"So, then... if they hear tales of victory, then people are likely to continue fighting in the consideration that, because their ancestors won their fights, those fighting now are also likely to win their fights? Is that what we're looking at?" He frowned at nothing in particular. "But circumstances are different each time, so there'd be... the outcome would be..."

He hesitated, turned turnwords Ellie and said, "Different... wouldn't it...? But that's... but we're..." He hesitated. "Um. Well. Ah... perhaps we could... I've got... things I was intending to do, and I'm sure you have too, so... perhaps we could pick up again on this later?"