Luke steels himself. It's what he expected, more or less, so he's not surprised. And in fact, he thinks it's a good thing, this conversation. Getting Bill to admit what he actually did. If Luke shows anger now, it may be interpreted as another reason not to talk to him.

"Let's forget that for the moment," he says. "I'm not your jury or executioner, here. Most of the people on the Barge have killed someone." Well, he doesn't have the actual statistics on that, but it's close enough. "For me, anyway, it's not about a list of actions you did or did not do, totaling up to 'good' or 'bad.' It's about the context. Do we do these things because we feel there's no choice, or out of self-defense, or some other overpowering factor? Or do we take pleasure in the cruelty and suffering of others?"

He watches Bill.

"I don't think either extreme is true, for you. You did what you wanted to do, because it felt good but also because it was one method of overthrowing a power he had over you, and a man is dead. You would do it again, I'm guessing, if you could tweak a few of the things that went wrong. And now you're upset because people don't understand, and are treating you in a way you don't like. Does that sound accurate, so far?"