On Earth they've forgotten how to make everything except money. But what good is it, if there's nothing worthwhile left to buy? - James P. Hogan

The combining of their differing perspectives into one viewpoint was a new, vividly revelational experience for both. Now she understood what Dave and Hugh had meant when they talked about seeing everything in ways they had never grasped before, which they found impossible to describe. It reminded her of Sam's repeated assertion of the connectedness of all people, all life, and ultimately all things; that the perceptions of separateness and alienation that form the roots of strife are illusions. She still didn't understand it — not in any way she could have put into words; but, to some degree at any rate, she could feel it. Sam believed that what mystics tried to describe was the freeing of consciousness — deliberately or otherwise — from the restraints that normally define identity, into the quantum-connected paths of the Multiverse.

"Linc wasn't interested in hearing replays of anecdotes that had already been old long ago. "So what's new?" he asked.

Chips stared down as his hands, spreading his fingers. He was wearing a lot of rings these days, Linc noticed.

"Kyle's still around, running the collections ...." Chips paused, as if considering whether to confide something weighty. "As a matter of fact, we might be working something out - you know, sharing some of the action. He made me this proposition ...."

It was strange. Linc had practically forgotten about Kyle. He could remember nights when he had lain awake nursing the rage that had burned in him, consoling himself by rehearsing in his mind how he would get even. And not just with Kyle but also the man called Carolton, whom Breece had said Kyle worked for.

But somehow over the months that had slowly changed ... and now it just didn't matter anymore. Linc had seen things that Kyle could never know. He could no longer hate a man he didn't envy."

Governments everywhere are lying to people to make them hate others that they wouldn't have any quarrel with otherwise. You'd think they'd have learned something after two world wars, but where else can it lead than right where it's all going? Theo's right — the lunatics end up in charge of everything. Sane, normal people don't need power trips.