#atvalid

"They know you, too, they feel responsible for the chaos you've caused. Look, doesn't knowing about Nor Atvalid and his son, and their problems, doesn't that make them more real to you? Nor's reaction is to hate--but doesn't knowing people make you less want to hurt them?"

He replaced his glasses and looked at me straight-on. I always felt a little nervous when he did that, and I remembered that icepick feeling I got from Des when he did his Stereth impression. "Tymon, you seem to have a personal problem, if you don't mind my saying so. These people are enemies. They're not there for you to identify with just because you know their stories."

People and their stories. I said nothing. He went on, "You're a little too adaptable, that's all. Something to guard against. You're not really barbaric in other ways, so ... I don't see what's amusing about this, Tymon. Outworlder standards of humor must be very odd." He got to his feet, a trifle offended, and went to join the card players.