SriRao Singh Bahadur, I despise a merit that is
useless!
You say to a dugpa `Bless you, and he tries touse
the blessing for a stick to beat you with.
Mistakes dont matter; it is arguing about them that
rots friendship. Grim folded the letters, indoubt what to do with them. Will you bet
me it isnt the hermits all overAsia who pass thought-waves along? The embers were
dying, but Icould see the mans eyes.
And is it my fault that the world is no oyster for
afailed B.
There is a greatness, Narayan Singh said in his
gruffest voice,putting his arms under my shoulders. His answering voice rang
manfullyCan I undo what I have done?
Grim held the lantern in midroom, its light on the
old abbotswrinkled face, the corpse in shadow.
He appeared to like the lice; he did not
scratchhimself.
Unguided, we could not have found our way among
those gorges fora single hour.
Soonafter that I tasted brandy in my mouth, and
then there was anotherlapse into unconsciousness.
Do I not teachvirtue, day in, and day out, to a
number of ingrate monks? I would have died outside in the snow rather than remain
thereafter being asked to leave the place. Do I not teachvirtue, day in, and day
out, to a number of ingrate monks? I asked, wondering how he had read my
thoughts.
I no longerfelt cold, and though they laid me near
the fire I did not feelthe heat.
Did you ever talk with a hermit who hadnt all the
latest news?
I was conscious of being shaken violently and of
feeling indignant. In the dim glow from the embers he had become hardly visible,
buthe stood up. But therewas no doubt whatever about his liking for Grim, or about
his dislikefor Narayan Singh. Theywould make a cuckold of me before my back was
turned!
He fell forwardwith a groan on to the embers.
Slayer, if I bless you, you will slay more!
He turned in the doorway, answering
impatiently:What are they to you?
The bitter wind was whistling and moaning and the
winch squeakedlike an animal in pain.
Youshall eat your own sin and be done with it. You
have established claim on me enough, he said. Teach a man the laws and forces of
theuniverse, and he can turn them against his teacher, cant he?
Do I not teachvirtue, day in, and day out, to a
number of ingrate monks?
Youwere merely permitting yourself to die of wounds
before your time.
I was conscious of being shaken violently and of
feeling indignant. Youshall eat your own sin and be done with it.