“How?—you can’t reach it.”
Kennon groaned.
“Weren’t there any Lani on your world?”
“No.”
“No wonder you left it. It must be quite primitive.”
“Primitive!” Kennon’s voice was outraged. “Beta has one of the highest civilizations in the Brotherhood!”
“But you don’t have Lani,” she said patiently. “So you must be primitive.”
“Halstead, Fleming, and Ochsner!” Kennon swore. “Do you believe that?”
“Naturally, isn’t it obvious? You can’t possibly be civilized unless you take responsibility for intelligent life other than your own race. Until you face up to your responsibilities you are merely a member of a dominant race, not a civilized one.”
Kennon’s reply caught in his throat. His eyes widened as he looked at her, and what he was about to say remained unspoken. “Out of the mouths of humanoids—” he muttered oddly.