Free to busy himself or to do nothing. Free to socialise or to keep himself to himself. Free to ask questions and listen to the gently plausible answers.

Free even to try to escape. But not to leave. The Guardians saw to that. Intercepted him and shepherded him back, carefully but firmly, to be reprimanded more in sorrow than anger. Left him to try again and fail again.

Why? Why this tolerance of his endless attempts to get away?

Was he, unwittingly, doing just what they wanted? Continuously testing out the defences, showing up the weak spots. Were all his probings and schemings simply improving the security of their system?

Would giving up be the only true rebellion he could muster?