Dejah's mood sombers along with the Thark's. She remembers John's story about his first few hours on Barsoom, how he'd stumbled upon a Thark egg creche as the younglings were hatching. How after a certain amount of time, when all the healthy young were retrieved, the rest of the unhatched eggs were dispatched by rifle fire. He'd been horrified. And she'd understood why they did it. Only the strong survive on Barsoom. It is a unique quality she possess, the belief that it is up to her as Jeddak to help all of her people be strong.

She gives the moment a bit of air, as it deserves.

"You honor your ancestors in keeping their wisdom alive. But -- have you ever met a Thark who -- well..." She hesitates, puzzling out the right words. "Have you ever known someone who had lived in hunger for so long, that it -- altered their mind?"