<I see that you have thought through every aspect of the plan. Why can't you see that it is both necessary and flawless? >
"They'll be furious," said Luet. "They'll all hate us- Volemak and Rasa and Issib and Shuya and Shedemei and Zdorab because we stole their oldest children from them, and all the others because we didn't give the same advantage to their children."
<They will be angry, but those who are my trusted friends will soon come to understand the necessity of having their children be older and stronger. It will change the balance of physical power in the community. It will keep you all alive.>
"They'll always be sure that the only reason the community broke apart was because Nafai and I did such a terrible thing. They'll hate us and blame us and they will certainly never trust us again."
<I will tell them that it was my idea.>
"And they'll say that you're just a computer and of course you didn't understand how humans would feel, but we understood, and we should have refused to do it."
<Perhaps you should. But you won't refuses
"I already refused. I refuse again now."
<You refuse with your mouth and with your mind, but Hushidh saw that in your heart, you are already making ready to obey me.>
"No!" cried Luet.
"Mother?" It was Chveya's voice, through the door of Luet's room.
"What is it, Veya?"
"Who are you talking to?"
"Myself, in a dream. All foolishness. Go back to sleep."
"Is Father home yet?"
"Still in the ship with Issib."
"Mother?"
"Go to sleep now, Chveya. I mean it,"
She heard the scuffing sound of Chveya's sandals on the floor. What had Chveya heard? How long had she been listening at the door?
<She heard everything.>
Why didn't you warn me?
<Why did you speak out loud? I hear your thoughts.>
Because when I speak out loud my thoughts are clearer, that's why.