“This Watchman is not an ordinary Terran,” Sittas began.
“I know,” Merdon interrupted. “He’s worse. He knows the Terrans conquered his nation, and yet he fights for the Terrans. He’s an enemy—by his own choice and his own admission.”
“A very unusual enemy,” Sittas countered. “On the whole planet of Shinar, this youth is the only one who has mentioned the word peace in seriousness since the rebellion began. I believe that he holds the key to peace on Shinar.”
“Peace under the Empire? Never. That would merely be returning to the situation that caused the rebellion in the first place.”
“It doesn’t have to be that way, Merdon,” Altai said-
“It doesn’t? Why not? Because we don’t want things to be that way? Because we dream of a world ruled by our own people, without the Terrans or anyone else standing on our necks? Well how is this wonderful world oing to come about? By prayer? By dreaming? By longing for peace, at any price?”
Merdon pounded a fist onto his open palm. “We must fight for freedom! The Terrans will not give us freedom for the asking. The Komani will not leave us alone unless we are strong enough to discourage them from attacking us. Is peace worth slavery? Is life so precious that we would place our worthless hides above freedom for our people, above freedom for the generations that haven’t even been born? No. We will fight, and keep fighting, until we have our freedom. Then peace will come, and we will welcome it as men, not as spineless dogs.”
Sittas smiled and nodded. “Fine oratory. It will sound stirring in the history books, but I am not convinced that unending warfare will bring peace to Shinar—or freedom. This Star Watchman, Vorgens, might possibly turn the trick for you. In the vast Terran Empire, there ‘must be officials who would be willing to listen to our cause, and work out some solution satisfactory to all of us.”