Чужак в чужой стране

           Butifyouhadbeenpresentatthediscorporation–death–ofafriend,thenyouhelpedeathisbody?andthenyousawhisghost,talkedwithit,touchedit,anything–wouldyouthenbelieveinghosts?"

           "Well,eitherghosts,orImyselfhadslippedmyleash."

           "Allright.Hereitwouldbeanhallucination?ifIgrokcorrectlythatwedon’tstayherewhenwediscorporate.ButinthecaseofMars,thereiseitheranentireplanetwithaveryrichandcomplexcivilizationallrunbymasshallucination–orthestraightforwardexplanationiscorrecttheoneIwastaughtandtheoneallmyexperienceledmetobelieve.BecauseonMarsthe‘ghosts’arebyfarthemostimportantandmostpowerfulandmuchthemostnumerouspartofthepopulation.Theonesstillalive,thecorporateones,arethehewersofwoodanddrawersofwater,servantstotheOldOnes."

           Jubalnodded."Okay.I’llneverboggleatslicingwithOccam’srazor.Whileitrunscontrarytomyownexperience,myexperienceislimitedtothisplanet–provincial.Allright,son,you’rescaredthattheymightdestroyus?"

           Mikeshookhishead."Notespecially.Ithink–thisisnotagrokkingbutamereguess–thattheymightdooneoftwothings:eitherdestroyusorattempttoconquerusculturally,makeusoverintotheirownimage."

           "Butyou’renotfrettedthattheymightblowusup?That’saprettydetachedviewpoint,evenforme."

           "No.Oh,Ithinktheymightreachthatdecision.