“No,” said Umbo. “He’s the best man I know, and I know some good men.”

“Am I a good man?” asked Square.

Umbo didn’t hesitate this time. “You are,” he said, “though you haven’t faced all the tests that will show who you are.”

“Well, here’s a test that will show who you are,” said Square. “I want to prepare to take Rigg’s place as Captain Toad. For Rigg’s sake, to spare him all the killing that’s going to come. And for my sake, so that I’ll know a wider world before I decide to go back and found a colony. You and Rigg and Loaf have taught me a lot, but I want to see farming and commerce and cities and villages. And that way maybe I can find a wife that I really love, who also knows about life in the wider world, who chose me when there were lots of men to choose from.”

“I’m not sure war is the best way to learn about the world,” said Umbo.

“Oh, come on,” said Square. “I’ve learned enough history to know that war is the main way men have learned about the wider world through all of history. In every wallfold of Garden and back on Earth.”

“And don’t forget that you’re dying to go through the Wall,” said Umbo.

“Well, I have been asking about that since I was little,” said Square. “I want to know all the languages, too.”

“So you can swear in them all?”

“I’m already through with my bad-language phase,” said Square.

“No, you’re through with your trying-to-shock-me-and-Rigg-and-Loaf-with-bad-language phase.”

“Close enough,” said Square.

Umbo looked him up and down. He was strong—Loaf had worked him hard, putting solid muscle on his tall and sturdy frame. And he was smart. And wise. And . . . good.

That’s what Umbo was afraid he would lose, if he went to war.

But it was goodness that was prompting him to go—the desire to spare Rigg the pain that was coming. Maybe that would immunize him against the love of killing. Umbo had seen men who got the love of violence into their hearts, and couldn’t get it out again.

The man that he had called Father was such a one. Never a soldier, but he loved to hurt people, to see them submit to his will, weeping, frightened. He also had good sides to him, moments of kindness. But somehow his love of power over the weak had become the ruling force in his life. That would not happen to Square. He could not become such a man as that.

“I’ll talk to them,” said Umbo.

“Will you talk for my plan?” asked Square. “Or against it?”

“Don’t you know me?” asked Umbo.

“You’ll talk for it and against it,” said Square. “So be it.”

“You’ll abide by our decision?”