Межзвёздный скиталец

           “Pipedreams,”Oppenheimerrappedhisverdict.

           Yes,wasmythought;ourexperiencesarethestuffofourdreams.

           “WhenIwasanightmessengerIhitthehoponce,”Oppenheimercontinued.“AndIwanttotellyouyouhaven’tanythingonmewhenitcametoseeingthings.Iguessthatiswhatallthenovel-writersdo—hitthehopsoastothrowtheirimaginationintothehighgear.”

           ButEdMorrell,whohadtravelledthesameroadasI,althoughwithdifferentresults,believedmytale.Hesaidthatwhenhisbodydiedinthejacket,andhehimselfwentforthfromprison,hewasneveranybodybutEdMorrell.Heneverexperiencedpreviousexistences.Whenhisspiritwanderedfree,itwanderedalwaysinthepresent.Ashetoldus,justashewasabletoleavehisbodyandgazeuponitlyinginthejacketonthecellfloor,socouldheleavetheprison,and,inthepresent,revisitSanFranciscoandseewhatwasoccurring.Inthismannerhehadvisitedhismothertwice,bothtimesfindingherasleep.Inthisspirit-rovinghesaidhehadnopowerovermaterialthings.Hecouldnotopenorcloseadoor,moveanyobject,makeanoise,normanifesthispresence.Ontheotherhand,materialthingshadnopoweroverhim.Wallsanddoorswerenotobstacles.Theentity,ortherealthingthatwashe,wasthought,spirit.