Paradise Regained. TNT

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СКАЧАТЬ minute or two as he turned in a full circle. ‘Gracious heavens,’ he said.

      ‘And that’s just about it,’ said Ruth, ‘those two words are a complete description, if ever there was one.’

      ‘Now, Monsignor, Ruth—I don’t care which of you—but one of you must tell me what all this is. All those people, for instance. What are they doing?’

      We could see many people interspersed about the countryside, some close at hand, others at a distance; some in small groups, others in larger, and individuals either seated or walking alone.

      ‘All these folks you see are going about their various business, or perhaps no definite business at all. Look there at that little group sitting beneath the big tree. They may be doing all manner of things, from merely having a pleasant, gossipy chat among friends, or perhaps one of them is doing what Ruth and I are doing now for you - introducing you to the spirit world. Whatever it is all these folks are doing, no one will tell them they shouldn’t be doing it - and move them on!

      ‘Of absolute, positive idling, I don’t think you’ll find a trace, Roger, because no one, as far as I’ve been able to find out— and Ruth and I have poked about in all sorts of places—no one ever feels the slightest inclination to do nothing simply by virtue of an indolent nature. There are no indolent natures here. We are always occupied in some way, but that doesn’t mean that this is a life of eternal work as opposed to the old— and still current—idea of eternal rest. We all, every one of us, have our time off, and no one will come and tell us it’s time to start work again in the earthly sense. We have all the recreation we need and desire, and we come and go as we please. What Ruth and I are doing now, here on this roof, is a very pleasant form of recreation to us both, and a pleasant change from our chief occupation. It might look as though we were idling the time away—to anyone who didn’t know. But, you know, Roger, there are millions of us here— with no over-crowding either, as you can see—so that even as there’s plenty to do, there are plenty of people to do it.’

      ‘Well, that’s simple enough, Monsignor, but that makes me wonder what I’m going to do.’

      ‘Then stop wondering, my dear,’ put in Ruth. ‘Good gracious, why you’ve only just arrived here. Wait till you’ve been here as long as we have, then you’ll see there’s not always such a terrific hurry to be getting on with something.’

      ‘How long have you been here, then, Ruth?’

      ‘Oh, getting on for forty years.’

      ‘And you, Monsignor?’

      ‘About the same time. There might be ten minutes’ difference between us! You see we are really seasoned residents.

      ‘How long has Omar been here?’ Ruth and I exchanged glances, and there was a roar of laughter.

      ‘Omar has been in the spirit world some two thousand years, Roger. I think I had better withdraw what I said about being seasoned residents.’

      The lad enjoyed our trifling joke, and so was helped along the road of self-assurance and well-being.

      ‘Now, Ruth, point out the sights to Roger.’

      ‘Do you see that large building with the blue beam of light coming down on it? That’s a home of rest for people immediately after they have arrived here. You could have gone there. It’s very beautiful, and you would have been well looked after, with every kindness in the world.’

      ‘Then why was I brought here?’

      ‘You’re not sorry, are you?’

      ‘No, no; I could never be that.’

      ‘The suggestion of bringing you here came from the particular person who sends us on our various errands in helping folk, when they are crossing into this world. He thought it would be a good idea, and we shouldn’t dream of questioning his wisdom. It would not be the first time this has happened, by any means; many people have caught their first peep of the spirit world while reclining on that couch downstairs. It is good for them, and it is good for us.’

      Roger pointed to the houses of all kinds that could be seen, some almost buried among the trees, others in more open ground. ‘Whose are those?’ he asked.

      ‘They belong to the folk here. Once you have the right to possess a home there is nothing to prevent you from having one. Everything is owned upon the same terms here, no matter what it is—even your spirit clothes. That does not mean that you might have to walk abroad naked, because by some mischance you had not earned the right to possess clothes! The natural laws here work in a rational way.’

      I broke into the conversation: ‘It’s not by any means everyone who owns a house here, Roger. Some people don’t want to be bothered with one—though bothered is not the exact word to use, as no home, whether large or small, can possibly be any bother in the old earthly sense. But there are folk who don’t feel the necessity for a house, and so they don’t have one. Perfectly simple. To begin with, the sun is always shining in these and other regions, there’s no unpleasant wind or cold. It’s always the same steady, unvarying, genial warmth you can feel now. So, there’s nothing from which we need protection as on earth, in the way of the elements. As for privacy, well, there are myriads of spots—you can see some of them from here—that will provide all the solitude you are ever likely to want.’

      ‘What are those large buildings in the far distance?’ our friend asked.

      ‘Those are the various halls of learning in the city. In fact, that is the city. Everything in the way of knowledge is to be found somewhere there, and a thousand accomplishments can be gained there. You can become a technician in any of the varied occupations that are all part of the life of the spirit world.’

      So we went on, pointing out innumerable things to Roger, explaining this, providing reasons for that, and bringing a clearer understanding to a young mind that had left the earth—as so many do—with no knowledge whatever of the most important part of the Universe—the spirit world. He could see, spread out before him into seemingly illimitable space, the stupendous countryside, with the bright verdure, the rich colors abounding upon all sides, the gentle undulations leading to the glistening water of lake or river. The carefully laid-out gardens, the flowers, the birds, all heavenly nature—with the blue sky above.

      I suggested that we now move downstairs. Roger admired the neatness and solid comfort of the various rooms he peeped into on the way down, and when we had at last reached the lower room that he now knew so well, he broached a matter that we could see was on his mind.

      ‘Where, Monsignor, shall I have to live?’

      ‘You won’t have to live anywhere in particular, Roger,’ I answered. ‘You may live where you like, though I understand you have no house of your own. You could have one if you wished, but do you? It would be rather like living in solitary state, although you would have plenty of visitors one way and another. You couldn’t really be lonely here, and you have but to step outside your door to find people who would soon drive any loneliness away. Still, Ruth and I know what you mean, so I would like to make this suggestion if it falls in with your own ideas in the matter. Would you care to live in this house with us? You see the size of it—there’s plenty of room, and to spare. There are all sorts of little things to interest you, without having to go outside. Stay here for as long as you wish, and be sure of one thing: never will you outstay your welcome.

      ‘We cannot foresee the absolute future, and time, as you will have guessed СКАЧАТЬ