“So this ‘drawing’ is a population-control thing, right?” says Wheeler glumly, holding his mandatory winning ticket. “Slash ritual sacrifice? Point being they’re going to hit me with rocks.”

“No,” says Katerina, “you just get a red limo and a big bag of money.”

“But I’m a pariah,” Wheeler guesses. “Mark of Cain.”

“No, you should make lots of friends. You have a bag of money.”

“But how will I know if their friendship is genuine?”

“Spend all the money. See if they stick around.”

“Money can’t really make you happy!” Wheeler says.

“No?” says Katerina. “Can I have it, then?”