Looking at arrangement

novel cover

One thinks one works independently, but really, one is plugged into an existing mountain, still in servitude as a tiny footstone to the capping gold.

One must remember that one's shavings must come from the iceberg of client aggregates who foot the whole bills. Again, you attain the pinnacle by stepping on the backs of all who come after, high above stacks of them on their palms and knees.

Of course, they must be able to take the combined weight of those fewer and fewer above, consuming and bleeding resources across good times and bad, to feed the whole mountain nonetheless.