Confidence is a feeling you get when you don't REALLY understand the situation. - James P. Hogan

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

Gregg Caldwell has a method that he uses sometimes when he has to make a difficult decision quickly: forget the issue itself and consider the alternatives; if none of them is acceptable, the decision is made.

"I can tap George at the deli. He owes me — "

Linc waved the rest aside with a shake of his head and peeled a fifty off a roll he produced from his belt.

"Say, are you sure? . . ."
But his father was already reaching for it. "I'll have it back for you by — "

"It doesn't matter. Keep it," Linc said curtly.

And he left before the taste in his mouth could get any worse.

Bad luck could happen to anybody, and anyone might be in need of a helping hand one day. But to have no pride. That was something else..