Athene's Prophecy (Gaius Claudius Scaevola Trilogy) by Ian Miller

better than others had, and, in order for his army to win a battle, to divert a river into the enemy. He believed that everything could be explained without reference to the Gods, by forming general principles based on what we know, and hypotheses for what we do not. He used geometry, which you seem to be so taken with, and proved a theorem in which if a triangle is drawn within a circle that includes the diameter, then the angle opposite the diameter is a right angle." Timothy paused. Where was all this going? Was he wasting his time? It might be a waste, but he had to keep going, because that is what slaves did. "He also began to ask the right questions, such as where did life begin? His opinion was water, which was thus fundamental to life. Comment?"
    "Comment?" Gaius said with a frown. This was unexpected.
    "Your job is not to sit comfortably in the sun," Timothy said. "Your job is to think."
    "Diverting a river was clever," Gaius replied. The fact was, he noted to himself, Timothy was correct. He had been very comfortable, the sun streaming on his face. His mind had almost begun to wander. Could he be so transparent?
    "Now, how did I know you would focus on that!"
    "Knowing how to select the right questions to ask would be a big advance," Gaius offered. What did this wretched Greek want?
    "Now, there's an advance," Timothy nodded. "I half suspect you were thinking more of your own situation than that of Thales, but still, that's an advance."
    "I also think," Gaius said in a more assertive tone, "that Thales did not take his own advice."
    "Oh?" At this point Timothy was puzzled.
    "The right question is one that is potentially answerable," Gaius said in a challenging tone. "There are far too many unknowns to contemplate answering where life began."
    "Interesting response," Timothy growled. "It shows quite clearly the cultural divide between Greeks and Romans. Greeks inquire about everything, Romans only inquire when they know the answer anyway."
    "Greeks idle their time away speculating about everything and getting nowhere," Gaius retorted, "while Romans get on and do something."
    "You think Thales idled away his time?"
    Gaius looked at Timothy, and noticed the mix of fear and challenge. He had to do his best to remove that fear, so he smiled and replied as cautiously and as timidly as he could, "Perhaps you could give me an example of where he did not?"
    "Then consider this," Timothy offered. "According to Aristotle, early one year, Thales predicted a really good harvest so he reserved all the olive presses at a discount, and when demand peaked he rented them out at a much higher price, thus showing you could make money through . . ."
    "Taking advantage of the plodders!" Gaius interrupted. "Yes, a fine example, and yes, Romans also speculate."
    "Then we have your exercise for tomorrow," Timothy smiled. "Read up more about Thales, and also contemplate whether there is something in between speculating about everything and getting nowhere or restricting yourself to what you know, and whether being in between is desirable."
    * * *
    "Your thoughts on the asking of questions, please?"
    "One view," Gaius started, "is that if it is impossible to get a useful answer, the question is valueless."
    "One view? Is that your view?"
    "However," Gaius continued, ignoring the interruption, "if one has no idea whether an answer can eventually be obtained, or what it will be, one should not simply dismiss the question." Timothy stared at Gaius as he continued, "In that case, use or uselessness depends on the unknown chance of getting an answer. It is desirable to ask the next answerable question, but that begs the question of how to recognize it. So, I suppose that leaves two options: ask away, and hope the questions are not futile, or to try to make small, miniscule steps. You seem to have a choice of a miniscule chance of making a huge advance, or a huge chance of making a miniscule advance." He paused and shrugged as he added, "The Roman