О дивный новый мир

           Hewassilentforalittle;then,inalowvoice,"Once,"hewenton,"Ididsomethingthatnoneoftheothersdid:Istoodagainstarockinthemiddleoftheday,insummer,withmyarmsout,likeJesusontheCross."

           "Whatonearthfor?"

           "Iwantedtoknowwhatitwaslikebeingcrucified.Hangingthereinthesun..."

           "Butwhy?"

           "Why?Well..."Hehesitated."BecauseIfeltIoughtto.IfJesuscouldstandit.Andthen,ifonehasdonesomethingwrong...Besides,Iwasunhappy;thatwasanotherreason."

           "Itseemsafunnywayofcuringyourunhappiness,"saidBernard.Butonsecondthoughtshedecidedthattherewas,afterall,somesenseinit.Betterthantakingsoma...

           "Ifaintedafteratime,"saidtheyoungman."Felldownonmyface.DoyouseethemarkwhereIcutmyself?"Heliftedthethickyellowhairfromhisforehead.Thescarshowed,paleandpuckered,onhisrighttemple.

           Bernardlooked,andthenquickly,withalittleshudder,avertedhiseyes.Hisconditioninghadmadehimnotsomuchpitifulasprofoundlysqueamish.Themeresuggestionofillnessorwoundswastohimnotonlyhorrifying,butevenrepulsiveandratherdisgusting.Likedirt,ordeformity,oroldage.Hastilyhechangedthesubject.

           "Iwonderifyou’dliketocomebacktoLondonwithus?"heasked,makingthefirstmoveinacampaignwhosestrategyhehadbeensecretlyelaboratingeversince,inthelittlehouse,hehadrealizedwhothe"father"ofthisyoungsavagemustbe."Wouldyoulikethat?"

           Theyoungman’sfacelitup.