Some would consider that a flaw in me.

[ But: some. Byerly himself...Is he ashamed of it? He doesn't think so.

A small confession, outside the bounds of their game: ]

I can't count the number of times I've been reprimanded for exercising...excessive creativity. [ The number of times he's gone off mission when he's seen something that pricks at him. The number of times he's caused trouble by getting distracted. ]

But I don't know that soft-heartedness is political.