Коллекционер

           Nowlet’stryagain.WhatdoyouthinkabouttheH-bomb?

           C.IfIsaidanythingserious,youwouldn’ttakeitserious.(Istaredathimtillhehadtogoon.)It’sobvious.Youcan’tdoanything.It’sheretostay.

           M.Youdon’tcarewhathappenstotheworld?

           C.What’ditmatterifIdid?

           M.Oh,God.

           C.Wedon’thaveanysayinthings.

           M.Look,ifthereareenoughofuswhobelievethebombiswickedandthatadecentnationcouldneverthinkofhavingit,whateverthecircumstances,thenthegovernmentwouldhavetodosomething.Wouldn’tit?

           C.Somehope,ifyouaskme.

           M.HowdoyouthinkChristianitystarted?Oranythingelse?Withalittlegroupofpeoplewhodidn’tgiveuphope.

           C.WhatwouldhappeniftheRussianscome,then?(Cleverpoint,hethinks.)

           M.Ifit’sachoicebetweendroppingbombsonthem,orhavingthemhereasourconquerors—thenthesecond,everytime.

           C.(checkandmate)That’spacifism.

           M.Ofcourseitis,yougreatlump.DoyouknowI’vewalkedallthewayfromAldermastontoLondon?DoyouknowI’vegivenuphoursandhoursofmytimetodistributeleafletsandaddressenvelopesandarguewithmiserablepeoplelikeyouwhodon’tbelieveanything?Whoreallydeservethebombonthem?

           C.Thatdoesn’tproveanything.

           M.It’sdespairatthelackof(I’mcheating,Ididn’tsayallthesethings—butI’mgoingtowritewhatIwanttosayaswellaswhatIdid)feeling,oflove,ofreasonintheworld.