Davidson had no issue raping female Athsheans earlier in the novella, so the fact that he claims that it’s a perversion now suggests that he was embarrassed by Lyubov’s interrogation at HQ and is willing to revise history to preserve his masculine image. He also sees homosexuality as a perversion, but one that’s more socially acceptable. Notably, Davidson’s anticipation of an Athshean attack hints that he may have raided the village to
provoke retaliation. This retaliation would then confirm his prejudices against the Athsheans and redeem him in the eyes of his superiors. In other words, Davidson is aware that violence generates violence, and he may be using that knowledge to his own advantage.