The three scholars discuss the situation in the citadel and decide that they need to find a way to hold the citadel as it was supposed to be. They decide that the only way to do this is to have a techno-logy exchange among the scholars from all over the country. They also decide that it would be a good idea for them to report back to the lieutenant colonel on the progress of the situation. The lieutenant colonel seems to be more concerned about the situation than he is about the military. The three men decide to draw the line between those who caused the situation and those who have already caused it. They offer the opportunity to escape from the citadel to the citizens in other buildings. They are afraid that the enemy will shoot them if they attempt to escape. They wonder why the enemy would want to shoot a soldier who is trying to defend a place that has not yet been destroyed.