"I don't think it is," he answered honestly. "We're fighting for ourselves. Others."
He was silent for a while after that; the implications of failure were distressing and worrysome.
However, he had considered it at length and seemingly forever. The initial worry had disappeared. Except he had gone on some, and though he liked peace and quiet, this particular silence was aggravating his sense of formality.
"Sorry. I never thought I'd ask these sorts of questions. It must be rude of me."