Межзвёздный скиталец
Chapter 12
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CaptainJamieandDoctorJacksontittered,andtheWarden,withasnort,ledthewayoutofmycell.
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Leftalone,IstrovetogointothedarkandgainbacktothewagoncircleatNephi.Iwasinterestedtoknowtheoutcomeofthatdoomeddriftingofourfortygreatwagonsacrossadesolateandhostileland,andIwasnotatallinterestedinwhatcameofthemangyhermitwithhisrock-roweledribsandstinkingwater-skin.AndIgainedback,neithertoNephinortheNile,butto—
ButhereImustpauseinthenarrative,myreader,inordertoexplainafewthingsandmakethewholemattereasiertoyourcomprehension.Thisisnecessary,becausemytimeisshortinwhichtocompletemyjacket-memoirs.Inalittlewhile,inaverylittlewhile,theyaregoingtotakemeoutandhangme.DidIhavethefulltimeofathousandlifetimes,Icouldnotcompletethelastdetailsofmyjacketexperiences.WhereforeImustbriefenthenarrative.
Firstofall,Bergsonisright.Lifecannotbeexplainedinintellectualterms.AsConfuciussaidlongago:“Whenwearesoignorantoflife,canweknowdeath?”Andignorantoflifewetrulyarewhenwecannotexplainitintermsoftheunderstanding.Weknowlifeonlyphenomenally,asasavagemayknowadynamo;butweknownothingoflifenoumenonally,nothingofthenatureoftheintrinsicstuffoflife.
