"Mars will have to change hers, too. Can you not live in harmony?"
"Knowing what the Martians did to me—can you expect me to greet one of them with open arms?"
"Knowing what you have done to them, I wouldn't expect either one of you to change your greetings. No, Guy, I fear that Ertene will continue on her path until such a time as we meet a system that is less belligerent and more adapted to our way of life."
"Then I have failed?"
"Do not feel badly. You have failed, but you were fighting a huge, overwhelming force. You fought the inheritance of a hundred generations of wanderers. You fought the will of an integrated people who deplore strife. You fought the desire of everyone on Ertene, and since no Ertinian could change Solar society, we cannot expect a Terran to change Ertinian ideals. You failed, but it is no disgrace to fail against such an overwhelming defense."
Guy smiled weakly. "I presume that I was fighting against a determined front?"
"You were trying to do the most difficult job of all. In order to have succeeded, you would first have had to unsell us on our firm convictions, and then sell us the desirability of yours. A double job, both uphill."
"Then I am to consider the matter closed?"
"Yes. We have decided not to remain."
"You decided that before I came in," said Guy bitterly.