Межзвёздный скиталец
Chapter 17
”
“ThenwhoamI,”Iasked,“tomakeliarsoftheprophets?tomakeoftheMessiahafalseMessiah?IstheprophecyofyourpeoplesofeebleathingthatI,astupidstranger,ayellownorthlingintheRomanharness,cangivethelietoprophecyandcompeltobeunfulfilled—theverythingwilledbythegodsandforetoldbythewisemen?”
“Youdonotunderstand,”sherepeated.
“Iunderstandtoowell,”Ireplied.“AmIgreaterthanthegodsthatImaythwartthewillofthegods?Thenaregodsvainthingsandtheplaythingsofmen.Iamaman.I,too,bowtothegods,toallgods,forIdobelieveinallgods,elsehowcameallgodstobe?”
Sheflungherselfsothatmyhungryarmswereemptyofher,andwestoodapartandlistenedtotheuproarofthestreetasJesusandthesoldiersemergedandstartedontheirway.Andmyheartwassoreinthatsogreatawomancouldbesofoolish.ShewouldsaveGod.ShewouldmakeherselfgreaterthanGod.
“Youdonotloveme,”shesaidslowly,andslowlygrewinhereyesapromiseofherselftoodeepandwideforanywords.
“Iloveyoubeyondyourunderstanding,itseems,”wasmyreply.“Iamproudtoloveyou,forIknowIamworthytoloveyouandamworthallloveyoumaygiveme.
