Межзвёздный скиталец

           Andhere,attheend,IcansaythatIhaveknownnosweeter,deepermadnessofbeingthantodrowninthefragrantgloryandforgetfulnessofherhair.

           Onewordmore.IremembermeDorothy,justtheotherday,whenIstilllecturedonagronomytofarmer-boystudents.Shewaselevenyearsold.Herfatherwasdeanofthecollege.Shewasawoman-child,andawoman,andsheconceivedthatshelovedme.AndIsmiledtomyself,formyheartwasuntouchedandlayelsewhere.

           Yetwasthesmiletender,forinthechild’seyesIsawthewomaneternal,thewomanofalltimesandappearances.InhereyesIsawtheeyesofmymateofthejungleandtree-top,ofthecaveandthesquatting-place.InhereyesIsawtheeyesofIgarwhenIwasUshuthearcher,theeyesofArungawhenIwastherice-harvester,theeyesofSelpawhenIdreamedofbestridingthestallion,theeyesofNuhilawholeanedtothethrustofmysword.Yes,therewasthatinhereyesthatmadethemtheeyesofLei-LeiwhomIleftwithalaughonmylips,theeyesoftheLadyOmforfortyyearsmybeggar-mateonhighwayandbyway,theeyesofPhilippaforwhomIwasslainonthegrassinoldFrance,theeyesofmymotherwhenIwastheladJesseattheMountainMeadowsinthecircleofourfortygreatwagons.

           Shewasawoman-child,butshewasdaughterofallwomen,ashermotherbeforeher,andshewasthemotherofallwomentocomeafterher.ShewasSar,thecorn-goddess