"I'll tell you one thing about it," said Larrabee. "There's no way
out. I can't help you. I wouldn't if I could, get that straight. But I
can't, anyway."
"Thanks," Stark said sourly. "You can at least tell me what goes on."
"Listen," said Larrabee. "I'm a cripple, and an old man, and Shuruun
isn't the sweetest place in the Solar System to live. But I do live. I
have a wife, a slatternly wench I'll admit, but good enough in her way.
You'll notice some little dark-haired brats rolling in the mud. They're
mine, too. I have some skill at setting bones and such, and so I can
get drunk for nothing as often as I will--which is often. Also, because
of this bum leg, I'm perfectly safe. So don't ask me what goes on. I
take great pains not to know."