Чужак в чужой стране

           Asidefromthatquirk,sheisanintelligentwoman–andutterlycharming.ButIdigress.Mikespottedusatonce,wavedandcalledout,‘Hi,Ben!Later’–andwentonwithhisspiel.

           "Jubal,I’mnotgoingtotrytoquotehim,you’lljusthavetohearit.Hedidn’tsoundpreachyandhedidn’twearrobes–justasmart,well-tailored,whitesyntholinensuit.Hesoundedlikeadamnedgoodcarsalesman,exceptthattherewasnodoubthewastalkingaboutreligion.Hecrackedjokesandtoldparables–noneofthemstraitlacedbutnothingreallydirty,either.Theessenceofitwasasortofpantheism?oneofhisparableswastheoldyabouttheearthwormburrowingalongthroughthesoilwhoencountersanotherearthwormandatoncesays,‘Oh,you’rebeautiful!You’relovely!Willyoumarryme?’andisanswered:‘Don’tbesilly!I’myourotherend.’You’vehearditbefore?"

           "‘Heardit?’Iwroteit!"

           "Ihadn’trealizeditwasthatold.Anyhow,Mikemadegooduseofit.Hisideaisthatwheneveryouencounteranyothergrokkingthing–hedidn’tsay‘grokking’atthisstage–anyotherlivingthing,man,woman,orstraycat?youaresimplyencounteringyour‘otherend’?andtheuniverseisjustalittlethingwewhippedupamongustheothernightforourentertainmentandthenagreedtoforgetthegag.Heputitinamuchmoresugar-coatedfashion,beingextremelycarefulnottotreadoncompetitors’toes."

           Jubalnoddedandlookedsour."SolipsismandPantheism.Teamedtogethertheycanexplainanything.