He grinned at her. "I'll make that concession." "... What's your own dream?" He broke some bread, automatically doing it with his left hand, as prescribed in the Koran. They both noticed it, and both laughed. "I'm conditioned," he said. "Me, too," Isobel admitted. "It's all I can do to use a knife and fork." He went back to her question, scowling. "My dream? I don't know. Right now I feel a little depressed about it all. When Elmer Allen spoke about spending the rest of our lives on this job, I suddenly realized that was about it. And, you know"--he looked up at her--"I don't particularly like Africa. I'm an American." She looked at him oddly. "Then why stay here?" "Because there's so much that needs to be done." "Yes, you're right and what Cliff Jackson said to the doctor was correct, too. We all do what we must do and what we can do." "Well, that brings us back to your question. What is my own dream? I'm afraid I'm too far along in life to acquire new ones, and my basic dream is an American one." "And that is--?" Isobel prompted. He shrugged again, slightly uncomfortable under the scrutiny of this pretty girl. "I'm a sociologist, Isobel. I suppose I seek Utopia." She frowned at him as though disappointed. "Is Utopia possible?" "No, but there is always the search for it. It's a goal that recedes as you approach, which is as it should be. Heaven help mankind if we ever achieve it; we'll be through because there will be no place to go, and man needs to strive." They had finished their soup and the entree had arrived. Isobel picked at it, her ordinarily smooth forehead wrinkled. "The way I see it, Utopia is not heaven. Heaven is perfect, but Utopia is an engineering optimum, the best-possible-human-techniques. Therefore we will not have _perfect_ justice in Utopia, nor will _everyone_ get the exactly proper treatment. We design for optimum--not perfection. But granting this, then attainment is possible." She took a bite of the food before going on thoughtfully. "In fact, I wonder if, during man's history, he hasn't obtained his Utopias from time to time. Have you ever heard the adage that any form of government works fine and produces a Utopia provided it is managed by wise, benevolent and competent rulers?" She laughed and said mischievously, "Both Heaven and Hell are traditionally absolute monarchies--despotisms. The form of government evidently makes no difference, it's who runs it that determines."