1984
Chapter 9
‘Julia,areyouawake?’
Noanswer. Shewasasleep. Heshutthebook,putitcarefullyonthefloor,laydown,andpulledthecoverletoverbothofthem.
Hehadstill,hereflected,notlearnedtheultimatesecret. HeunderstoodHOW;hedidnotunderstandWHY. ChapterI,likeChapterIII,hadnotactuallytoldhimanythingthathedidnotknow,ithadmerelysystematizedtheknowledgethathepossessedalready. Butafterreadingitheknewbetterthanbeforethathewasnotmad. Beinginaminority,evenaminorityofone,didnotmakeyoumad. Therewastruthandtherewasuntruth,andifyouclungtothetruthevenagainstthewholeworld,youwerenotmad. Ayellowbeamfromthesinkingsunslantedinthroughthewindowandfellacrossthepillow. Heshuthiseyes. Thesunonhisfaceandthegirl’ssmoothbodytouchinghisowngavehimastrong,sleepy,confidentfeeling. Hewassafe,everythingwasallright. Hefellasleepmurmuring ‘Sanityisnotstatistical,’withthefeelingthatthisremarkcontainedinitaprofoundwisdom.
