Міжзірковий мандрівник
Chapter 16
And,say,whileyou’reaboutit,telluswhathappenedtotheLadyOmwhenthatrough-neckhusbandofherschokedtheoldgeezerandcroaked.”
HowoftenhaveIsaidthatformperishes.Letmerepeat.Formperishes.Matterhasnomemory.Spiritonlyremembers,ashere,inprisoncells,afterthecenturies,knowledgeoftheLadyOmandChongMong-jupersistedinmymind,wasconveyedbymeintoJakeOppenheimer’smind,andbyhimwasreconveyedintomymindintheargotandjargonoftheWest.AndnowIhaveconveyeditintoyourmind,myreader.Trytoeliminateitfromyourmind.Youcannot.AslongasyoulivewhatIhavetoldwilltenantyourmind.Mind?Thereisnothingpermanentbutmind.Matterfluxes,crystallizes,andfluxesagain,andformsareneverrepeated.Formsdisintegrateintotheeternalnothingnessfromwhichthereisnoreturn.Formisapparitionalandpasses,aspassedthephysicalformsoftheLadyOmandChongMong-ju.Butthememoryofthemremains,shallalwaysremainaslongasspiritendures,andspiritisindestructible.
“Onethingsticksoutasbigasahouse,”wasOppenheimer’sfinalcriticismofmyAdamStrangadventure.“Andthatisthatyou’vedonemorehangingaroundChinatowndumpsandhop-jointsthanwasgoodforarespectablecollegeprofessor.Evilcommunications,youknow.Iguessthat’swhatbroughtyouhere.
