"Of course, my God, yes! Of course!" screamed Norbert. He had a program going that was going to destroy him and was destroying him this very moment, running up an astronomical bill that he could never explain away. He might never get another job in computer research, and that was the real cause of his panic. Because no matter what had happened previously, he could always tell himself that he could sell out if he had to. Now he was selling out, and that wasn't working.

"Norbert," came the calm voice. "What are you afraid of?"

"Starving to death. Never having any money ever again. Losing my job. I can't even sell out anymore. My God, get off the phone. I've got to stop this thing from ruining me."

"Norbert, you want food. To get food, you want to earn money. To earn money, you want a job. Norbert, a true fact of life is that nobody ever got rich working for someone else."

"I don't want to be rich. I want lunch."

"You say that because you haven't had lunch. Now, Norbert, I want you to go out to one of the secretaries

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employed by your company, which paid them just this morning, and borrow ten dollars American. Promise to pay them back a hundred dollars tomorrow morning."

"I won't have a hundred dollars tomorrow."

"Norbert, you will have millions, but you can't panic. Just don't interfere with your program."

"How do you know about my program? You're in London."

"Borrow the money, Norbert, and buy food for yourself in the cafeteria."

"How do you know this place has a cafeteria?"

"Norbert, I have seen the food bills and the profit and loss statements from the cafeteria. Do not buy the avocadoes. The price is suspiciously low for a good avocado. I do not want you getting sick."

"How do you know what they pay for avocadoes if you're in London? How? Who are you?"



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