It was his own opinion, but Stefan didn’t think that criminals usually committed crimes for money. Most of them just went through it all quickly anyway, he said. He believed they craved the excitement, the adrenaline, the heightened sense of existence. Advocates were so let down when the criminals who were really bright, big readers say, for whom they found good jobs, would get out and either then reoffend, repeating almost exactly what they’d done before, or sometimes kill themselves. Having a good job, that can be pretty much the same routine every day; that’s boring if your brain is trained a certain way. Being sober is slow and boring if you’re used to being high.

“So what do you think’s the answer?” I said.

“Roman believes you have to find a way to make doing good feel just as exciting, the same as when you’re doing bad, the same rush,” said Stefan. “Like Robin Hood. There has to be a thrill.”

Other criminals he met were as smart as he was, he said, a lot of them even smarter. They had talents. But what set him apart was what he had before...because of that advantage, he had time to think about a different future for himself because he knew he had a safe place to come home to.

Jep took it all in quietly, then told his son, “You’ve given us a lot to think about, Stefan. But honey, you know, you don’t need to worry about changing the world today or tomorrow. The day after would be fine. What you need most right now is what soldiers used to call R&R, rest and recreation, as much as you need clear purpose. Give yourself some time to recover from prison. As the doctor told you, it’s almost like you went to war.”