Межзвёздный скиталец
Chapter 11
“Itisquiteclear,Pons,thatyouhavenotheardthenews,”Isaidslyly.
Whereatupprickedhisearsliketheoldgossiphewas.
“Latenews?”hequeried.“MayhapfromtheEnglishCourt?”
“Nay,”Ishookmyhead.“Butnewsperhapstoyou,butoldnewsforallofthat.Haveyounotheard?ThephilosophersofGreecewerewhisperingitnightwothousandyearsago.ItisbecauseofthatnewsthatIputtwentyfatfarmsonmyback,liveatCourt,andambecomeadandy.Yousee,Pons,theworldisamostevilplace,lifeismostsad,allmendie,and,beingdead...well,aredead.Wherefore,toescapetheevilandthesadness,meninthesedays,likeme,seekamazement,insensibility,andthemadnessesofdalliance.”
“Butthenews,master?Whatdidthephilosopherswhisperaboutsolongago?”
“ThatGodwasdead,Pons,”Irepliedsolemnly.“Didn’tyouknowthat?Godisdead,andIsoonshallbe,andIweartwentyfatfarmsonmyback.”
“Godlives,”Ponsassertedfervently.“Godlives,andhiskingdomisathand.Itellyou,master,itisathand.Itmaybenolaterthanto-morrowthattheearthshallpassaway.
