Suddenly I realized that those of us born to be sacrificed at the stake of war become one when we die-mixed smoke rising to those gods in which you believe. For it was they who created the war. And they breathed it into our hearts when they created us. The war has always been with us and will always be with us. I saw it, too, when my flesh turned black and my brain froze in deep space. I have seen billions of creatures destroyed by cruel and careless moments - blasters, swords, teeth and fists. I saw fields and forests reduced to ash by orbital bombing. I saw the cores of planets shattered by rocket flights. And I saw the battle station you destroyed, saw it half hanging over the green world.