"In all tribal cultures, every village had a sentinel. Now, a sentinel is chosen because of a genetic advantage — a sensory awareness that can be developed beyond normal humans."
— Blair Sandburg, The Sentinel
At first glance theirs might seem an unusual partnership, but really it simply echoed an age-old pairing
The Sentinel: charged with safeguarding the tribe. Employing senses beyond the norm to keep watch and fulfill that duty.
The Guide: teaching and providing a grounding presence for the Sentinel, and also at times a much needed moral compass to keep the Sentinel from an abuse of their tremendous power.
Harold and his Machine were a Guide and Sentinel for the new computer age.