The Stars My Destination

by Alfred Bester

“Why? For money? You don’t need money.” “No.” “For control…power?” “Not for power.” “Then why?” She took a deep breath, as though this truth was the first truth and was crucifying her. “For hatred… To pay you back, all of you.” “For what?” “For being blind,” she said in a smoldering voice. “For being cheated. For being helpless… They should have killed me when I was born. Do you know what it’s like to be blind…to receive life secondhand? To be dependent, begging, crippled? ‘Bring them down to your level,’ I told my secret life. ‘If you’re blind make them blinder. If you’re helpless, cripple them. Pay them back…all of them.’” “Olivia, you’re insane.” “And you?” “I’m in love with a monster.” “We’re a pair of monsters.” “No!” “No? Not you?” she flared. “What have you been doing but paying the world back, like me? What’s your revenge but settling your own private account with bad luck? Who wouldn’t call you a crazy monster? I tell you, we’re a pair, Gully. We couldn’t help falling in love.”