My gran always said I was half clever, half stupid, and half crazy.

There was a reason these boys were still alive, though. Something made them stronger than the other kids, the ones who had died in the early days, who had simply lain down and given up, unable to cope with the terrible things that were happening in the world. These boys were survivors. The will to live was stronger than any other feelings.

If a wolf attacks his sheep, the shepard kills the wolf, but he eats the sheep when he's hungry.

He knew one thing for sure, though. Whatever happened, Matt would have some handy excuse. He'd make up some story or change an old one, find some dumb quote to explain it all.

You got to harden yourself. Make, like, a shell around you. But not everyone can do it. If they got nothing to hang on to some of them screw up. They’re not in the game no more.

We was half stupid, a third lucky, and three-quarters ferocious.

My gran always said I was half clever, half stupid, and half crazy.