stronger than the appearance of equal authority.
Peter Hogg
That ruling protects every younger boy, not only Turing. A prefect’s powers can be equal on paper while their use remains unequal in practice.
O’Hanlon enters the refusal in the account and directs Alan to follow the existing arrangement for the week. The request has failed, but its record now confirms that the limits are a deliberate House safeguard, not a private favor.
“Will Hogg be punished for his impertinence in entering O'Hanlon's study uninvited, eavesdropping, interfering in a matter that is none of his business, and speaking without being spoken to?”
NO, AND WORSE (Unlikely, rolled 89)
Before O’Hanlon can close the account, Peter steps into the room without permission. He has overheard enough to interrupt, his books still clutched against his chest.
Peter Hogg
Sir, I only meant to establish that the safeguard protects more than Turing. It seems unjust to treat that as impertinence.
Geoffrey O'Hanlon
You entered my room uninvited, listened to a private interview, and spoke before being addressed. That is impertinent, Hogg.
Peter pales, but O’Hanlon does not reach for the cane. Instead, he takes the service account and writes a new entry beneath the refusal.
Geoffrey O'Hanlon
You will not be caned. You will, however, surrender your afternoon preparation and copy this entire account twice under supervision.
Peter Hogg
Yes, sir. I accept the copying, though I meant no disrespect.
O’Hanlon adds that Peter is barred from witnessing Alan’s duties for the remainder of the week. The safeguard remains, but Peter’s support has been removed from the arrangement.