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“He’s your best friend,” said Square.
“Maybe you are, now,” said Umbo.
“Well, maybe I’m his best friend, too. Because he sees the end of these raids coming. And then it’ll be time for real war, against prepared enemies, and a lot of people will die.”
“They all volunteered,” said Umbo.
“That doesn’t mean dying isn’t just as dead,” said Square. “And when they kill Haddamander’s soldiers, won’t it be even worse, because they volunteered to do it?”
“No, Haddamander’s soldiers won’t be any deader because they were slain by volunteers,” said Umbo.
“Morally worse,” said Square. “Wronger. I think that’s how it feels to Rigg.”
Umbo knew he was right, and so said nothing.
“Why can’t you admit when you’re wrong?” said Square.
“You were right,” said Umbo, “but I wasn’t wrong, because I didn’t disagree with you.”
“But you can’t say it.”
It was time to prod him back onto the topic. “What is it that doesn’t feel right to you, Square?”
“For Rigg to have to keep leading raids as Captain Toad.”
Now Umbo understood what Square was getting at. “We’re not bringing any more facemasks into Ramfold.”
“You won’t be,” said Square. “I’m not talking about bringing any more of my people there.”
“Your people!” said Umbo. “There are only six of you who got the masks as babies, and you’re the oldest.”
“I’m not the one who decided when they should arrive here. But you know I’m talking about my future people. The ones who got facemasks as adults, because they wanted to be like Loaf. What are they training for, if not to fight in Ramfold?”
“If we need them,” said Umbo. “If we can’t win any other way.”
“Because what’s wrong becomes right when the need is great,” said Square.
“Because what’s perilous becomes worth the risk when alternatives reduce to zero,” said Umbo. “Not every decision can be framed as right and wrong.”
“Well, actually, every decision can be framed as right or wrong, including the decision whether to frame the decision as right versus wrong.”
“Please, please stop trying to be just like Rigg,” said Umbo. “We had two of him for a while, and we couldn’t stand it so we kicked one of them off the planet.”
“Not even close to true. Rigg told me what really happened.”
“You can’t take Rigg’s place, Square. He may not like war, but Loaf trained him for it and he’s very good.”
“The facemask makes him good,” said Square. “And I have—”
“No training whatsoever,” said Umbo.
“Loaf has trained me a lot.”
“Loaf has trained you how to fight like a child.”
“I’m older than you are,” said Square.
“You know there’s no way to prove that,” said Umbo.
