Межзвёздный скиталец
Chapter 17
Also,whenagirl,shehadbeenbetrothedtoArchelausatthetimehewasethnarchofJerusalem.Shehadagoodlyfortuneinherownright,sothatmarriagehadnotbeencompulsory.Toboot,shehadawillofherown,andwasdoubtlesshardtopleaseinsoimportantamatterashusbands.
Itmusthavebeenintheveryairwebreathed,forinnotimeMiriamandIwereatitonthesubjectofreligion.Truly,theJewsofthatdaybattenedonreligionasdidweonfightingandfeasting.Forallmystayinthatcountrytherewasneveramomentwhenmywitswerenotbuzzingwiththeendlessdiscussionsoflifeanddeath,law,andGod.NowPilatebelievedneitheringods,nordevils,noranything.Death,tohim,wastheblacknessofunbrokensleep;andyet,duringhisyearsinJerusalem,hewasevervexedwiththeinescapablefussandfuryofthingsreligious.Why,Ihadahorse-boyonmytripintoIdumæa,awretchedcreaturethatcouldneverlearntosaddleandwhoyetcouldtalk,andmostlearnedly,withoutbreath,fromnightfalltosunrise,onthehair-splittingdifferencesintheteachingsofalltherabbisfromShemaiahtoGamaliel.
ButtoreturntoMiriam.
“Youbelieveyouareimmortal,”shewassoonchallengingme.“Thenwhydoyoufeartotalkaboutit?”
“Whyburdenmymindwiththoughtsaboutcertainties?”Icountered.
