What does Louise mean by “a fine line between helping and unintentionally lighting a fuse that could not be stopped.”?

She characterizes the dilemma Gamache faces as he pursues the truth and resolution. If the end game is to terrify citizens into accepting an authoritarian government, they can be terrified just by the plot itself, even if the actual poisoning doesn’t occur. The wolf wins. “Unintentionally lighting a fuse” can begin by “violating the monastery,” as done by as auspicious a law enforcement leader as Gamache, it would signify something critically amiss and would attract attention and the news would take off from there.

Sister Irene finally became convinced that Lacoste and Dussault were law enforcement and could be trusted. “Their sincerity, their desperation, their own commitment and possible sacrifice were clear.” So, she let them know that Robert is at the Grande Chartreuse. Unknown to them, Sebastien, one of the collaborators, is also there to make sure that Robert keeps quiet. Serving a search warrant on the Grande Chartreuse monastery would be a “national scandal” and “a disgrace” if force had to be used. I can see that as “lighting a fuse that could not be stopped”–possibly inadvertently informing collaborators in the plot to poison the water that law enforcement was on their trail and possibly moving up their plans or disappearing. This international incident at Grande Chartreuse could cause international panic once reporters gathered evidence and began reporting. As it is, it caused Robert’s death at the hands of Sebastien.

By warning the people and leaders of Canada of a possible imminent threat, lives might be spared but if issuing an alert to the public comes too early the plan may just be delayed or a new target might be chosen. Those in the government who are involved would be warned. They can then take cover and better protect their identities making it harder to weed them out. A government collapse could result if an alert is issued too early. The water might not be contaminated but the panic, hoarding of groceries, drinkable water, and other items needed for survival would begin causing a collapse in the supply chain. People would turn against each other in an effort to survive. Mob mentality would become the law of the land. While this is happening a new government is beginning the process of taking over the country. A government not necessarily of the people, by the people, or for the people but for a greedy corrupt few. Ultimately, I think Louise is referring to Gamache. He is the one who has to decide when to notify the officials needed to protect Canada. If he does that too soon he might possibly be lighting that fuse. It all rests on his shoulders.

As Nancy points out, Dussault is very worried that violating the Grande Chartreuse monastery could lead to a national scandal or, even worse, a disgrace. This could also unintentionally signal to the terrorists that they are onto them, prompting the terrorists to escalate their attack. Gamache expresses this concern to Reine-Marie back in Chapter 14 when he says, “If we alert people before we’re certain, the terrorists will know we’re onto them, and they’ll move up the attack.” Throughout the book, it feels like our heroes are engaged in a silent war, battling an unknown enemy, unsure of what action might trigger an “explosion.” None of them know if they will accidentally trigger a cascading effect as they pursue the investigation.

This line reminds me of a much less elegantly stated corollary, “the road to hell is paved with good intentions.” As everyone who comments here has explained, this is the tightrope that Armand and all those working with him are walking. A misstep in their timing or actions may be the trigger that sets off the chaos and destruction that sabotaging the Montreal water system would bring.

Given where Louise writes this in the story, I think she is referring to Sister Irene and the decision she faces. Sister Irene now acknowledges to herself that Dussault and Lacoste are sincere. She also knows both that Brother Robert is in the monastery and to some extent why he has fled there. Sister Irene’s confirmation of that for Dussault and Lacoste makes her an active participant instead of a bystander, one who may have just lit the fuse. For me, Louise captures the courage Sister Irene displays by her actions here.

As Nancy noted, Brother Robert is killed by Brother Sebastien and the monastery is essentially violated. In the process, Lacoste finds the links Armand needs to the two seemingly random people who are “executed” in what looks like a Mafia hit. Information that helps him pursue those involved in the plot and ultimately obtain some measure of justice for those who are killed along the way. Sebastien’s involvement in the larger plot is established. Ultimately, Sister Irene’s actions and those of Dussault and Lacoste were critically helpful, something they could not know when they made the decisions they did.

News spreads so quickly these days but so does misinformation. At every step, Isabelle, Jean Guy and Gamache risk revealing too much to the wrong person and then lighting that fuse. Populations (not just Canada’s) would be thrown into panic. Pandemonium. I think Louise does such a great job of making me feel that dread!

I think the detectives are worried about triggering a fear contagion or alerting the terrorists and inadvertently causing a sequence of events that triggers the terrorist attack before they have time to stop it. Look what happens when Isabelle and Claude Dussault go to the monastery. Just as Nancy and Jane mention, Brother Robert is killed as a result of preceding actions.

It’s mentioned multiple times throughout the book that pandemonium and chaos would result from the news of such an attack getting out because we would turn on each other and all authority would break down. As Whitehead says, “Imagine a sudden, all-encompassing, catastrophic event. That we do to ourselves.”