Межзвёздный скиталец
Chapter 21
Unliketheotheranimals,manwasforevergazingatthestars.Manygodshecreatedinhisownimageandintheimagesofhisfancy.InthoseoldtimesIhaveworshippedthesunandthedark.Ihaveworshippedthehuskedgrainastheparentoflife.IhaveworshippedSar,theCornGoddess.AndIhaveworshippedseagods,andrivergods,andfishgods.
Yes,andIrememberIshtarereshewasstolenfromusbytheBabylonians,andEa,too,wasours,supremeintheUnderWorld,whoenabledIshtartoconquerdeath.Mitra,likewise,wasagoodoldAryangod,erehewasfilchedfromusorwediscardedhim.AndIremember,onatime,longafterthedriftwhenwebroughtthebarleyintoIndia,thatIcamedownintoIndia,ahorse-trader,withmanyservantsandalongcaravanatmyback,andthatatthattimetheywereworshippingBodhisatwa.
Truly,theworshipsoftheMysterywanderedasdidmen,andbetweenfilchingsandborrowingsthegodshadasvagabondatimeofitasdidwe.AstheSumerianstooktheloanofShamashnapishtinfromus,sodidtheSonsofShemtakehimfromtheSumeriansandcallhimNoah.
Why,Ismilemeto-day,DarrellStanding,inMurderers’Row,inthatIwasfoundguiltyandawardeddeathbytwelvejurymenstaunchandtrue.TwelvehaseverbeenamagicnumberoftheMystery.NordiditoriginatewiththetwelvetribesofIsrael.Star-gazersbeforethemhadplacedthetwelvesignsoftheZodiacinthesky.
