> "We want access to Earth's records on the study of Mars. Hell, Garner, the Phobos cameras might already show where the Outsider came down! We want permission to search Mars from close orbit. We want permission to land."
> "What have you got so far?"
> Nick snorted. "There's only two things they can agree on. We can search all we want to - from space. For letting us examine their silly records they want to charge us a flat million marks!"
> "Pay it."
> "It's robbery."
> "A Belter says that? Why don't you have records on Mars?"
> "We were never interested. What for?"
> "What about abstract knowledge?"
> "Another word for useless."
> "Then what makes you want useless knowledge enough to pay a million marks for it?"
> Slowly Nick matched his grin. "It's still robbery. How in Finagle's name did Earth know they'd need to know about Mars?"
> "That's the secret of abstract knowledge. You get in the habit of finding out everything you can about everything. Most of it gets used sooner or later. We've spent billions exploring Mars."