[ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]
me in some role.
Worse, were they all going to turn up here to hear words of wisdom, like I
was some kind of prophet?
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ABC Amber Palm Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abcpalm.html
"Damn! What an opportunity," I mused aloud. "I could . . . "
Morley and Bishop Carnifan eyed me curiously. The Dead Man sent a mental
chuckle. A pity you do not have an appropriate mind-set. It might be amusing
to play the prophet game particularly if we could arrange continued contacts
with these deities.
I said, "Weider's difficulties are starting to look attractive." I turned to
the bishop. "Brother. Father. Bishop. Whatever. I don't want to be rude, but
I've had a real rough couple of days and you're not helping anything."
The Dead Man continued to speculate. Perhaps Mr. Playmate could join us as
front man. He has wanted to assume the religious mantle for some time. My
partner was as cynical as I about some things. It seemed that even concrete
proof of the existence of gods didn't soften his religious skepticism.
I told Carnifan, "Unless there is something specific I can still do, I really
wish you would go away." I softened that with a conspiratorial smile. "And
please spread the word in the Dream Quarter. I can't do anything for anybody
else, either. Far as I'm concerned, my part in this insanity is over."
Nog is inescapable.
I jumped a yard. But the Dead Man couldn't keep a mental straight face.
60
Carnifan departed. His gang looked like a small, dark army slithering
upMacunado Street . Using the peephole, I watched the redhead watch them go.
"Hey, Old Bones. What was that really all about?"
The Bishop and, presumably, many other shakers in the Dream
Quarter erroneously assumed a greater and more favored role, for you than was
the case. If you examine their position and way of thinking, it should be no
surprise that many priests will set new records for conclusion jumping.
"What?"
You have been driven into an untenable position. You are dealing with men
who, in most institutions, have taken their gods entirely on faith for dozens
of generations. Now they are learning that one man's genuine contacts have
proven the whole process trivial. The gods, of all stripes, turned out to be
small-minded, petty creatures with no more vision or aspiration than most
mortals.
"I never did worry much about being popular."
Life could get difficult.
"Hey, I'm a famous cynic. Remember? I can talk, but I can't produce concrete
proof. Even if I got some great god like Hano to step up and confess, most
true believers wouldn't buy it. You ask me, the great wonder that makes
religion work is the fact that otherwise rational beings actually accept the
irrational and implausible dogmas underlying them."
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ABC Amber Palm Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abcpalm.html
Believers are not a problem. However, those who live off the believers could
be particularly if their continued existence and prosperity depend upon the
good will of their believers.
Morley asked, "What's going on, Garrett?"
We ignored him.
I entered one of my more intellectual remarks. "Huh?"
The man in the street will be no problem. He has other troubles. Economics
and riots are more threatening today. Priests, feeling their livelihoods
imperiled, might represent short-term threats, till they understand that we
are indifferent . . .
"Speak for yourself, Chuckles." I'd as soon put them all out of business. The
sanctimonious emotional gangsters. I reminded, "Adeth is back across the
street."
Indeed. And the one great tool we need has not yet been invented.
"Huh?" That was fast becoming my favorite word.
A godtrap!
"Ha ha. What did Cat have hidden inside?"
He avoided a direct answer. That child can be very opaque.
Morley headed for the door. "I'm not big on being talked around and over.
Obviously, I'm not needed here anymore."
Not entirely true, Mr. Dotes. Exercise patience, if you will, while Garrett
and I discuss threats more immediate than any you yourself can help us avert.
That was sufficiently obscure. Morley donned an air of put-upon patience.
I told him, "You want to break away from The Palms and meet me someplace in
keeping with my station, I'll tell you about the whole mess. After we figure
out how to keep from getting gobbled up by the loose ends."
Dotes eyed me briefly, some secret smile stirring the corners of his mouth.
"It's always the loose ends that get you, Garrett. You particularly because
you refuse to take the pragmatic step when you can. You love this grand
pretense of cynicism, but whenever you face what you consider a moral choice
you inevitably opt for belief in the essential goodness of humanity however
often humanity grinds your nose in the fact that it is garbage on the hoof."
"We all need a moral polestar, Morley. That's how we convince ourselves that
we're the good guys. Garbage on the hoof is garbage because somewhere somebody
told it it's garbage on the hoof." [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]
zanotowane.pl doc.pisz.pl pdf.pisz.pl aikidobyd.xlx.pl
me in some role.
Worse, were they all going to turn up here to hear words of wisdom, like I
was some kind of prophet?
Page 149
ABC Amber Palm Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abcpalm.html
"Damn! What an opportunity," I mused aloud. "I could . . . "
Morley and Bishop Carnifan eyed me curiously. The Dead Man sent a mental
chuckle. A pity you do not have an appropriate mind-set. It might be amusing
to play the prophet game particularly if we could arrange continued contacts
with these deities.
I said, "Weider's difficulties are starting to look attractive." I turned to
the bishop. "Brother. Father. Bishop. Whatever. I don't want to be rude, but
I've had a real rough couple of days and you're not helping anything."
The Dead Man continued to speculate. Perhaps Mr. Playmate could join us as
front man. He has wanted to assume the religious mantle for some time. My
partner was as cynical as I about some things. It seemed that even concrete
proof of the existence of gods didn't soften his religious skepticism.
I told Carnifan, "Unless there is something specific I can still do, I really
wish you would go away." I softened that with a conspiratorial smile. "And
please spread the word in the Dream Quarter. I can't do anything for anybody
else, either. Far as I'm concerned, my part in this insanity is over."
Nog is inescapable.
I jumped a yard. But the Dead Man couldn't keep a mental straight face.
60
Carnifan departed. His gang looked like a small, dark army slithering
upMacunado Street . Using the peephole, I watched the redhead watch them go.
"Hey, Old Bones. What was that really all about?"
The Bishop and, presumably, many other shakers in the Dream
Quarter erroneously assumed a greater and more favored role, for you than was
the case. If you examine their position and way of thinking, it should be no
surprise that many priests will set new records for conclusion jumping.
"What?"
You have been driven into an untenable position. You are dealing with men
who, in most institutions, have taken their gods entirely on faith for dozens
of generations. Now they are learning that one man's genuine contacts have
proven the whole process trivial. The gods, of all stripes, turned out to be
small-minded, petty creatures with no more vision or aspiration than most
mortals.
"I never did worry much about being popular."
Life could get difficult.
"Hey, I'm a famous cynic. Remember? I can talk, but I can't produce concrete
proof. Even if I got some great god like Hano to step up and confess, most
true believers wouldn't buy it. You ask me, the great wonder that makes
religion work is the fact that otherwise rational beings actually accept the
irrational and implausible dogmas underlying them."
Page 150
ABC Amber Palm Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abcpalm.html
Believers are not a problem. However, those who live off the believers could
be particularly if their continued existence and prosperity depend upon the
good will of their believers.
Morley asked, "What's going on, Garrett?"
We ignored him.
I entered one of my more intellectual remarks. "Huh?"
The man in the street will be no problem. He has other troubles. Economics
and riots are more threatening today. Priests, feeling their livelihoods
imperiled, might represent short-term threats, till they understand that we
are indifferent . . .
"Speak for yourself, Chuckles." I'd as soon put them all out of business. The
sanctimonious emotional gangsters. I reminded, "Adeth is back across the
street."
Indeed. And the one great tool we need has not yet been invented.
"Huh?" That was fast becoming my favorite word.
A godtrap!
"Ha ha. What did Cat have hidden inside?"
He avoided a direct answer. That child can be very opaque.
Morley headed for the door. "I'm not big on being talked around and over.
Obviously, I'm not needed here anymore."
Not entirely true, Mr. Dotes. Exercise patience, if you will, while Garrett
and I discuss threats more immediate than any you yourself can help us avert.
That was sufficiently obscure. Morley donned an air of put-upon patience.
I told him, "You want to break away from The Palms and meet me someplace in
keeping with my station, I'll tell you about the whole mess. After we figure
out how to keep from getting gobbled up by the loose ends."
Dotes eyed me briefly, some secret smile stirring the corners of his mouth.
"It's always the loose ends that get you, Garrett. You particularly because
you refuse to take the pragmatic step when you can. You love this grand
pretense of cynicism, but whenever you face what you consider a moral choice
you inevitably opt for belief in the essential goodness of humanity however
often humanity grinds your nose in the fact that it is garbage on the hoof."
"We all need a moral polestar, Morley. That's how we convince ourselves that
we're the good guys. Garbage on the hoof is garbage because somewhere somebody
told it it's garbage on the hoof." [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]