Чужак в чужой стране

           Youwouldhavebeendeadbeforeyouknewit,muchtooquicklyformetostophim.Mikewouldthenhavebeensorrowfullyapologeticoverhaving‘wastedfood’–namelyyourbig,beefycarcass.Oh,hewouldfeelguiltyaboutthat;youheardhimawhileago.Buthewouldn’tfeelguiltyaboutkillingyou;thatwouldjustbeanecessityyouhadforcedonhim?andnotamatterofanygreatimportanceanyhow,eventoyou.Yousee,Mikebelievesthatyoursoulisimmortal."

           "Huh?Well,hell,sodoI.But-"

           "Doyou?"Jubalsaidbleakly."Iwonder."

           "Why,certainlyIdo!Oh,IadmitIdon’tgotochurchmuch,butIwasbroughtupright.I’mnoinfidel.I’vegotfaith."

           "Good.ThoughI’veneverbeenabletounderstand‘faith’myself,nortoseehowajustGodcouldexpecthiscreaturestopicktheonetruereligionoutofaninfinitudeoffalseones–byfaithalone.Itstrikesmeasasloppywaytorunanorganization,whetherauniverseorasmallerone.However,sinceyoudohavefaithanditincludesbeliefinyourownimmortality,weneednottroublefurtherovertheprobabilitythatyourprejudiceswillresultinyourearlydemise.Doyouwanttobecrematedorburied?"

           "Huh?Oh,forcripe’ssake,Jubal,quittryingtogetmygoat."

           "Notatall.Ican’tguaranteetogetyouoffmyplacesafelyaslongasyoupersistinthinkingthatacoralsnakeisaharmlessscarletsnake–anyblunderyoumakemaybeyourlast.ButIpromiseyouIwon’tletMikeeatyou."

           Duke’smouthdroppedopen.