Отруєний пояс

           "

           Challenger’sgreateyebrowsweredrawndowninconcentratedthought,whilehishuge,hairypawclosedupontheoutstretchedhandofhiswife.Ihadobservedthatshealwaysheldoutherarmstohimintroubleasachildwouldtoitsmother.

           "Withoutbeingafatalisttothepointofnonresistance,"saidhe,"Ihavealwaysfoundthatthehighestwisdomliesinanacquiescencewiththeactual."Hespokeslowly,andtherewasavibrationoffeelinginhissonorousvoice.

           "Idonotacquiesce,"saidSummerleefirmly.

           "Idon’tseethatitmattersarowofpinswhetheryouacquiesceorwhetheryoudon’t,"remarkedLordJohn."You’vegottotakeit,whetheryoutakeitfightin’ortakeitlyin’down,sowhat’stheoddswhetheryouacquiesceornot?

           "Ican’trememberthatanyoneaskedourpermissionbeforethethingbegan,andnobody’slikelytoaskitnow.Sowhatdifferencecanitmakewhatwemaythinkofit?"

           "Itisjustallthedifferencebetweenhappinessandmisery,"saidChallengerwithanabstractedface,stillpattinghiswife’shand."Youcanswimwiththetideandhavepeaceinmindandsoul,oryoucanthrustagainstitandbebruisedandweary.Thisbusinessisbeyondus,soletusacceptitasitstandsandsaynomore."

           "Butwhatintheworldarewetodowithourlives?"Iasked,appealingindesperationtotheblue,emptyheaven.

           "WhatamItodo,forexample?Therearenonewspapers,sothere’sanendofmyvocation."

           "Andthere’snothin’lefttoshoot,andnomoresoldierin’,sothere’sanendofmine,"saidLordJohn.