For all their rhetoric, Alex could see that this was the crux of the deal, as far as he was concerned. The same unspoken bargain went for Juanita too, mostly. These people weren’t hanging out with Juanita just because they really liked big chunky-hipped cyber-art-school grads. They liked Juanita because she bought them stuff, and looked after their numerous assorted needs. She was their patroness. And he, Alex, was on track to be next car in the gravy train.