Межзвёздный скиталец
Chapter 17
Itwasmyobservationthatitwasthecustomofthecountryforeverymantocalleveryothermanamadman.Intruth,inmyjudgment,theywereallmad.Therewasaplagueofthem.Theycastoutdevilsbymagiccharms,cureddiseasesbythelayingonofhands,drankdeadlypoisonsunharmed,andunharmedplayedwithdeadlysnakes—orsotheyclaimed.Theyranawaytostarveinthedeserts.Theyemergedhowlingnewdoctrine,gatheringcrowdsaboutthem,formingnewsectsthatsplitondoctrineandformedmoresects.
“ByOdin,”ItoldPilate,“atrifleofournorthernfrostandsnowwouldcooltheirwits.Thisclimateistoosoft.Inplaceofbuildingroofsandhuntingmeat,theyareeverbuildingdoctrine.”
“AndalteringthenatureofGod,”Pilatecorroboratedsourly.“Acurseondoctrine.”
“SosayI,”Iagreed.“IfeverIgetawaywithunaddledwitsfromthismadland,I’llcleavethroughwhatevermandaresmentiontomewhatmayhappenafterIamdead.”
Neverweresuchtroublemakers.Everythingunderthesunwaspiousorimpioustothem.They,whoweresocleverinhair-splittingargument,seemedincapableofgraspingtheRomanideaoftheState.Everythingpoliticalwasreligious;everythingreligiouswaspolitical.Thuseveryprocurator’shandswerefull.
