Чужак в чужой стране

           Asforlogicandinternalconsistency,thesemundanerulesdonotapplytosacredwritingsandneverhave–butevenonthesegroundstheNewRevelationmustberatedsuperior;ithardlyeverbitesitsowntail.TryreconcilingtheOldTestamentwiththeNewTestamentsometime,orBuddhistdoctrinewithBuddhistapocrypha.Asmorals,FosterismismerelytheFreudianethicsugar-coatedforpeoplewhocan’ttaketheirpsychologystraight,althoughIdoubtiftheoldlecherwhowroteit–pardonme,‘wasinspiredtowriteit’–wasawareofthis.Hewasnoscholar.Buthewasintunewithhistimes,hetappedtheZeitgeist.Fearandguiltandalossoffaith–howcouldhemiss?Nowpipedown,I’mgoingtonap."

           "Who’sbeentalking?"

           "‘Thewomantemptedme.’"Jubalclosedhiseyes.

           OnreachinghometheyfoundthatCaxtonandMahmoudhadflownintogetherfortheday.BenhadbeendisappointedtofindJillnotathomeonhisarrivalbuthehadmanagedtobearupwithouttearsthroughthecompanyofAnne,Miriam,andDorcas.Mahmoudalwaysvisitedfortheavowedpurposeofseeinghisprotg,Mike,andDr.Harshaw;however,hetoohadshownfortitudeathavingonlyJubal’sfood,liquor,garden–andodalisques–toentertainhimduringhishost’sabsence.HewaslyingfacedownwithMiriamrubbinghisbackwhileDorcasrubbedhishead.

           Juballookedathim."Don’tgetup."

           "Ican’t,she’ssittingonme.Alittlehigherup,Miriam.Hi,Mike."

           "Hi,mybrotherStinkyDr.Mahmoud.