Межзвёздный скиталец

           ButRomeismyfoster-mother,andwereIuntruetoher,oflittlepride,oflittleworthwouldbemyloveforyou.”

           TheuproarthatfollowedaboutJesusandthesoldiersdiedawayalongthestreet.AndwhentherewasnofurthersoundofitMiriamturnedtogo,withneitherwordnorlookforme.

           Iknewonelastrushofmadhungerforher.Isprangandseizedher.IwouldhorseherandrideawaywithherandmymenintoSyriaawayfromthiscursedcityoffolly.Shestruggled.Icrushedher.Shestruckmeontheface,andIcontinuedtoholdandcrushher,fortheblowsweresweet.Andtheresheceasedtostruggle.Shebecamecoldandmotionless,sothatIknewtherewasnowoman’slovethatmyarmsgirdled.Formeshewasdead.SlowlyIletgoofher.Slowlyshesteppedback.Asifshedidnotseemesheturnedandwentawayacrossthequietroom,andwithoutlookingbackpassedthroughthehangingsandwasgone.

           *****

           I,RagnarLodbrog,nevercametoreadnorwrite.ButinmydaysIhavelistenedtogreattalk.AsIseeitnow,Ineverlearnedgreattalk,suchasthatoftheJews,learnedintheirlaw,norsuchasthatoftheRomans,learnedintheirphilosophyandinthephilosophyoftheGreeks.YethaveItalkedinsimplicityandstraightness,asamanmaywelltalkwhohaslivedlifefromtheshipsofTostigLodbrogandtheroofofBrunanbuhracrosstheworldtoJerusalemandbackagain