Oops

Halfway through the book - almost exactly, as it 'appens - and I've just had one of those moments, where a character takes an entirely unscripted left turn and walks out of my expectations altogether.

I was just writing this stitching scene, where the old guy with the boat makes a surreptitious trip across the strait, then comes back to the island. I thought the point of it was the returning, so's we could see the state of things at home; but he just met these people on the mainland, and I have noooo idea what to do with them now, but they're obviously here for a purpose...

(Actually, of course, I do know exactly what to do with them: put them somewhere safe and keep aware. What I don't know is why they've turned up, what part they'll play in development. But it's always good to have extra pieces on the board, in unexpected places...)

This always happens, new people just walk in and turn out to be important. Sometimes it's early on (Sieur Anton, in the Outremer books: not in the original proposal, my dears), sometimes it's almost last thing (Djago, in 'Bridge of Dreams'); this time it's neatly halfway. Either when they're needed, or when the opportunity arises, I suppose. Which might be the same thing, come to think about it.

Same old problem, whole new way

Can I use the word 'parochial' - metaphorically, in the sense that means narrow of vision, restricted - in a culture that has no parishes?