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still out there on the streets celebrating the victory, their survival. You can’t expect us to simply send people back out to risk their lives again,” the councilor said.
    â€œThey trust us. They’d follow where we lead, do what we say. I know we can convince them,” Herb said. He looked at my mom and she nodded grimly.
    â€œHerb and I have had a discussion already,” my mother said. “This isn’t something we want or need, but he already has my approval.”
    Judge Roberts shook his head. “Even with that said, he still has to convince the rest of us. We can’t simply march out and declare war on these people.”
    â€œWar has already been declared. They declared it when they came to kill us,” Herb said. “Look, I know what we all want to believe, what we all want to do, or more specifically not do, but by doing nothing we risk everything.”
    â€œIs it possible that we could negotiate with them, come to some understanding?” the judge asked.
    â€œYes, like a truce or a treaty?” Councilor Stevens said.
    â€œWe could, perhaps, assuming they simply didn’t kill the members of the peace delegation we sent,” Herb said. “But let’s be realistic. We’ve all seen what they’re capable of doing, what they would have done to us if they had gotten over that bridge. Even if they agree to a treaty, it would be nothing more than a blanket to cover them while they rearm, regroup, and plan how to destroy us. The only way to meet force is with greater force. Right now the advantage is ours. It won’t be for long.”
    â€œHow long do you think we have an advantage?” the councilor asked.
    â€œIt’s all just guesses. Today we have the larger force, plus we have the momentum and the element of surprise. In a few days we lose surprise. In a week we lose momentum. In a few months they will undoubtedly have a larger force, perhaps one matching ours in size, and we will always have one distinct disadvantage. From what I’ve seen, these people don’t care if they kill us. Our morality is a weakness.”
    â€œThat’s where I disagree with you, Herb,” my mother said firmly. “It’s our strength.”
    Herb’s expression changed. For one of the first times, I saw him look flustered. “I wasn’t implying it was wrong … please understand … I know we’re doing what is right, but they don’t suffer the same doubts around killing. Those pangs, those questions we’re asking now, are what stops somebody from pulling the trigger for a split second, and in a split second you’re dead. Ruthlessness is a weapon.”
    â€œI don’t know the answer, but I know this all has to be discussed. We have to come to an agreement, we have to plan this,” Judge Roberts said.
    â€œWith each hour that passes we lose the advantages we have. If I were in charge of the remaining enemy forces, once I knew what had happened, I’d either attack or take my remaining men, weapons, and resources and slip away,” Herb explained.
    â€œSo you think it’s possible that they might just run away and hide?” Howie said. “That they won’t attack?”
    â€œPerhaps not today, but by relocating to a new spot where we can’t attack them, they’re free to regroup and grow. It’s no different from before, except for one thing. They’ll be more determined to try to take what we have because they’re that much more certain that it’s worth taking.”
    â€œSo you’re saying by defending ourselves successfully, we’ve made ourselves more of a target?” the judge asked.
    â€œIronically, yes. Either we decide when and where to fight or they do. We have to be the ones who make those decisions first.”
    â€œAnd while I don’t want this any more than the rest of you, the time has to be soon,” my mother