Межзвёздный скиталец
Chapter 22
I’llseethemnext,andlasttime,fromthescaffold,erethehangmanhidesmyfaceintheblackcap.Theywillbelookingcuriouslysick.Queeryoungfellows.Someshowthattheyhavebeendrinking.Twoorthreelooksickwithforeknowledgeofwhattheyhavetowitness.Itseemseasiertobehangedthantolookon....
*****
Mylastlines.ItseemsIamdelayingtheprocession.Mycellisquitecrowdedwithofficialsanddignitaries.Theyareallnervous.Theywantitover.Withoutadoubt,someofthemhavedinnerengagements.Iamreallyoffendingthembywritingthesefewwords.Thepriesthasagainpreferredhisrequesttobewithmetotheend.Thepoorman—whyshouldIdenyhimthatsolace?Ihaveconsented,andhenowappearsquitecheerful.Suchsmallthingsmakesomemenhappy!Icouldstopandlaughforaheartyfiveminutes,iftheywerenotinsuchahurry.
HereIclose.Icanonlyrepeatmyself.Thereisnodeath.Lifeisspirit,andspiritcannotdie.Onlythefleshdiesandpasses,evera-crawlwiththechemicfermentthatinformsit,everplastic,evercrystallizing,onlytomeltintothefluxandtocrystallizeintofreshanddiverseformsthatareephemeralandthatmeltbackintotheflux.Spiritaloneenduresandcontinuestobuilduponitselfthroughsuccessiveandendlessincarnationsasitworksupwardtowardthelight.WhatshallIbewhenIliveagain?Iwonder.Iwonder....
