"The survival instinct, in most people, overrides logic, reason, and conscience."
said Gordon. He rarely said much in their discussions, leaving most of that to
the younger. When he did, it was usually to contribute something strategic or
philisophical based on his greater life expericence.

"During the second World War, when the Germans were killing Jews in the death
camps - in the gas chambers - they had something called the Sonderkommando. These
were Jews temporarily spared for use as labor. They removed the bodies from the
gas chambers and moving them to the crematoriums. I watched an interview with
one of the survivors - there were very few because after they had been used for
a while they themselves were killed and replaced by new ones.

"This man, who was not very old and the film looked old, so apparently it was not
long after the war, described what happened. He said that among the incoming
prisoners he sometimes recognized people he knew, and would avoid being seen by
them because of his shame, knowing what was being done to them and being part
of it.

"He said he was asked, after the war, by people who knew what he had done, 'why did
you do it? why didn't you refuse? why didn't you resist?'

"Clearly tormented by his guilt, he said when facing death, it is human nature
to do anything, absolutely anything, to live just a little longer.

"Which is true. And a strong survival instinct in individuals is obviously
essential to the survival of the species. Very few people will sacrifice, or
even risk, their lives for principle, even when that principle is essential to
the survival of the species."

"Taken that far," Jessica said, "it would seem that the survival instinct can
become self-defeating, to the point that it reduces the chances of survival."

"Sadly," Gordon said, "it would seem so."