Межзвёздный скиталец
Chapter 12
Already,haveInotshownyou,myreader,thatinprevioustimes,inhabitingvariouscloddyaggregatesofmatter,IhavebeenCountGuillaumedeSainte-Maure,amangyandnamelesshermitofEgypt,andtheboyJesse,whosefatherwascaptainoffortywagonsinthegreatwestwardemigration.And,also,amInotnow,asIwritetheselines,DarrellSanding,undersentenceofdeathinFolsomPrisonandonetimeprofessorofagronomyintheCollegeofAgricultureoftheUniversityofCalifornia?
Matteristhegreatillusion.Thatis,mattermanifestsitselfinform,andformisapparitional.Where,now,arethecrumblingrock-cliffsofoldEgyptwhereonceIlairedmelikeawildbeastwhileIdreamedoftheCityofGod?Where,now,isthebodyofGuillaumedeSainte-Maurethatwasthrustthroughonthemoonlitgrasssolongagobytheflame-headedGuydeVillehardouin?Where,now,arethefortygreatwagonsinthecircleatNephi,andallthemenandwomenandchildrenandleancattlethatshelteredinsidethatcircle?Allsuchthingsnolongerare,fortheywereforms,manifestationsoffluxingmattereretheymeltedintothefluxagain.Theyhavepassedandarenot.
Andnowmyargumentbecomesplain.Thespiritistherealitythatendures.Iamspirit,andIendure.I,DarrellStanding,thetenantofmanyfleshlytenements,shallwriteafewmorelinesofthesememoirsandthenpassonmyway
