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           "Wewerediscussingreligionbeforeyougothome,"Dorcassaidsoftly"Boss,didyouknowthatwomenhavesouls?"

           "Theydo?"

           "SoStinkysays."

           "Maryam,"Mahmoudexplained,"wantedtoknowwhywe‘Mohammedans’thoughtonlymenhadsouls.SoIcitedtheWritings."

           "Miriam,I’msurprisedatyou.That’sasvulgaramisconceptionasthenotionthatJewssacrificeChristianbabiesinsecret,obscenerites.TheKoranisexplicitinhalfadozenplacesthatentirefamiliesenterintoParadise,menandWomentogether.Forexample,see‘OrnamentsofGold’-verseseventy,isn’tit,Stinky?"

           "‘EntertheGarden,yeandyourwives,tobemadeglad.’That’saswellasitcanbeput,inEnglish,"agreedMahmoud.

           "Well,"saidMiriam,"IhadheardaboutthebeautifulhouristhatMohammedanmenhaveforplaythingswhentheygotoheavenandthatdidn’tseemtoleavemuchroomforwives."

           "Hourisaren’twomen,"saidJubal."Theyareseparatecreations,likedjinniandangels.Theydon’tneedhumansouls,theyarespiritstostartwith,eternalandunchangingandbeautiful.Therearemalehouris,too,orthemaleequivalentofhouris.Hourisdon’thavetoearntheirwayintoParadise;they’reonthestaff.Theyserveendlessdeliciousfoodsandpassarounddrinksthatnevergivehangoversandentertaininotherwaysasrequested.Butthesoulsofhumanwivesdon’thavetodoanyhousework,anymorethanthemen.Correct,Stinky?"

           "Closeenough,asidefromyourflippantchoiceofwords.