О дивный новый мир

           Themeltinghadn’tgonefarenough.PerhapsifhehadbeensittingbetweenFifiandJoanna...Forthethirdtimethelovingcupwentround;"IdrinktotheimminenceofHisComing,"saidMorganaRothschild,whoseturnithappenedtobetoinitiatethecircularrite.Hertonewasloud,exultant.ShedrankandpassedthecuptoBernard."IdrinktotheimminenceofHisComing,"herepeated,withasincereattempttofeelthatthecomingwasimminent;buttheeyebrowcontinuedtohaunthim,andtheComing,sofarashewasconcerned,washorriblyremote.HedrankandhandedthecuptoClaraDeterding."It’llbeafailureagain,"hesaidtohimself."Iknowitwill."Buthewentondoinghisbesttobeam.

           Thelovingcuphadmadeitscircuit.Liftinghishand,thePresidentgaveasignal;thechorusbrokeoutintothethirdSolidarityHymn.

           "FeelhowtheGreaterBeingcomes!

           Rejoiceand,inrejoicings,die!

           Meltinthemusicofthedrums!

           ForIamyouandyouareI."

           Asversesucceededversethevoicesthrilledwithaneverintenserexcitement.ThesenseoftheComing’simminencewaslikeanelectrictensionintheair.ThePresidentswitchedoffthemusicand,withthefinalnoteofthefinalstanza,therewasabsolutesilence–thesilenceofstretchedexpectancy,quiveringandcreepingwithagalvaniclife.