"My dear Commander Gray! You—you must not say that! Such an intimation might easily cost you your post! Why—"
The Commissioner cut him off.
"You see, Commander," said Kina, "the Command simply cannot think of such a thing."
"Yes ... but they could be made—forced—to think of it."
"There is only one way to do that," said Kina. "Only one way."
"Yes." Commander Gray fell silent for a minute, and then said quietly, "Kina."
"I am listening, sir."
"The hands of one man," said the Commander, "were never meant to hold personal power such as this. We can do only the best we can ... and it will never be perfect. We must be prepared to—" he hesitated slightly before going on "—to set aside all personal things, and substitute the stars for them. Because only in that way can we approach perfection."
Kina was silent and attentive, but his eyes flickered for a second across the one personal item in the office.
"I am not a god, Kina. And yet I must be. Because there are men—such as Krraula—who think they are." He fell silent.