Before the senior prefect can disperse the ring, Patrick steps forward beside Alan. The Green Prefects remain stationed around them, while the purchased cane is still nowhere in sight.
Patrick Mermagen
My defence of Alan cannot become another form of control. Senior Prefect, let me ask him one question without interruption, then I will wait.
The Senior Prefect
You may ask one question, Mermagen. Turing will answer it himself, and you will not supply his answer or challenge it before I speak.
Patrick Mermagen
Alan, do you want protection, permission, or simply the truth about the criticism? Choose what you are asking for, and I will not decide it for you.
The Green Prefects hold their circle, visibly impatient but unable to disperse under the written confinement order. The senior prefect raises one hand, preserving silence before anyone can press Alan.
The Senior Prefect
The question is permitted. Turing may answer without interruption. Mermagen, you will then wait, and I will decide whether order requires the hearing to continue.
“I tell Patrick I want the truth about criticism, and to accept punishment if my interests lead me to neglect my studies or my duties to the School or to my House.”
SUCCESS (Legendary Reasoning, rolled +1)
Alan Turing
Patrick, I want the truth about the criticism. If my interests lead me to neglect my studies or my duties to the School or my House, I will accept punishment.
Patrick receives the answer without interrupting. Around them, the Green Prefects remain in their appointed circle, while the senior prefect watches for any attempt to turn Alan’s acceptance into a sentence.
Patrick Mermagen
That answers my question. You want the truth first, and you accept consequences only when your interests have actually displaced study or duty. I will not let anyone treat interest alone as misconduct.
The Senior Prefect
Then the distinction is recorded. Scientific interests are not offences; neglect of required studies or House duties may be. Any punishment would require that breach to be established, not merely asserted.
The senior prefect writes the distinction into the open notebook. The Green Prefects remain impatient, but Alan’s position is now stated plainly before witnesses and cannot honestly be enlarged into a general surrender.
Patrick Mermagen
That is the truth you asked for, Alan. Your mathematics and physics are not the charge; the question is whether you have fulfilled the work and duties that accompany them.
“Will the prefects punish Mermagen now that he has impertinently spoken out of turn yet again?”
YES, AND MORE (Likely, rolled 4)
The purchased cane arrives before the waiting circle disperses. The senior prefect reads the Head Boy’s order, then turns to Mermagen while Patrick keeps his hands at his sides.
The Senior Prefect
Mermagen, your repeated interruptions after warning constitute impertinence. You will receive the authorized strokes privately, with witnesses, and the instrument will then be secured.
Patrick Mermagen
I accept that I spoke out of turn. I do not accept any suggestion that Alan’s scientific interests, the packet, or Angel’s report justify punishment for me.
The Senior Prefect
That distinction is recorded. Your punishment concerns only your impertinence here. Turing is not charged, and no one will enlarge your admission into his guilt.
Mermagen is taken to the adjoining study and receives the ordered punishment privately, with the senior prefect and two Green Prefects witnessing. The remaining prefects are made to wait outside.
The Green Prefects
We understand. The record separates Mermagen’s impertinence from Turing’s conduct, and the packet remains subject to formal examination.
When Mermagen returns, the senior prefect records that he endured the consequence without withdrawing his warning about evidence. The written distinction now protects Alan from the punishment the prefects had hoped to attach to him.
“Although the punishment is administered privately, I and everyone else on the Green can clearly hear Mermagen's yelps as the prefects vent their annoyance by caning him severely, and I notice smiles on the faces of some of the prefects who hear it. I also notice that Mermagen is visibly chastened in demeanour when he returns, and makes no further attempts at impertinence.”
SUCCESS (Fair Perception, rolled +2)
The adjoining study door closes, but it cannot contain Patrick’s cries. His yelps carry across The Green, followed by the measured sounds of the cane and the prefects’ curt instructions.
Alan watches the waiting prefects rather than the door. Two of them exchange pleased smiles when another cry reaches the Green, while the senior prefect’s expression remains controlled and administrative.
The punishment ends. After a short interval, Patrick returns with lowered shoulders and a chastened manner, keeping his hands at his sides and making no further attempt to interrupt.
The Senior Prefect
Mermagen has received the authorized consequence for his impertinence. The record remains separate: Turing is not charged, and the packet remains under examination.
Patrick Mermagen
I understand. I will not interrupt again, but my warning about evidence remains accurate.
The Green Prefects settle back into their ring. Their smiles disappear as the senior prefect closes the record, leaving Patrick chastened but still on his feet, and Alan’s conduct distinct from the punishment.
Quest Complete
Keep his scientific interests from provoking school criticism
Skill Upgrade: Physics Great→Superb