"Роджер Желязны. Lord of Light (Лорд Света, engl) " - читать интересную книгу автора

"Lord Yama," he stated, "while it may hold for a week, a month --
possibly even longer-- this story will come apart in the hands of the Master
to judge the first of any of those here present in this monastery who pass
within the Halls of Karma. Under the circumstances, I believe some of them
may achieve early judgment for just this reason. What then?"
Yama rolled a cigarette with care and precision. "It must be arranged
that what I said is what actually occurred."
"How can that be? When a man's brain is subject to karmic play-back,
all the events he has witnessed in his most recent cycle of life are laid
out before his judge and the machine, like a scroll."
"That is correct," said Yama. "And have you. Tak of the Archives, never
heard of a palimpsest-- a scroll which has been used previously, cleaned,
and then used again?"
"Of course, but the mind is not a scroll."
"No?" Yama smiled. "Well, it was your simile to begin with, not mine.
What's truth, anyway? Truth is what you make it."
He lit his cigarette. "These monks have witnessed a strange and
terrible thing," he continued. "They saw me take on my Aspect and wield an
Attribute. They saw Mara do the same-- here, in this monastery where we have
revived the principle of ahimsa. They are aware that a god may do
such
things without karmic burden, but the shock was great and the impression
vivid. And the final burning is still to come. By the time of that burning,
the tale I have told you must be true in their minds."
"How?" asked Ratri.
"This very night, this very hour," he said, "while the image of the act
flames within their consciousness and their thoughts are troubled, the new
truth will be forged and nailed into place. . . . Sam, you have rested long
enough. This thing is now yours to do. You must preach them a sermon. You
must call forth within them those nobler sentiments and higher qualities of
spirit which make men subject to divine meddling. Ratri and I will then
combine our powers and a new truth will be born."
Sam shifted and dropped his eyes. "I don't know if I can do it. It's
been so long. . ."
"Once a Buddha, always a Buddha, Sam. Dust off some of your old
parables. You have about fifteen minutes."
Sam held out his hand. "Give me some tobacco and a paper."
He accepted the package, rolled himself a cigarette. "Light? . . .
Thanks."
He drew in deeply, exhaled, coughed. "I'm tired of lying to them," he
finally said. "I guess that's what it really is."
"Lying?" asked Yama. "Who asked you to lie about anything? Quote them
the Sermon on the Mount, if you want. Or something from the Popul Voh, or
the Iliad. I don't care what you say. Just stir them a bit, soothe them
a
little. That's all I ask."
"Then what?"
"Then? Then I shall proceed to save them-- and us!"
Sam nodded slowly. "When you put it that way . . . but I'm a little out
of shape when it comes to this sort of thing. Sure, I'll find me a couple