Forward Momentum -- the give-away epigraph post
Paging in Cordelia's Honor (for the colour of the old Lieutenant's tabs that Aral gives Kou--red) I was reminded of a passage in the epilogue to Barrayar that I once wanted to use as an epigraph to Forward Momentum, before deciding that in isolation the critical sentence lost a bit too much punch, and gave away something I couldn't afford to do more than hint towards if the early chapters were to have any suspense at all.
If you haven't read Forward Momentum but intend to, please don't look under the LJ-cut; for everyone else, here's my ultimate canonical root.
"Good," said Miles. "Can I have my own horse? Can I have that one?"
"No, not that one," said Piotr indignantly. Then drawn in, added, "Perhaps a pony."
"Horse," said Miles, watching his face.
Cordelia recognized the Instant Re-Negotiation Mode, a spinal reflex, as far as she could tell, triggered by the faintest concession. The kid should be put to work beating out treaties with the Cetagandans. She wondered how many horses he'd finally end up with.
Lois McMaster Bujold, Barrayar
If you haven't read Forward Momentum but intend to, please don't look under the LJ-cut; for everyone else, here's my ultimate canonical root.
"Good," said Miles. "Can I have my own horse? Can I have that one?"
"No, not that one," said Piotr indignantly. Then drawn in, added, "Perhaps a pony."
"Horse," said Miles, watching his face.
Cordelia recognized the Instant Re-Negotiation Mode, a spinal reflex, as far as she could tell, triggered by the faintest concession. The kid should be put to work beating out treaties with the Cetagandans. She wondered how many horses he'd finally end up with.
Lois McMaster Bujold, Barrayar