Combeferre nods in fervent, somber agreement. "Yes. We must decide what to tell them--any of them, anyone who could act decisively. We'll discuss this with the others, as they will no doubt think of considerations we overlook...I imagine Prouvaire will put in something about Chénier," he finishes dryly.

Suddenly it occurs to Combeferre that his list of things "we must" do is growing in length, without gaining in coherence or order. "But I now see how right you are. The immediate matter comes first. The daemon-world, and then second, I would say, prospective visitors from our own world. And after that, any others."