“I’m glad he said nothing like that to the papers.”
“But it’s true; his point of view is exactly right.”
“Except that the old man might regard the situation in a different light and, in any case, he was badly hurt and did not receive Cave’s gift of death.”
“Now you’re making fun of John.” She frowned and drove fast on the empty road.
“I’m doing no such thing. I’m absolutely serious. There’s a moral problem involved which is extremely important and if a precedent is set too early, a bad one like this, there’s no predicting how things will turn out.”
“You mean the ... the gift as you call it should only be given voluntarily?”
“Exactly ... if then, and only in extreme cases. Think what might happen if those who listened to Cave decided to make all their friends and enemies content by killing them.”
“Well, I wish you’d talk to him.” She smiled sadly. “I’m afraid I don’t always see things clearly when I’m with him. You know how he is ... how he convinces.”
“I’ll talk to him tactfully. I’ve also got to get a statement of belief from him.”
“But you have it already. We all have it.”