( he's met an awful lotta folk in the war wearin' that same look. like they're waitin' for the other shoe to drop. conflict's gone on an' beaten that into most of 'em, whether they were resistance members or just normal folk bearin' up under the horror, but. gene knows the look, an' his own expression softens. he shakes his head. )

Ain't about reciprocity, fella, that don't trouble none.

( it ain't a matter he'll force. instinct's stronger than reason at times, an' plenty of folks have more than enough bad history to force the issue. )

Growin' up, weren't much food around. We took to sharin' what we had. Guess I still hold to that.