"Oh, and you're the one to decide, are you? Who deserves to live or die? What about the creatures on the world that aren't humans--you'll gladly accept their destruction as well? What about the impact-ripples on the neighboring realities? Oh, I guess those people deserved it too, just for being by yours. Not everything is about what you think is important. Not everyone deserves to die just because they don't have knowledge that would send them insane."

Helen's half-risen and yelling, now. A few wait-rats have formed a bucket-chain to hurriedly gather most of her books off the table.

"My world likely has far many more people who deserve to die by your standards and other people’s, but I will save it. I don't know how dangerous your world is? You don't know how dangerous mine is.”

Helen picks up the last book, jerks a formal though highly irritated nod at him, and stomps back up the stairs. Behind her, the waitrats follow.