Chapter 17 Summary

The host of the Jeff Sykes Radio Talk Show suggests gypsy piloting is somehow illegal. Richard knows why the answer is no, but Shimoda says tactlessly, no one can stop them from doing what they want. Listeners begin calling in. A woman points out some must hold down a job, earning their bread by the sweat of their brow, as scripture says, to which Shimoda responds all are free to do as they please. She is tired of hearing "do your thing," running wild, and destroying the world, but Shimoda says if people destroy this planet, there are a billion other worlds to choose from. Everything balances; no one suffers or dies without his or her own consent, and there is no good or evil outside of what makes one happy or unhappy. The woman demands to know how Shimoda knows these things...