They watched him from over half a kilometer away.
Eichra Oren was a tiny figure sitting on the tree balconywhere Sam had left him and a happy Estrellita only the previous eveningstaring out over the landscape at his soul. Mister Thoggosh had come to the encampment, "in the flesh," to help his p'Nan debt assessor explain to General Gutierrez what had happened, but he'd wound up helping Sam, while the dog's companion climbed those spiral stairs to be alone.
"No, sir," the mollusc told the human, "it doesn't make him feel a bit better that, thanks to her, it was an act of self-defense. Col. Reille y Sanchez never had a chance to know that, in addition to the incredible reflexes she counted on, Eichra Oren had already responded consciously to principle. He understands that, in order to fulfill a function he long ago willingly accepted, he'd have had to assist her to make the ultimate restitution sooner or later. Whether he cared for her or not, as I gather he did rather deeply, wouldn't have made any difference."
The general shook his head. They sat outside the circled shuttles in the waning light of late afternoon, Gutierrez on an improvised log bench, the Proprietor beside him on the ground. Nearby, the Elder's electrostat seemed to be waiting patiently. "She was morally wrong," replied the human, "because it was her duty to kill someone she cared for. He was morally right because it was his duty to kill someone he cared for. What's the difference?"
Mister Thoggosh raised a tentacle. "The difference, General, is that, having acted morally, he'll eventually get over the horror, whereas Reille y Sanchez, acting on immoral orders, and without the benefit of his philosophy, would never have. There's all the difference in the worldin several worldsbetween acting against your own judgment on someone else's orders and committing what perhaps amounts to the same physical act for the sake of principle. He'll live and go forward because he acted consistently with what he believes."
Gutierrez folded his arms in front of his chest. "What he believes? Killing someone over a philosophical point?"
"Perhaps I used a word carelessly. In his view, in my own, p'Na is a fundamental feature of the material universe, no different from the operation of gravityalthough quite distinct from foolish artificial laws made up by primitive sapientsand subject to the same process of verification. p'Na required, for the debt Col. Reille y Sanchez owed the sapients she murdered, that she make restitution. As a law of nature, this would be true whether she accepted it or not, although the question she asked, her token attempt to kill Eichra Oren, demonstrated her acceptance of her fate."
The general shook his head. "And there he is, without her."
The Elder pulled himself around to look the human in the eye. "Not by any act on Eichra Oren's part, but because of a chain of events which she began, of which he was but the final, inevitable link. From your expression, if I've learned to read it correctly, you fail to find that satisfying."
Gutierrez nodded; anger, disgust, and resignation coloring his tone. "You could say that, Mister Thoggosh."
"Then consider: it could also be surmised that he acted according to another principle. Ultimately, despite the pain it cost him, Eichra Oren acted because an abomination like socialismany sort of collectivismmust be eradicated, if for no other reason than its power to corrupt love, such as he and Estrellita found too late."
Gutierrez rubbed his chin in thought. "The colonel was accused, tried, sentenced, and executed according to the laws"
"Customs," the nautiloid insisted.
"Of the world she committed her crimes on." He stood. "Forgive me, sir, if I limit myself to that when I report to the KGB."
"I shall, General, I shall, indeed." With a tentacle, he indicated the electrostat he'd come in. "Now, I've brought some refreshment along, will you join me? I'm having beer."