Octavia E. Butler - Earthseed, Book 1 -… [2225]

“We’ll have whatever we can shape,” I said. And I turned to face Harry. He and Zahra had been whispering together. Now he looked at me. … “But this is a crazy time,” he continued. “Maybe you’re what the time needs—or what we need. I’ll stay. I may be sorry for it, but I’ll stay.” — , Octavia E. Butler - Earthseed, Book 1 -…, 2225

Note

Lauren’s line is the book’s thesis compressed into five words, and Butler lets it sit unglossed — no follow-up explanation, just a turn of the head to the next person who needs convincing. Harry’s answer (‘I may be sorry for it, but I’ll stay’) gives the commitment with the doubt still attached, which is how the whole settlement gets built.