Summary

In "The Long Memory," at the Large Council meeting, Councilman Holt argued that the Long Memory was "the most dangerous idea threatening . . . peace, prosperity, and security" (57). Some citizens of the Archipelago were gifted with the ability to see into all memories throughout all time. Holt thought that these individuals were "jeopardizing the security of . . . [the] future" (57). Cy and Ban were both Memorials, "keepers of the Long Memory" (57). They were still apprentices learning how "to delve into streams of memories stretching far outside their lives" (57). Throughout the Archipelago's history, "the record of the past" was meant to "guide the governance of the present and the building of the future" (58). Holt was contesting this very notion. After the meeting, Cy and Ban knew they had to prepare "for the worst" (61).

Holt spoke to his men after the meeting, insisting...