scottmage said:
Paying for rent in Downbelow? Unless you are paying protection...I thought that is why the Telepaths chose it since it was free
Okay Downbelow is not just a place you go and crash like under a bridge somewhere. Its dirty, dangerous, and twisted. The lowest of the lowlife, the craziest of crazies. Sure most are down on there luck, but the criminal element has those people under their shoe. You do something wrong like talk to security, hold your mouth wrong, or even look at someone the wrong way and your lying in a pool of your own blood, wondering who hit ya. Thugs don't use upfront pricing they will take all you got on ya, and what you don't have they will take out of your hide.
Think being poor is easy? Think again. Try not eating for a couple of days, while sleeping with one eye open, never getting real rest. Dodging thugs, crazies, and the law. Swallowing your pride and begging for change. Throwing your morals in the dirt and stealing. Public humiliation daily as people look at you and shake their head in disgust. Your mind will start playing tricks, your body doesn't work, you ache all over, and you reak of filth. Your only want is a good hot meal and some rest, in lew of that you will settle for anything that will make the world go away for just a few hours. Its hard to get up when you been kicked to the curb. And unless someone is offering you a hand, the harsh world made of spinning metal will wear you down and crush you flat. Unless you are a lucky one who feels the vacum of space suck the very life from your lungs.
Currently reading a Gibson novel,
PsycloneJack
