“I was there.” I had thought I’d stopped being angry with her. The train sped through the tunnel with nothing to see through the window but walls of dark green rock. “When you arranged to meet me, I thought you were making a friendly offer, but you were only taking steps for setting up your rescue scheme. I didn’t want to believe that, but I know it’s true. You used me. You used Ikaros. You used all of us, and risked the whole of history so that you could learn something, as if that’s more important than anything and everything else. I know Father wants new understanding, and so he always forgives you, but that means there are things about consequences you never learn. You could learn something new and real about equal significance if you’d think about how unfair and unjust you’ve been to other people all the way through this project. You claim we intervene because we’re concerned, or because we have an inexplicable purpose, and yes, it’s mostly true, but we do need to have some thought for the people we’re using. I know I’ve been as bad about this as anyone in the past, worse maybe. But I have learned this, and you need to.”

“I’m sorry I didn’t meet you in the Laurentian Library,” she said. “I’m sorry I didn’t trust you about Sokrates. The rest of it is none of your business. But I’ll think about what you’ve said.”

The train burst out of the tunnel into the light. The sun came out (my race car) as the train slowed down for the little spaceport station. Athene smiled, pulled herself lightly to her feet and went over to Ikaros, who was talking to Sokrates now. I followed.

“Do you still think this is a Just City?” Sokrates asked Athene.

“Ask them,” Athene said, waving at the people making their way out of the car. “Go into the streets and ask the Irons and Bronzes. Go to Sokratea or Marissa or Psyche. And then go to your own Athens, to Athens in any year you like from its foundations until now, and ask the same thing of the people who do that work.”

“It’s not perfectly just,” I said. “But nothing is. And we’re trying. Even having justice and excellence as unattainable goals makes things better.”

Sokrates stayed at my side as we got off the train. “Are you going to stay here?”

He was one of the few people entitled to an answer to that. “To see the space humans land? Yes. After that, I’m not sure. I’ll be around, keeping an eye on things, but I have places to be and work to do and things to learn. I’ve learned so much from this. There are new projects I want to initiate now.” It was an exciting thought.