The Scar (New Crobuzon, #2)

by China Miéville

“Listening to Fennec, hearing him talk, trying to stay silent, trying to implicate you, admitting the truth … He’s saying different things with every minute. But the truth is obvious: you were stupid,” Doul said without emotion. “You believed him. Thought you were … what? What did he tell you again? Saving your city. You weren’t out to destroy us; you were trying to save your homeland so that one day you could return to it, still whole and saved. You weren’t trying to destroy us; you were just stupid.” Bellis’ face was set. She was burning. Doul watched her. “You were caught up in it, weren’t you?” he said. “In the idea of … connecting with your home. The fact of doing something. That was enough, wasn’t it? You … saving your city.” Doul spoke in a soft monotone, and Bellis looked down at her hands. “I bet,” he continued, “that if you ever did think about what you’d been told … I bet you felt uneasy.” He said it almost kindly. The maggot of doubt was alive again, grubbing through Bellis’ head.