“But you . . .”—her eyes were chips of blue ice, her voice low and venomous—“you will learn, little man. You’re riding high today, but time will bring you down. I’d say, just wait twenty years, but I doubt you’re going to live that long. Time will teach you how much nothing your loyalties will buy you. The day they finally grind you up and spit you out, I’m just sorry I won’t be there to watch, ’cause you’re gonna be hamburger.”

