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The Alembic Plot: A Terran Empire novel
The Alembic Plot: A Terran Empire novel

Chapter XXII · Chapter 22

Chapter 22 of The Alembic Plot: A Terran Empire novel is here in full — 405 sentences across 81 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Cover illustration for The Alembic Plot: A Terran Empire novel
Context Illustration Reading 1/81 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
Cortin nodded.
"If you restrict 'people' to 'heinous criminals', you're absolutely right.
I have never gone beyond first stage interrogation--simple questioning--with an innocent, and truthsense lets me be sure the ones I kill are guilty of the crimes they're sent to me for."
She smiled, grimly.
"I don't even have to ask, since they all protest their innocence."
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AI-generated narration by OpenAI · Slow US English
LEARNER DICTIONARY
Archivist
/ˈɑːrkɪvɪst/
Editorial verification pending

A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.

The Alembic Plot: A Terran Empire novel

Chapter XXII · Chapter 22

Chapter 22 of The Alembic Plot: A Terran Empire novel is here in full — 405 sentences across 81 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Reading 1/81 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
Cortin nodded.
Line 2
"If you restrict 'people' to 'heinous criminals', you're absolutely right.
Line 3
I have never gone beyond first stage interrogation--simple questioning--with an innocent, and truthsense lets me be sure the ones I kill are guilty of the crimes they're sent to me for."
Line 4
She smiled, grimly.
/ʃiː smaɪld ˈɡrɪmli/
Line 5
"I don't even have to ask, since they all protest their innocence."

Learner Dictionary

These definitions explain words found in the current reading and keep every example grounded in its original sentence.

Oxford-style entry order: headword, part of speech, US IPA, concise definition, contextual example, and audio.

crimes noun US /kraɪmz/

plural of “crime” — (criminal law) an act punishable by law; usually considered an evil act

From this reading “I have never gone beyond first stage interrogation--simple questioning--with an innocent, and truthsense lets me be sure the ones I kill are guilty of the crimes they're sent to me for."”

criminals noun US /ˈkrɪmənəlz/

plural of “criminal” — someone who has committed a crime or has been legally convicted of a crime

From this reading “"If you restrict 'people' to 'heinous criminals', you're absolutely right.”

grimly adverb US /ˈɡrɪmli/

in a grim implacable manner

From this reading “She smiled, grimly.”

heinous adjective US /ˈheɪnəs/

extremely wicked, deeply criminal

From this reading “"If you restrict 'people' to 'heinous criminals', you're absolutely right.”

interrogation noun US /ɪnˌter.əˈɡeɪ.ʃən/

The formal questioning of a suspect by police detectives or magistrates.

From this reading “I have never gone beyond first stage interrogation--simple questioning--with an innocent, and truthsense lets me be sure the ones I kill are guilty of the crimes they're sent to me for."”

lets noun US /lets/

plural of “let” — a brutal terrorist group active in Kashmir; fights against India with the goal of restoring Islamic rule of India

From this reading “I have never gone beyond first stage interrogation--simple questioning--with an innocent, and truthsense lets me be sure the ones I kill are guilty of the crimes they're sent to me for."”

questioning adjective US /ˈkwestʃənɪŋ/

perplexed (as if being expected to know something that you do not know)

From this reading “I have never gone beyond first stage interrogation--simple questioning--with an innocent, and truthsense lets me be sure the ones I kill are guilty of the crimes they're sent to me for."”

restrict verb US /riˈstrɪkt/

place restrictions on

From this reading “"If you restrict 'people' to 'heinous criminals', you're absolutely right.”

All words in this reading · 53

Every word in these five lines is listed here, and every one of them can be played on its own.

Dictionary details are shown only when verified; these are not licensed Oxford entries.

absolutelyadverbUS /ˌæbsəˈluːtli/

completely and without qualification; used informally as intensifiers

From this reading "If you restrict 'people' to 'heinous criminals', you're absolutely right.

alladjectiveUS /ɔːl/

(quantifier) used with either mass or count nouns to indicate the whole number or amount of or every one of a class

From this reading "I don't even have to ask, since they all protest their innocence."

andeterminerUS /æn/

the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound

From this reading I have never gone beyond first stage interrogation--simple questioning--with an innocent, and truthsense lets me be sure the ones I kill are guilty of the crimes they're sent to me for."

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together

From this reading I have never gone beyond first stage interrogation--simple questioning--with an innocent, and truthsense lets me be sure the ones I kill are guilty of the crimes they're sent to me for."

areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/

the form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun

From this reading I have never gone beyond first stage interrogation--simple questioning--with an innocent, and truthsense lets me be sure the ones I kill are guilty of the crimes they're sent to me for."

askverbUS /æsk/

make a request or demand for something to somebody

From this reading "I don't even have to ask, since they all protest their innocence."

beauxiliary verbUS /biː/

used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses

From this reading I have never gone beyond first stage interrogation--simple questioning--with an innocent, and truthsense lets me be sure the ones I kill are guilty of the crimes they're sent to me for."

beyondprepositionUS /bɪˈɑːnd/

on the far side of; further than

From this reading I have never gone beyond first stage interrogation--simple questioning--with an innocent, and truthsense lets me be sure the ones I kill are guilty of the crimes they're sent to me for."

Cortin

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Cortin nodded.

crimesnounUS /kraɪmz/

plural of “crime” — (criminal law) an act punishable by law; usually considered an evil act

From this reading I have never gone beyond first stage interrogation--simple questioning--with an innocent, and truthsense lets me be sure the ones I kill are guilty of the crimes they're sent to me for."

criminalsnounUS /ˈkrɪmənəlz/

plural of “criminal” — someone who has committed a crime or has been legally convicted of a crime

From this reading "If you restrict 'people' to 'heinous criminals', you're absolutely right.

don't

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading "I don't even have to ask, since they all protest their innocence."

evenadjectiveUS /ˈiːvɪn/

divisible by two

From this reading "I don't even have to ask, since they all protest their innocence."

firstadjectiveUS /fɜːrst/

preceding all others in time or space or degree

From this reading I have never gone beyond first stage interrogation--simple questioning--with an innocent, and truthsense lets me be sure the ones I kill are guilty of the crimes they're sent to me for."

forprepositionUS /fɔːr/

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading I have never gone beyond first stage interrogation--simple questioning--with an innocent, and truthsense lets me be sure the ones I kill are guilty of the crimes they're sent to me for."

goneadjectiveUS /ɡɔːn/

destroyed or killed

From this reading I have never gone beyond first stage interrogation--simple questioning--with an innocent, and truthsense lets me be sure the ones I kill are guilty of the crimes they're sent to me for."

grimlyadverbUS /ˈɡrɪmli/

in a grim implacable manner

From this reading She smiled, grimly.

guiltyadjectiveUS /ˈɡɪlti/

responsible for or chargeable with a reprehensible act

From this reading I have never gone beyond first stage interrogation--simple questioning--with an innocent, and truthsense lets me be sure the ones I kill are guilty of the crimes they're sent to me for."

haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading I have never gone beyond first stage interrogation--simple questioning--with an innocent, and truthsense lets me be sure the ones I kill are guilty of the crimes they're sent to me for."

heinousadjectiveUS /ˈheɪnəs/

extremely wicked, deeply criminal

From this reading "If you restrict 'people' to 'heinous criminals', you're absolutely right.

IpronounUS /aɪ/

the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb

From this reading I have never gone beyond first stage interrogation--simple questioning--with an innocent, and truthsense lets me be sure the ones I kill are guilty of the crimes they're sent to me for."

IfconjunctionUS /ɪf/

on condition that; in the event that

From this reading "If you restrict 'people' to 'heinous criminals', you're absolutely right.

innocencenounUS /ˈɪnəsəns/

the quality of innocent naivete

From this reading "I don't even have to ask, since they all protest their innocence."

innocentadjectiveUS /ˈɪnəsənt/

free from evil or guilt

From this reading I have never gone beyond first stage interrogation--simple questioning--with an innocent, and truthsense lets me be sure the ones I kill are guilty of the crimes they're sent to me for."

interrogationnounUS /ɪnˌter.əˈɡeɪ.ʃən/

The formal questioning of a suspect by police detectives or magistrates.

From this reading I have never gone beyond first stage interrogation--simple questioning--with an innocent, and truthsense lets me be sure the ones I kill are guilty of the crimes they're sent to me for."

killverbUS /kɪl/

cause to die; put to death, usually intentionally or knowingly

From this reading I have never gone beyond first stage interrogation--simple questioning--with an innocent, and truthsense lets me be sure the ones I kill are guilty of the crimes they're sent to me for."

letsnounUS /lets/

plural of “let” — a brutal terrorist group active in Kashmir; fights against India with the goal of restoring Islamic rule of India

From this reading I have never gone beyond first stage interrogation--simple questioning--with an innocent, and truthsense lets me be sure the ones I kill are guilty of the crimes they're sent to me for."

mepronounUS /miː/

the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition

From this reading I have never gone beyond first stage interrogation--simple questioning--with an innocent, and truthsense lets me be sure the ones I kill are guilty of the crimes they're sent to me for."

neveradverbUS /ˈnevər/

not ever; at no time in the past or future

From this reading I have never gone beyond first stage interrogation--simple questioning--with an innocent, and truthsense lets me be sure the ones I kill are guilty of the crimes they're sent to me for."

noddedverbUS /ˈnɑːdəd/

inflected form of “nod” — express or signify by nodding

From this reading Cortin nodded.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading I have never gone beyond first stage interrogation--simple questioning--with an innocent, and truthsense lets me be sure the ones I kill are guilty of the crimes they're sent to me for."

onesnounUS /wʌnz/

plural of “one” — the smallest whole number or a numeral representing this number

From this reading I have never gone beyond first stage interrogation--simple questioning--with an innocent, and truthsense lets me be sure the ones I kill are guilty of the crimes they're sent to me for."

peoplenounUS /ˈpiːpəl/

(plural) any group of human beings (men or women or children) collectively

From this reading "If you restrict 'people' to 'heinous criminals', you're absolutely right.

protestnounUS /ˈproʊtest/

a formal and solemn declaration of objection

From this reading "I don't even have to ask, since they all protest their innocence."

questioningadjectiveUS /ˈkwestʃənɪŋ/

perplexed (as if being expected to know something that you do not know)

From this reading I have never gone beyond first stage interrogation--simple questioning--with an innocent, and truthsense lets me be sure the ones I kill are guilty of the crimes they're sent to me for."

restrictverbUS /riˈstrɪkt/

place restrictions on

From this reading "If you restrict 'people' to 'heinous criminals', you're absolutely right.

rightadverbUS /raɪt/

precisely, exactly

From this reading "If you restrict 'people' to 'heinous criminals', you're absolutely right.

sentnounUS /sent/

100 senti equal 1 kroon in Estonia

From this reading I have never gone beyond first stage interrogation--simple questioning--with an innocent, and truthsense lets me be sure the ones I kill are guilty of the crimes they're sent to me for."

ShepronounUS /ʃiː/

a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject

From this reading She smiled, grimly.

simpleadjectiveUS /ˈsɪmpəl/

having few parts; not complex or complicated or involved

From this reading I have never gone beyond first stage interrogation--simple questioning--with an innocent, and truthsense lets me be sure the ones I kill are guilty of the crimes they're sent to me for."

sinceprepositionUS /sɪns/

from a time in the past until now

From this reading "I don't even have to ask, since they all protest their innocence."

smiledverbUS /smaɪld/

past form of “smile” — change one's facial expression by spreading the lips, often to signal pleasure

From this reading She smiled, grimly.

stagenounUS /steɪdʒ/

any distinct time period in a sequence of events

From this reading I have never gone beyond first stage interrogation--simple questioning--with an innocent, and truthsense lets me be sure the ones I kill are guilty of the crimes they're sent to me for."

sureadjectiveUS /ʃʊr/

having or feeling no doubt or uncertainty; confident and assured

From this reading I have never gone beyond first stage interrogation--simple questioning--with an innocent, and truthsense lets me be sure the ones I kill are guilty of the crimes they're sent to me for."

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind

From this reading I have never gone beyond first stage interrogation--simple questioning--with an innocent, and truthsense lets me be sure the ones I kill are guilty of the crimes they're sent to me for."

theirdeterminerUS /ðer/

belonging to the people or things already mentioned

From this reading "I don't even have to ask, since they all protest their innocence."

theypronounUS /ðeɪ/

the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject

From this reading "I don't even have to ask, since they all protest their innocence."

they're

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading I have never gone beyond first stage interrogation--simple questioning--with an innocent, and truthsense lets me be sure the ones I kill are guilty of the crimes they're sent to me for."

toparticleUS /tuː/

used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive

From this reading "If you restrict 'people' to 'heinous criminals', you're absolutely right.

truthsense

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading I have never gone beyond first stage interrogation--simple questioning--with an innocent, and truthsense lets me be sure the ones I kill are guilty of the crimes they're sent to me for."

withprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

From this reading I have never gone beyond first stage interrogation--simple questioning--with an innocent, and truthsense lets me be sure the ones I kill are guilty of the crimes they're sent to me for."

youpronounUS /juː/

the person or people being spoken to

From this reading "If you restrict 'people' to 'heinous criminals', you're absolutely right.

you're

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading "If you restrict 'people' to 'heinous criminals', you're absolutely right.

Chapter 22 of The Alembic Plot: A Terran Empire novel by Ann Wilson holds 405 sentences, grouped into 81 reading sections of at most 5 sentences. The text is the source edition, unabridged, and the chapter records which sentences cover which part of the work so that nothing is dropped. Every word can be tapped for its pronunciation and dictionary entry.

What does chapter 22 of The Alembic Plot: A Terran Empire novel contain?

Chapter 22 holds 405 sentences of The Alembic Plot: A Terran Empire novel, unabridged, divided into 81 reading sections.

This page carries chapter 22 of The Alembic Plot: A Terran Empire novel by Ann Wilson exactly as it stands in the source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 405 sentences, grouped into 81 sections of at most 5 sentences so that a reader can take the chapter in steady, finishable pieces. The chapter also stores a coverage record mapping every one of its sentences to a part of the work, which is how the edition demonstrates that no line was dropped.

How do I study chapter 22 of The Alembic Plot: A Terran Empire novel?

Work through the 81 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.

Each of the 81 sections in this chapter is short enough to read once, hear once, and then re-read with the vocabulary in view. Tapping a word plays it alone and opens its dictionary entry with IPA, part of speech and meaning, so the reader is never forced to guess a pronunciation from spelling. Working section by section keeps a long chapter from becoming an undifferentiated wall of text, which is the usual reason a reader abandons a work of this period.

Can chapter 22 be read aloud to me?

Yes — every sentence and every individual word in chapter 22 can be played aloud in United States English.

Audio covers the whole chapter: any sentence can be played, and any single word within it can be played on its own. The voice uses United States English. For a work of this period that matters, because spelling is an unreliable guide to pronunciation for vocabulary that has fallen out of daily use, and a learner who guesses wrong tends to keep the error. Hearing the word in its own sentence, and then alone, settles it.

Questions about reading The Alembic Plot: A Terran Empire novel

Common questions about reading The Alembic Plot: A Terran Empire novel by Ann Wilson on this page, its source edition and its audio.

Is this the complete text of The Alembic Plot: A Terran Empire novel?

Yes. All 10415 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #25739 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.

Which edition of The Alembic Plot: A Terran Empire novel is used?

Project Gutenberg eBook #25739, unabridged. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.

How long does The Alembic Plot: A Terran Empire novel take to read?

About 600 minutes of reading across 2083 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.

How to read The Alembic Plot: A Terran Empire novel section by section

How to work through The Alembic Plot: A Terran Empire novel section by section, using the audio and the tap-to-define vocabulary.

  1. Open a chapter

    Choose one of the 26 chapters of The Alembic Plot: A Terran Empire novel to begin.

  2. Read one section

    Each section holds 5 sentences; read it once through.

  3. Listen and tap

    Play the section aloud, then tap any unfamiliar word for its entry.

Vocabulary met early in The Alembic Plot: A Terran Empire novel

Words and structures a reader meets early in The Alembic Plot: A Terran Empire novel, each tappable for pronunciation and meaning.

Licenced
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Alembic Plot: A Terran Empire novel; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Under
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Alembic Plot: A Terran Empire novel; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Creative
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Alembic Plot: A Terran Empire novel; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Commons
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Alembic Plot: A Terran Empire novel; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.