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“Do you really think we’re so bad? Look at e’ve done, hoe’ve done it We haven’t opened fire on a single ship that didn’t attack us first In all of history, when has a conqueror been able to say that? We have embraced local rule Any of the colony worlds that subovernment, keep their own local customs—”

“Unless they conflict with your rules”

“Of course”

Holden sipped his coffee “That’s the thing The people you’re controlling don’t have a voice in how you control thereat, but when there’s a question, you win Right?”

“There has to be a way to come to a final decision”

“No, there doesn’t Every tis in politics, thatthings by just otiating It’s nified, but it’s e’re at our best, because everyone gets to have a voice in it Even if everyone else is trying to shout it down Whenever there’s just one voice thatterrible comes out of it”

“And yet, I understand fro whole colonies that didn’t follow its rule”

“Right?” Holden said “And so I disobeyed that order and I quit working for theo retire in Sol system Can you do that?”

“Can I do what?”

“If you are given an i I’ve seen about how you’re running this place tells me that isn’t an option for you”

Singh crossed his ar away from him

“The high consul is a very wise, very thoughtful man,” he said “I have perfect faith that—”

“No Stop ‘Perfect faith’ really tellsI need to know,” Holden said “You think this is a gentle, bloodless conquest, don’t you?”

“It is, to the degree that you allow it to be”

“I was there for the war Duarte started to cover his tracks I was there for the starving years afterward Your eet to dictate where history begins and what parts of it don’t count”