"All of it, Ethan?"
"Don't get mad. Figured it was worth it to you."
"Don't believe in paying extra," she mused, "but did you tell him we could borrow some if it wasn't enough?"
"Didn't get a chance. He started laughing, saying didn't I understand he got paid not just for each trip, but for all the years after that, when he was finished and had used up his time and couldn't work at the only thing he knew? Saying that he wouldn't risk that kind of security for any money and I was an idiot for believing he might." Ethan trembled.
"Never mind. He's an old fool."
"He's younger than Jimmy."
"Some people get wisdom when they're young."
Ethan sat morosely in the chair. "If Jimmy hadn't made that last trip, he'd be here and he'd have married a girl here and his kids would be here. We wouldn't have to worry about them."
"I guess so, but he was lucky anyway. They found out he wasn't as strong as he was supposed to be and wouldn't let him come back." She began clearing the dishes. "How'd they know he couldn't come back?"
"They got tests. They give them each trip."