I was just staggering in the gate br with two heavy bags br from an exhausting week’s conference br when the conman and his accomplice br got me right at my own front door – br I’m mortified by the memory – br br they could replace my missing roof tiles br in a moment, look, the ladder’s br already up there, the accomplice br is halfway up, now he’s already br on the roof in his plimsolls, now he's br shaking the chimney-stack, look, it's loose br .... no cash? oh, br they’d drive me to the nearest cash-point… br well, you can guess the rest – br anything for a quiet life… br br as I dozed off that evening, br flushed with anger, blushed with stupidity, br too tired to crawl to bed, br realizing that conmen have br all the skills of hypnotists, br enlightenment struck: br br the next morning, I would wake up br 150 dollars the poorer but morning-fresh; br ‘they’ would wake up with the urgent need br to seek another mug each day. br br And I realised that sublime, ruthless, br beautiful, tragic, comic, eternal justice br is - to be – to live it through as - br just as we are; right now… br br heroes or victims of ourself br br br br .