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40 "Now, with someone like Frumi on our side, everything is settled," Wheeler continued. "With unanimous support for the International New Testament, we affirm that the greatest The era of religious restoration and new faith will come. The next century will be an era of peace." Suppressing his nausea, Randall straightened up in his chair. "Very well, very well, George, you have done a very good job. Now please explain one thing, and it will be satisfied. I talked to Froomi. I know his position - what his original position was. Just tell me, how could such a radical reformer abandon his beliefs and compromise with your conservative orthodoxy?"

Wheeler looked hurt. "You've got us wrong. We're not small-minded fundamentalists at all. We're happy to accept any changes and changes that benefit humanity, spiritually and materially. That's a divine miracle—from Gary Lord of Lilly, he is also flexible, understanding, and reconciling. We are all his children. We can change to better serve the common good. Steve, we know that compromise is never One-sided. When Frumi accepts our findings and is willing to drop his objections, then we let him and do not change his old ways. That is to say, we will carry out some reforms with him Yes, this meant not only the interpretation of the Bible and prayers but also some social reforms that made the church more responsible for the needs of the people. The result of this compromise healed a dangerous religious schism. Now we not only have a A new Bible, and a new vibrant organization of the world church to lead us forward."

Randall sat motionless, staring at the hypocritical businessman. It's a happy combination, a power club.Like a giant anteater, with a sucker called "compromise", it licks up everything, giving less and taking more.It is an invisible thing, like a global enterprise, like an arms monopoly, like a powerful government, like a world-wide bank, like an orthodox religious belief.He now finally knows clearly that this newest monopoly has been formed again.He, Randall, foolishly acted as their catalyst.He had found the weapon against the hypocritical and anti-human beings, a weapon that could bring about the end of the "Second Resurrection", and he gave it to Frumi in trust.Frumi used this weapon to force the leaders of the "Second Resurrection" to reach a "compromise".Admit me, and I will admit you.If you reject me, I can strike you with Randall's weapon and destroy you.In the end, Frumi did not choose a civil war to achieve a comprehensive victory, but "compromised", and then he got half of the victory.Once he is about to sit on the chair of the World Association of Religions, he will be the leader like Judas, leading believers into Wheeler's sheepfold.

In the whole plan, Randall found that only one person was stranded, himself. It's obvious that one person's weak resistance is of no avail, and he must either join forces or go his own way.If you are in the same boat, you will just have trouble with your conscience, and doing your own way will mean a dead end. "What do you want me to do, George?" he asked quietly. "Do you want me to be like Frumi?" "I want you to face it, like Frumi. You got involved in a flippant game, following some foolish doubts, singing with criminals and madmen. Yet you only led to Get yourself into a whole lot of trouble with further confirmation of the New Testament. Now admit you were wrong."

"What if I admit it?" "Then we can still save you." Wheeler said cautiously. "You got into trouble in court just now, and I'm sure the judge will sentence you. God knows how long you'll be in the Bastille. Disgraceful, and nothing in the end. Opinions like you are different." The scapegoat may not have a good result in the future. When you go back to the court to hear the final verdict, ask the judge to give you a chance to retract your confession, and your request will be granted. Mr. Fang Teng is very powerful here, and our plan is also here. It's taken very seriously."

"What should I say, George?" "All you have to say is a very simple statement, bluntly and humbly, retracting your original testimony. Say that you heard that some fragments of James's manuscripts were found in Rome. As a loyal member of the Second Resurrection, You embark on a quest to return the Fragment to its rightful owner. In Rome, you find the Fragment's owner, Robert LeBlanc, a hard-nosed criminal who stole it from Professor Monti You paid him off for a small fee. Little did you know that the Italian government would object to your taking the fragment abroad, you just thought it was part of the James manuscript in Amsterdam. You brought it to France so that it could be Further identification, you didn't want to smuggle at all. When you got caught, you went into a panic. You didn't know you were breaking the law, you freaked out. You lied about the pieces you brought were counterfeit, worthless, just In order to prove that you are not carrying national treasures, you also make up a story to defend yourself. This mistake was caused by ignorance of the law and overzealousness for our cause. Say you feel sorry and you ask the court to forgive you. These That's what you should have said."

"What would the judge say if I did that?" "He will discuss with us, the five of us and representatives of the Italian government, and nothing will happen. The judge will accept our opinion, he will reduce your fine, suspend your sentence, and you will be a free man, chief Going out of here high. You will join us again tomorrow morning at the Royal Palace in Amsterdam to create a huge press conference that will be an unforgettable and historic event." "Sounds tempting, I must admit. But what if I don't withdraw my statement?" Wheeler's smile faded. "Then there's nothing we can do to help you. We'll let the court deal with you. We can't speak well for you at the Global Group."

He paused, "What do you think, Steve?" Randall shrugged, "I don't know." "I've said so much, you still don't know what to do?" "I just don't know what to say." Wheeler frowned and looked at the watch on his wrist. "I'll give you ten minutes to think about it," he said darkly. "Maybe it's better for you to spend these 10 minutes with someone who has more influence on you." He walked towards the entrance of the hall, "Maybe you have something to say to her." He opened the door and gestured to the people outside.He looked back at Randall again. "This may be your last chance, Steve, don't miss it."

He goes out the door.After a while, Angela Monty walked in from the door, hesitatingly, and closed the door behind her. Randall stood up slowly.It's been a lifetime since he last saw her.She still thrilled him as much as when he first saw her in Milan—on the emotional calendar, that was before AD.She was wearing a thin silk blouse, under which she could be seen wearing a white lace bra, a wide nappa leather belt cinched around her waist, and a short summer skirt underneath.She took off her sunglasses and looked at him worriedly through her green almond eyes, waiting for a word of welcome.

His first thought was to pull her into his arms, hug her, and pour out his heart. However, now his heart is filled with mistrust.Wheeler said he could spend 10 minutes with someone who could influence his decision.Angela had come here to influence him. He did not welcome her. "What a surprise," he said. "Hi, Steve. There's not much time, but they sent me to see you." she asked across the dark room.Steve still doesn't welcome her, and she walks over to the chair opposite him and sits quietly on the edge. "Who sent you?" he asked sternly. "Wheeler and his gang of Galilean mafia?"

Her fingers tightened on the leather purse. "Nothing's changed, look, except you've been meaner. No, Steve, I just came from Amsterdam myself. I've heard what happened. Last night, after you were arrested, Naomi called I asked something and she told me you were in trouble. Apparently Froome called the publishers from Paris. They were all about to leave for Froome. Since Naomi was going too, I asked if I You can come." "You weren't in the court hearing just now?" "No, I don't want to. Mr. Wheeler came to me again late yesterday, after his meeting with Froome, and told me everything he and the other publishers had heard from Froome. Then, just now While Mr. Wheeler was with you, Naomi told me all about what happened in court." Randall sat down. "So you know they're going to send me to the cross. Not just the Wheelers, but Frumi." "Yes, Steve, as I said, I feared that would happen. Now, from what Naomi said, it did happen." "Did you know that Wheeler just had the Pagans renounce his faith so he could join the 'Second Resurrection'?" "I'm not surprised at all," Angela said. "They need you." "They need a follower, they don't want a troublemaker." Seeing that she was a little disturbed, he asked her tentatively, "What about you? What do you think?" "I want you to know that no matter what your decision is, my feelings for you will remain the same." "Even if I go on attacking your father's discovery? Even when I expose it and ruin it all—ruin your father's reputation?" The beautiful Italian face tightened. "My father's reputation has nothing to do with it. The point is the existence or destruction of hope. I know you are on the side of Robert LeBlanc, as was Flumine in the beginning. But that doesn't separate me from you, I still At this." "why?" "Just to let you know that even if you don't believe—don't believe in my father's discovery, don't believe in the people who support it, don't even believe in me, you may still find the right path, Steve." "The right way?" Randall repeated angrily, his voice rising. "You mean like Frumi? You mean you want me to betray like him?" "How can you be sure that Frumi is a betrayal like you say?" she tried to argue. "Don't you believe that Frumi was a cultivated and noble man?" "He probably was," Randall admitted. "But he still got the price he wanted - the leadership of the world's religious organizations. Of course, if you think that as long as you can achieve a worthy goal, you can use any means, then he can be called a gentleman." "Steve, don't you admit that too? You don't admit that the ending really matters—if it's done in a way that doesn't hurt anyone?" "No," he said firmly, "if the ending is a lie. It's a bad ending for everyone." "Steve, Steve," she pleaded, "you have no evidence, you have no evidence that James and Petronas' story about Christ is a lie, you have only suspicions, you are weak." He was getting more and more annoyed. "Angela, if I hadn't been alone in Rome—if you had been with me in those last days—you would be by my side now. If you'd met LeBlanc and heard him say If, after all that has happened, then your eyes will be opened, you will not believe blindly, you will ask yourself tough questions like I did, and you will find the answers to them. A man like LeBlanc who has withstood all the inhuman treatment, is still sprightly at 80 years old and has lived in Rome for so many years will run into someone who hit someone the day he was going to get that forgery back to me. under the wheel of a runaway driver? I can now guess how it happened. Wheeler and his publishers, or Froome--they're all the same now--have been watching me. As Froome Rumi knew that I met your father in the mental hospital, so he had a way of knowing that I was going to find Leblanc. I was probably being followed, and it was possible that someone reported my meeting with Leblanc in Rome and the Hotel Jinhua. Someone may have followed LeBlanc from the Jinhua Hotel to his house, and he was tragically run over and wiped out the next day. Angela, we don't live in such a good world as you think. If What does the life of a man with a criminal record matter if it can add to the glory of Jesus Christ, save the Church and make a new Bible a bestseller?" "Steve—" "No, wait, hear me out. One more question--in fact, several questions. Who knows I've been to Ostia? Antica, who knows I found the manuscript Fragment? Who told the Italian government to warn the customs in Paris that I was carrying that forgery? Now the answer is clear. Frumi knew that Le Blanc had such a fragment. He went back to Wheeler, Deckhard, Fontaine and others The deal was done—or finalized. So they stopped me at the airport in Paris, destroyed the fake evidence, and eliminated me. That's the problem. Don't tell me they didn't Are you in trouble, Angela?" For a few seconds she fiddled with her sunglasses. "Steve, how can I tell you? We speak two languages—you speak in doubt, I speak in faith—and thus we have different answers to the same questions. LeBron in his attempt to help you Died that day? Is it unusual for an old man over 80 wandering the busy streets of Rome to be run over by a car? Steve, I'm a Roman, and in the city I live, I Read and hear about it every day. One out of every 4 people in our city owns a car and our drivers are the wildest and wildest in all of Europe. It's a common thing, a common accident , not a conspiracy or murder. Frumi, Wheeler, Dr. Jeffries are murderers? It is unimaginable. As for your arrest at customs, for national treasures, the Italian government has sent many detectives and spies. Someone saw you from Ostia Antica escaped. No one would have been unaware. But even if the Second Resurrection had arranged for your arrest, was he bad or illegal? They were in your rush to conclusions and Had to figure out what exactly you dug up before misusing it. They had to confiscate it, test and experiment with it. If that was a fake, I'm sure they'd give it back to you and delay or stop the The publication of the International New Testament. But when they learn that your thing is the real fragment of the manuscript that my father found at the very person you think is the expert, they have to stop you and file a lawsuit against you To avoid unnecessary rumours. Steve, do you understand? The same thing, because of differences in doubt and belief, will have very different views." "Does that also explain another question I haven't asked?" She looked confused. "What is it? Ask." "How did this Augusto Monty come up with the idea of ​​digging in Ostia Antica?" She was confused. "Because someone found an ancient manuscript next to the pile of ruins six years ago and showed it to him." "Don't you know that LeBlanc brought this clue to your father?" "No idea. I didn't know his name until Mr. Wheeler mentioned him last night." "You don't know that LeBlanc met your father last year, and that was the day your father became mentally ill?" "No, I didn't know about it until Mr. Wheeler told me yesterday that you said you found a note of such an interview in my father's date book." "And you can't see anything strange here? Nothing suspicious?" "No. My father dealt with a lot of people before that day." "Well, Angela, let me try your faith. Are you going to tell the judge that your father met Leblanc in Rome last year? This will link your father to Leblanc and the case will be closed There will be new doubts, which may lead to an investigation of the final facts. Do you have enough faith to do this?" She shook her head. "Steve," she said, "the heads of The Second Resurrection have presented our testimony to the judge, in which I have said all I know. Last night, I called the Ruth Recia, let her read that entry in my father's date book, and everyone, including Mr. What about Robert LeBlanc? Anyway, I think a judge should know it. Look, Steve, I'm not afraid. A man of faith is not afraid of facts." Randall was no longer defensive.He sat with a dazed look on his face.The last chance. "Can you tell this to another person?" "Who?" "Plummer, could you go to Plummer and confirm—that is, that your father did, in fact, meet Plummer?" She still shook her head. "Steve, he already knew about it too, Plummer knew it all and there was no doubt about it anymore. When Flumine joined the 'Second Resurrection', Plummer joined. Okay With that said, he's turned around, he's no longer writing anonymous letters of defamation, and he's starting to write an exclusive history of the entire program that started 6 years ago until today." Randall sat in a chair, he couldn't take it anymore, everyone who objected was bought off by them, which meant that there was no point in blackmailing Henning for his attempt to get a copy of the International New Testament. Someone knocked on the door, and then the door opened.The court servant stuck his head in. "Mr. Randall, it is time for your final judgment." Randall stood up. "Another half a minute," he said.Angela on the opposite side also stood up.He turned to her again. "You want me to retract my original testimony, don't you?" She put on her sunglasses. "I want you to do what you have to do, and I don't need to say more." She thought about what to say.Finally she said, "I really came here to tell you that no matter what you are and what you become, as long as you know how to reciprocate love, I will love you. Love yourself first, and then love me. But you can't love unless you have faith in humanity, in the future. I feel sorry for you, Steve. But I feel sorry for us. I would sacrifice anything for you but faith. I hope one day you You'll understand. Now, you can do whatever you like." She hurried out of the room, leaving Randall alone. "Would you like to make one last statement before the final judgment, Mr. Randall?" "Yes, Your Excellency," he said to the judge, "I reflect on my submissions in this room. I would like to say that I did not go to Rome to spoil the 'Second Resurrection' or the International New I have only one purpose: to prove that the real Jesus Christ has been discovered." He saw Wheeler and four other publishers and even Angela leaning forward to listen even though they were sitting in the front row. Randall faced the judge. "Everything I heard and saw in Rome proved to me that the fragment I had newly found and brought to France, and the collection of ancient manuscripts on which the International New Testament was based, was a modern reproduction, the A forgery, a fake, made by a forger who is good at it. I believe that what Professor Monty has found is of no value, and that the Christ in the manuscripts of James and Petronas is but an invented idol. Although Testimony before this has been against me, and I still believe that what I brought into France was a forgery—worthless, I repeat, so I did not commit a crime. I believe, after careful consideration of my first After obtaining the information and investigation, the court will acquit me without the influence of personal factors. And, I ask the court to return the lost manuscript No. 3, which is in a sense the bequest of Robert —give it back to me so I can send it to some other more objective expert in the world for testing. Nothing else.” "Are you finished, Mr. Randall?" "yes." "Very good. The defendant's statement is over. Now announce the final judgment on this case." Judge Leclerc (Mouth) (Mouth) flipped through a pile of manuscripts on the table.There are two lawsuits. "Considering the fact that the defendant has always been a law-abiding citizen in his own country, and the particularity of the case and the circumstances of his arrest, the second claim of disturbing public order and assaulting officials is not mentioned. As for the first - — namely, that the defendant is accused of bringing into France a priceless treasure without making a proper declaration—” Randall held his breath. "—The court found the manuscript to be true, and the accused was found guilty." Randall froze there like a stone. Alone, he thought. "I now pronounce the sentence as follows," the judge continued, "the defendant Steve Randall was sentenced to three months' imprisonment and a fine of fifty thousand francs. Considering that the defendant does not seem to intend to break the law and the requirements of the defendant's client, no The defendant was fined and suspended for 3 months. However, in order to protect his client and to prevent similar acts of public harassment from happening again, the defendant will be sent back to his current cell for two days until the International New Testament After the public announcement - 48 hours later - the defendant will be taken from this cell to the airport and deported from France." The judge cleared his throat. "As for your request to return the fragments of the manuscript to you, this court does not accept it. Since the appraisal result is true, the confiscated manuscript will be returned to the current owner, the International New Testament Action Agency called 'Second to those in charge of Resurrection, and let them do what they want." He clapped his hands on the table. "The court is now adjourned." Two policemen showed up.Randall felt the cold metal on his wrists and realized he was handcuffed. He looked over the rows of stools, avoiding Angela, and fixed his eyes on the cheery Wheeler, Deckhard, and Fontaine who surrounded Frumi. Randall looked at them, and suddenly a thought flashed through.Blasphemous or not, the thought enters the mind and stays there. Lord, forgive them, they don't know what they did. He immediately corrected the words above, Lord, forgive them, not for their unrighteousness to me, but for their fooling of the Holy Spirit and the unsuspecting, helpless, and gullible world. Another bad moment - not too bad actually but unbelievable, unbelievable and totally weird - and that was when he was back in the detention center half an hour later. He was sentenced to be expelled from France as persona non grata and had to pay for the plane ticket himself.Inspector Bavor of the Security Police Force asked him for money for a one-way ticket to New York.Randall searched his wallet and traveler's checks, but to his dismay he had no money with him.He was told he'd better get some money as soon as possible. He remembered that he didn't take the twenty thousand dollars with him, he put the money in a safe in the Hotel Jinhua in Rome.Before leaving Paris, he had arranged with the hotel to transfer the money back to his account in New York.Now that he was short of money, his first thought was to call Thad Crawford or Wanda and ask either of them to telex the amount he needed, but then he remembered that he had a good friend in Paris. friend. So, from the warden's office, he called Sam Husey of the Associated Press. Randall doesn't say all this complicated stuff about the Second Resurrection and the International New Testament and LeBlanc's manuscript fragments.He told Hassi that he was arrested at the airport yesterday for bringing an undeclared piece of art into France, which was a complete misunderstanding, but that he is now in court custody anyway. "I need some money, Sam. I just don't have enough money this time, and I'll give it to you when I get home in a few days." "Do you need money? How much? Tell me." He said it. "I'll send it right away," Hassi said. "Hey, wait a minute, Steve, you haven't told me—have you pleaded guilty?" "Of course not." "So, when will your trial begin?" "It's been a trial, this morning's court session, and I've been found guilty. I've been sentenced and fined, suspended. My things have been confiscated. I've been deported from France, that's why I'm asking for money. " There was silence on the other end of the phone for a while. "Let me figure it out, Steve," Hassi said. "You were arrested—when?" "last night." "Then you were tried and sentenced this morning?" "That's right, Sam." "Wait a minute, Steve - now one of us is out of our minds, but that's impossible - I mean, that's impossible, not in France. You better tell me what happened this morning thing." Realizing that the guards were still watching him, Randall told Hasey succinctly what had happened in the preliminary court, the jury verdict, and the sentencing. Hassey was so surprised that he stuttered on the other end of the phone. "But--but that's impossible--impossible--just nonsense. Are you sure it happened as you say?" "Sam, for God's sake, that's how it happened. It happened a few hours ago, so why should I make it up?" "My God!" Hassey yelled. "My God, I've lived here all these years, and I've heard rumors of scams, of private courts—but it's the first time I've heard it directly from someone." Randall was confused. "What do you mean? What's the matter, Sam?" "What do you mean a trial is justified? Listen, Steve, my dear, ignorant gringo, you've been lied to and sentenced on false charges. You've got the French legal process Isn't it clear at all? Their trial against you was not legal at all. The final verdict has to go through a preliminary trial, a trial, a final trial, and then a jury verdict. And you got convicted without any procedure. It must be a private The court they set up and they sent you on cleverly fabricated charges. Steve, I'm guessing there must be someone involved in your case, someone high enough to get you out of the way. Get rid of you quickly and quietly. I don't know what you're involved in now, but it must mean a lot to someone." "That's right," Randall said blankly. "To someone, to someone, it's really important." "Steve," Harsey said anxiously, "do you want me to intervene?" Randall considered his friend's intervention.Finally, he said, "Sam, do you like being in Europe, working in France?" "What do you mean? I'm obsessed with it." "Leave it alone, then." "But justice, Steve—who's going to deliver justice?" "Give it to me." He paused. "I appreciate your concern, Sam. Send the money now." He hangs up. Justice, he thought. Liberty, equality, fraternity, he thought. Then he realized that this sentence was just a promise from France.It wasn't France who tried him, though—that was merely a government prerogative.He was judged by some superpower. The "second resurrection" judged him. It was a rejoicing Friday morning—the morning Randall was released.Randall will never forget what happened that morning. He believes that nothing in his lifetime has been more widely noticed and more influential than this event.Of course, the Japanese announcement of the bombing of Pearl Harbor, the fall of Berlin and the death of Hitler, the launch of Sputnik, the assassination of President John F. Kennedy, and Neil Armstrong's first steps on the moon were all important .But, for Randall, there is no news that can match this one in terms of the public sentiment it has stirred up, and that is the news from the Royal Palace in Amsterdam, the Netherlands.The message says that the savior of mankind and the follower of God undeniably exists in the world. For days, Randall had been so engrossed in its veracity that, for the sake of his own survival, he had almost ignored the powerful impact that the Gospel of James and the Parchment of Petronas would have on the people. But all the way from the detention center to the airport outside of Paris, Randall noticed that every street, every coffee shop, every window was drawn to the event.Both French and foreigners came out, reading newspapers, listening to the radio, sitting around the TV in front of the store, full of passion. In the police car heading to the airport, Randall was sandwiched between two French police officers in blue uniforms, one named Gohan and the other named Lefeve.They were so absorbed in reading the newspaper that they completely ignored Randall, who had played an important role in the drama.It was reported in every newspaper, and took up almost half of the first page of the paper.Randall glanced at the huge headlines: JESUS ​​IS RETURNED!Another title reads: Christ Jesus Is Risen.There are many other large titles, and below these are some photographs including the Gospel of James - Ostia Antica, and the revised image of Jesus and the cover of the International New Testament. In the front seat of the car, the driver of the car has been silent, listening patiently to a French-language program from Amsterdam. The officers on either side of Randall occasionally read messages aloud to each other, sometimes realizing that Randall didn't know much French, so they translated into English.All Randall could figure out was that the newspapers reported only the general gist of the International New Testament.At the Royal Palace in Amsterdam, full details are being announced.More than 2,000 news units came to the scene to listen to the complete announcement. These more than 2,000 news units came from different countries in the world. The news will send images and comments through communication satellites with a full crystal, 1900 circuit system and previous artificial satellites. Broadcast to countless TV viewers in every corner of the earth. Along the way, only Lefeve and Randall had a personal conversation.He stopped reading, looked at Randall strangely and said, "You're actually part of this, aren't you, sir?" "I'm." "But why did they kick you out of the camera?" "Because they're crazy," Randle said, before adding: "Because I don't believe it." Lefebv's eyes widened. "Then you must be crazy." They were at the airport, and Officer Lefevre opened the back door of the car and jumped out, trying to help Randall out of the car.Because Randall's handcuffs were on the officer's hand, Randall had to push hard, twisting his wrist in this way, and the pain reminded him of who he was and what happened to him. On the first floor of the airport, it was very noisy, and now it is very crowded.For the convenience of passengers and visitors, as well as for the convenience of the staff, the airport has installed large-screen TVs in the lobby.Around the TV, people crowded together to watch, surrounded by layer after layer.Even in the ticketing and consultation offices, customers and service personnel forget their work and things because they are engrossed in the TV programs that can be seen immediately. Officer Lefeve went to pick up a one-way transoceanic ticket for Randall and check the boarding time.After Lefeve left, John squeezed into a group of people to watch the nearest TV, and Randall had to follow him because he was holding handcuffs. Looking over the densely packed heads of the audience, Randall tried his best to watch the TV screen while listening to the commentator's comments and explanations.First in French, then in English, and on this day of the press, both official languages. ------------------ 41 The footage shows rows of press and visiting dignitaries, followed by a splendidly furnished special number.There were arched windows with brown fans, each centered with gold flowers of the same design, there were chandeliers of crystal, copper bars left by the Emperor Louis Napoleon representing celestial spheres; and innumerable group of statues, the camera falls on the last group—justice trampled on greed and jealousy (Midas is greed, Medusa is jealousy), and this last shot throws Randall off balance. The camera focused on the characters on each velvet seat one by one, and the commentary commented on each person's name and identity accordingly.On that semi-circular stage, there are respected, sacred, and otherworldly people, they are: Dr. Deckhard, Mr. Wheeler, Mr. Fontaine, Mr. Trevor Young, Mr. Al Qaeda,杰弗里斯博士、奈特博士、里卡迪先生、扎奇里教授、特劳特曼博士、弗鲁米牧师、奥伯特教授、亨宁，而最后，在兽群中唯一的美女便是安杰拉?蒙蒂。评论员讲解说，她是代表她生病的父亲，意大利考古学家，文稿的发掘者奥古斯图?蒙蒂教授。 戴克哈德博士大声宣读着关于詹姆斯福音书和彼得罗纳斯报告的发现经过，而且指出了内容的要点，又向人们展示了一本《国际新约》的样本。 兰德尔感觉到有一只手在他的胳膊上，那是警官勒菲芙在向他挥舞手中的机票。“别丢了，”他警告兰德尔说，“不然你还要坐监狱。”他把机票塞进兰德尔的上衣口袋中。他伸手拽了一下他的同事。“哥翰，”他小声说，“我们还有15分钟就要把他送上飞机。趁这个机会找个地方随便坐会吧！” 几分钟后，他们来到了4层一个鸡尾酒廊，里面挤满了呆呆地盯着电视屏幕的人们，兰德尔真被弄得莫名其妙了。他从来没有见过这样的场面，观众们不仅有围在桌旁、盘腿而坐的，还有跪在地板上的，或在走廊里蹲在桌子中间的，而且有的围站在屋里，他们都聚精会神地看着电视。 还有些别的事情在发生。很多观众，也许是绝大多数观众，他们看着发生的奇迹时，神情非常像朝拜者。有些人在默默祈祷，有的在大声祈祷，而另外一些人则小声地跟着电视上出现的字句念着。有些人泣不成声，另一些人因疯狂而前仰后合。在远处一个角落里，突然出现了一阵骚动。一名国籍不详的妇女，突然晕倒在地，人们都立即上前帮助她。 这儿已没有地方坐，但片刻之后酒廊老板便为他们摆好了一张桌子和三张椅子。兰德尔心想，不管有多拥挤，警察总是有地方坐的。 兰德尔很笨拙地在两个警官中间坐下，心想不知道有没有人在看他的手铐。他环顾四周，但所有的人除了看到荧光屏上所播放的画面外，好像对其他任何事情都没有兴趣似的。 兰德尔向最近的一架电视屏幕上看去时，他马上知道了整个酒吧的人们都全神贯注如痴如醉的原因。 原来弗鲁米的形象占据了整个荧光屏，接着又显示出他面前打开的一本新《圣经》，然后他用法语朗读着全部的詹姆斯福音书。他那宏亮的声音很快在整个酒吧内回荡，好像那声音就是出自耶稣本人之口，就连那些抽泣声、祈祷声也不见了。在他朗读时，一组口头翻译即将他的话翻译成世界上的许多其他语言，以便全世界的人们都听到完整的福音书。 机场广播里传来了飞机即将起飞的通知，警察勒菲芙碾灭他的烟头，对兰德尔说：“我要走了，时间到了。” 一路上，每一个方向每个角落都传来了电视机、收音机的声音。 在登机处，旅客们都流向飞往国外的航班，哥翰将兰德尔持后，勒菲芙上前和旅客代理低声地商量着什么。他转过头对兰德尔解释说：“我们接到命令说你必须最后一个登机，兰德尔先生，所以你还得等几分钟。” 兰德尔点点头，他朝左边看了一眼，就是在这儿，这个人们将要离开的地方，也放置着一个小电视，有一小帮人在看，他们的大多数都是即将飞离此地时稍停一会以看最后几眼。兰德尔试着从闪烁不清的电视屏幕上看清内容。 电视上在迅速地展示世界各高层领导人的镜头，他们在表示祝贺。祝贺人类能出现耶稣复活这样奇妙不凡的事情。电视上，有红衣主教登上圣?彼得大教堂的阳台上俯视梵蒂冈的公共广场，法国总统在凡尔赛宫的庭院里，美国总统在白宫的椭圆形会议室里表示祝贺的镜头。讲解员报告说下午的电视节目中将报道世界其他国家的领导人祝贺的镜头。 电视上的画面已经移到了阿姆斯特丹的皇宫大厅里。摄影机的镜头转向了神学家们，他们的发言人——里卡迪阁下——正在宣布今后的12天的庆祝——每天分配给一基督的圣徒（当然犹大被马提亚代替）。 里卡迪阁下还宣布着在本年的圣诞节，全世界的基督教会，不管是基督教还是天主教，都将开始启用第五福音书，那也是全世界人类的希望所系。 兰德尔想，在圣诞节，他以前（不算前年）总是回到威斯康星，到奥克城，到尖顶教堂去，在那里，他参加他父亲内森?兰德尔牧师主持的聚会。此刻，他又想到了他父亲和他父亲的助手汤姆?凯里，他们是否也在那儿收看这个由人造卫星播送的节目。从今年的圣诞节起，在有了詹姆斯福音以后，每个信教的家庭内又是什么景况呢？ 兰德尔的视线又转移到了屏幕上。上面有安杰拉?蒙蒂的镜头，有阿姆斯特丹教授的镜头，还有奈特博士和亨宁的镜头，讲解员解释说，参与新《圣经》的发现、鉴定、翻译和印刷的这些人员不一会儿就会出来回答记者的提问。 当作最后的结论时，镜头再次移到了他的身上。 兰德尔的视线被旅客代理吸引住了，旅客代理正使劲地向他们招手，让他们到登机处。“喂，这会儿每个人都上了机了，”哥翰说，“你是最后一个了，我们要把你护送进去！” 这两个警官把兰德尔推向大门，勒菲芙掏出一串钥匙，将手铐打开。兰德尔的手臂获得自由后，他不停地按摩着手腕。 他们到了登机处。 “一路顺风，”勒菲芙说，“对不起，我们不得不这样做。” 兰德尔默默地点了点头。 他伸长了脖子看了最后一眼由电视卫星转播的来自阿姆斯特丹的节目。电视上的画面从他的视线中消失了，但电视里的声音依然可以听见。兰德尔从他的护送者身边离去，但是里卡迪那富于启示性的声音依然跟着他。 “正像约翰曾经写过的那样：'除非你看到奇迹的迹象，不然你不会相信。'而现在詹姆斯也写了'我现在已经，因我的双眼，看到了奇迹的迹象，因而我现在可以相信了。'现在整个人类可以高呼：我们确实相信！Christos anesti！基督复活了！Aithos anesti！他真的复活了！阿门！” Amen. 他走进飞机机舱，那个非常严肃的空中小姐在他身后猛地把门关上。 此刻听到的只有飞机发动机的声音了。 他坐在自己的座位上。他已经准备好了再次回家。 5个半月过去了。 他又回到了故乡，真是不可思议。 这是一个在威斯康星州的奥克城的圣诞节，不过他心里十分清楚，这个圣诞节将不同于以往的任何一个圣诞节。 史蒂夫?兰德尔非常舒适，轻松地坐在教堂的前排上，他的周围是自己的家人和旧相识。在他面前不远处的橡木讲台上站着汤姆?凯里牧师，他正根据《国际新约》的内容神采飞扬地讲着。在兰德尔看来，他完全变了一个人似的，再也不是以前那个怀疑和失去信心的汤姆?凯里了，而是充满信心。兰德尔想，这可能是受了复活的基督的影响吧！ 他无心听凯里讲道，这些内容对他来说已经再熟悉不过了。他百无聊赖地左右打量着。 他坐在一个按木坐位上，在他父母亲的中问。他母亲慈祥的脸上洋溢着快乐幸福的神情，她正一句不漏地听讲坛上传出的声音。他的父亲——内森——这位逐渐衰老的绅士似乎恢复了他曾经有过的活力。他的继承人从讲坛上说出的话的韵律使得他浅蓝色的眼睛在闪烁。在他父亲身边，坐着的是他的妹妹，再旁边是有一个瑞士式向前突出的下巴的埃德?彼得?约翰逊——他父亲的好友。兰德尔在位了上移动了一下，他观察着坐在母亲那边的人。第一个是朱迪，她长长的丝发遮住了脸的大部分。再后是赫尔曼舅舅，他比以前胖了而且结实了许多。 他们都全神贯注，聚精会神于尊敬的汤姆?凯里的讲道，认真地听他们不很熟悉的东西，听基督复活的奇迹。 但是，这些内容兰德尔早已听过。一度，他也像他们一样，信以为真，被其深深地感动。但后来，却发现它只不过是一篇天衣无缝的伪造品而已。然而在座的人们却没有一个人知道他曾参加过“第二次复活”的工作，兰德尔还没有告诉他们。他想在聚会结束后告诉他们，首先要告诉他的父亲，然后告诉其它人。他要告诉他们他在国外的目的和经过。他会告诉他们多少，他说不清楚，这在他头脑中没有决定下来。 兰德尔从正在低头祈祷的人们头顶往上看去，透过教堂尖顶的玻璃窗子，看到了外面树枝投下的阴影，单薄的叶子因背负着昨晚降下的冬雪而压得低垂。他想记起那些童稚的年代，但是那时太遥远了，他现在能清楚地感觉到的，能在眼前浮现的是最近的过去，刚刚过去的过去，刚刚过去的不安的、愤怒的、痛苦的5个半月。 他深深地陷入沉思，过去的，刚刚过去的一切，折磨着他，那些变得比眼前的事物更真实。 他又生活在其中了，生活在他被驱逐出法国以后的几个周内。 他记得，他又回到了纽约，回到兰德尔集团公司的办公室里，回到了忠诚的秘书万达身边，回到了助手乔?霍金斯和律师萨德?克劳福德身边，回到了其他人身边，开始为公司的事务忙碌。但因为他对一切已经不感兴趣，因而显得心有余而力不足，同时因为他没有了信仰和奋斗的目标，因而显得萎靡不振。 他想逃走。5个半月中他3次企图逃走。萨德?克劳福德在弗蒙特有一处世外桃源似的农庄，他曾是一个农场主。那里有牲畜，有一条小溪环绕而过，此外还有一间舒适的没有人住的别墅，兰德尔想到那儿去放置“幽灵”，这些“幽灵”像恶梦般的拼贴画，它们有阿姆斯特丹的、巴黎的、奥斯蒂亚?安蒂卡的、惠勒的、弗鲁米的、莱布朗的、还有詹姆斯福音的。他便带着他的磁带、他的笔记、他最近的备忘录，还有一台小型的打字机到了那儿。他用电话与外界联系，与公司职员联系，与他在洛杉矶的女儿联系，与他在奥克城的父母联系。但是，他把大部分清醒的时刻用来写书，用来写那本《第二次复活内幕》的书。 那几个月的日于并不好过，他感到困惑，愤怒，自我怜悯，但是大多数时候还是感觉困惑。他一面写文章，一面借酒浇愁，他试着用笔和酒把他内脏里的怨气发泄出来。他写了几令纸，把“第二次复活”的全部内幕都揭露、曝光出来，把他过去的前后经过都写了出来，关于莱布朗和他在罗马的见面，关于阴险狡诈的弗鲁米的卑鄙行径，关于他被法国驱逐出境的过程，还有所有的一切，所有的东西，除了安杰拉。他放过了她。 把这些写出来的时候，他有时觉得自己在写一本最伟大的侦探故事。有时，他相信从来没有人像他这样揭露过宗教的虚伪、欺诈和对世人愚弄。又有一些日子，他又非常肯定地认为自己写出了一部病态、玩世不恭的妄想狂，最露骨的自传。 他一边喝酒一边写书，可以说那一页页的稿纸都是从威士忌的河流中飘流出来的。 书写完时，他体内最后一滴毒液已被排出。剩下的只是他孤独的空壳和丝毫没有减少的困惑。 当葱绿的青草在萧瑟的秋风中变黄时，他离开了弗蒙特的农屋，回到了纽约，并带回了他的手稿。他把手稿放在办公室保险柜里，只有万达和他自己知道。他不知道是否该出版这些。如果写这部作品只是为了驱除体内的撒旦的话，这部稿件就可放置起来。但他还想出版它，用它来和惠勒他们制造出的怪物作斗争，尽管这怪物的影响已遍及全国，以至半个世界。 在整个现代文学史上，他相信，绝对没有一部作品比《国际新约》更为成功。无论你读这本书的哪一部分，它都会将你吸引住。它会努力使你改变原有的宗教信仰，使你陷入它的陷阱中，然后吞没你。电台、电视台不分昼夜地充斥着这一切。报纸和杂志没有一天不登有它的故事、图片和广告。如果你去商店买东西，去酒吧玩乐，去餐馆就餐，去参加舞会，你随时都会听到人们在讨论这事儿的。 锣鼓在敲，上帝恩赐给凡人的耶稣在不限制名额地召集人们虔诚的灵魂。暴力事件的减少被一些人归因于心灵转向基督。经济的发展被另一些人认为是因为耶稣重返人问。服毒人数的下降也归因于基督。战争的结束、和平谈判的开始、普遍的富裕和舒适、全球友爱互助的气氛成风，这一切都被刚刚觉悟的信仰者视为耶稣基督所做的工作。 兰德尔从最新的报道中得知，《国际新约》的精装本在美国卖到了300万册，估计全世界已卖到了4亿册。所有这些只不过在3个或4个月中。 他觉得应该出版这部暴露“第二次复活”内幕的书。虽然那可能是以卵击石，但通过自己的公司全力以赴的宣传，以实击虚，说不定还可以出奇制胜。 正在他考虑这个行动的时候，兰德尔接到了他已等候多时的电话，那是奥丹?布勒打来的。奥丹?布勒是全球集团企业的头。兰德尔集团企业被全球集团企业接管的合同早已准备好。在兰德尔参与“第二次复活”宣传事宜之前，他委托律师萨德?克劳福德代表自己将这事办妥，但却一直拖到现在。克劳福德曾试图想同布勒的代理人解决这个问题，但却失败了。他不知其中的奥妙何在，可兰德尔是知道的。他知道，惠勒是布勒的好朋友，而惠勒在巴黎曾警告过他：要与“第二次复活”保持一致，否则后果自负。 终于，布勒的电话打来了，是打给他本人的。谈话非常简短，几乎没有废话，直切主题，语气很不友好。 “兰德尔，我从乔治?L?惠勒那听说了，他现在是成绩卓越。他告诉我他这一切一点都不是因为你。他说你为了阻止他做了很多不好的事。他说你阴谋破坏这个计划。你想对此说些什么？” “我努力去阻止它的发生，因为我有证据证明这是一个骗局。” “我也已经听他这么说了。是什么使你这么干的？你是个无神论者，还是共产主义者——是不是这方面的原因？” “我不能为我不信仰的事物作宣传。” “听着，兰德尔，你相信也好，不相信也好，你把它留给惠勒他们去管好了，你做你自己的事。现在合同就在我的桌子上，我吸收你进全球集团企业之前必须知道你到底站在哪一边。” “我站在哪边？” “你以后怎样处理《国际新约》？你还要阴谋破坏它，找些麻烦，做一些颠覆工作或者别的什么吗？我的意思是，像做些演讲，写写书或出版一些垃圾一样的东西来和这本新的《圣经》做对吗？我想知道，而且惠勒也想知道。如果你还有这样一些动机的话，我不想和你打交道。如果你聪明地做一位体面、敬畏上帝的人——我们认为你会这样——这样的话会让你父亲感到骄傲的——那么我就会签合同。但是，我需要把这些写成书面的，作为合同的补充，这样我就签字。这个合同的补充条款，就是不允许你散布或出版反对《国际新约》的颠覆性言论。如果我有了这条保证，我就能保证你进入全球集团企业。你是什么意思——答应还是不答应？” "Maybe." “达到底是什么意思？” “布勒先生，可能是同意，也可能是不同意。我的意思是在仔细考虑之前我从来都不做重大的决定。” “好，你快点思考，年轻人。我希望在今年的最后一天听到你的回信。” 他挂上了电话以后，兰德尔惊呆了。他被“第二次复活”开除是一回事，而和全球集团企业打交道则是另一回事。如果同他们闹翻，事情就麻烦了。因为他将来的一切都系于这次交易的成败上。这是他在激烈的竞争中的最后一条退路。不过，布勒附加的条件也太无法令人接受了。想着想着，他就觉得不是滋味，直想呕吐。他反复权衡着布勒桌上的合同和自己放在保险柜里的手稿，但还是不知道哪个更为重要。 几周以后，他又接到了一个电话。这个电话使他比以前更感到困惑。几个月来，兰德尔一直想和麦克洛克林联系上，想告诉他自己由于某种不能透露的原因而不得不违背最初的协商。麦克洛克林一直在继续他的秘密活动，很长时间都与他联系不上。 “这会儿他的电话打来了，正等你接电话。”万达告诉他，“他从DC区打来的，说他回来是想看萨德?克劳福德和你的信件，他很抱歉自己一去这么长时间。现在他正焦急地等着和你谈话，想同你制定下步计划。我把他电话接过来，好吗？” 兰德尔想到要告诉麦克洛克林他必须要告诉的事情，就犹豫了。“不，今天不行，万达。我还没有想好。万达，你告诉他我因公去了欧洲。告诉他等我下个月回来后给他打电话，最迟不过年底。” 那天他已经想出了解决问题的最好办法——那就是不管它。如果你不管它，不想它，不面对它，它就会自动走开。如果他走开了，就不存在什么问题。至少在年底以前，可以不想它。 对，解决问题的最好办法就是不管它并且尽情地喝酒。 所以，他就喝酒，从10月下旬到11月和12月的大部分时间，他像过去那样喝个不停，不掺别的，喝纯粹的白酒，他把白酒当作良心和事业问题的解药，当作解除困惑的良医，当作排除孤独的伴侣。唯一的麻烦是，你不得不清醒过来。那时候他变得更清醒，然后，他重归寂寞。 他一生从来没有这样孤独过，不管是床上还是床下。 于是，他又记起了治疗这种疾病的古老药方，和喝酒一样，他大剂量地服用。 女孩们、妇女们，那些高雅的，裸露的，到处都有。她们很容易走到那些成功的、花钱大方的显要人物身边，于是他去找她们。乳房丰满的女演员、神经过敏的刚接触社会的小女孩，——那些来他办公室谈生意的人们，那些他在酒吧间或在迪斯科舞厅找到的人们，或者通过介绍（问她有没有朋友）认识的人们——她们都和他喝酒喝得烂醉，和他一起脱衣睡觉，和他做爱。但是当他在云雨之后将要睡觉之时，他知道他仍旧孤独。 这不是解决问题的办法，在绝望中，他寻找出路。 人与人之间的接触是有意义的，而不仅仅是为了性。 一天晚上，非常劳累，他决定给旧金山的巴巴拉打个电话，看那样会不会好些，也许它能使自己暂时休息一下。但是当管家在电话里说，“这是伯克家”时，兰德尔迷迷糊糊地记起几个月前巴巴拉已嫁给了混蛋伯克，他马上把烫手的电话挂上了。 还有一天晚上，也是难以入睡的时刻，感到悲伤又孤独。他忽然想打电话给他的最后一个女朋友，那个极其性感的达丽娜——尼科尔森——她到底他妈的在哪儿？——对，在堪萨斯城。请求她的原谅，把她拉回到自己的床上。他相信她肯定会抛弃那个男朋友，那个小孩罗伊?英格拉姆，跑着到他的身边。但是当他拿电话时，他突然记起了达丽娜要与他结婚，正是这个，他们才在阿姆斯特丹分手的。他的手没拿起电话，倒是抓到了酒瓶。 在他最孤独的时刻，他曾冒着失去一位最为能干的女秘书的危险，把手伸向了万达。在离开办公室之前，他向万达提出非分的要求。他的感情热烈而痛苦。万达聪明能干，胸部丰满，臀部圆滚，是个十分性感的黑人女孩儿，撩得他心里火辣辣的，他要她，要同她一起睡觉，要同她做爱。而她则说：“好的，老板，我一直在想，不知你什么时候才会找我。” 她曾经每晚和他一起睡。她那黑亮诱人的身体扑向他，长长的臂膀向他伸去，红红的乳头顶着他，丰满的大腿为他分开，她迎合着他，顺从他，对他无微不至。她曾和他在一起度过了30个夜晚，——没别的想法。一次一次地——并不是为了保全现在的职位，也不是对他的崇拜和爱慕，而是一种深深的，对他的需要和处境的了解和关怀，所以她的爱只是一种怜悯。一个月以后，他感觉到了这些，带着感激和羞愧，他不再和她做爱，而是把她当作了办公桌前的朋友和秘书。 终于，在上周，他接到了来自罗马的信，里面是一张节日贺卡——圣诞快乐，新年快乐——在卡片的空白页上有几行字。发信人只简单注名：安杰拉。 她经常想到他，不知道他在做什么，她还为他的平安和健康祈祷。她父亲还是老样子，半死半活地，全不知他的铲子挖出的奇迹。她的姐姐很好，孩子们也很好。至于她自己，她非常忙，《国际新约》出版后忙着替他父亲写回信，忙着以她父亲的名义写文章和接受采访。不管怎样，最近惠勒接她到纽约拍一周的电视。她将在圣诞节的早晨到达。她将住在普拉扎饭店。 “如果你感觉有必要和有用处的话，史蒂夫，我很高兴见到你。”然后，简单地签上：安杰拉。 他还不知道怎样给她回信，所以就没写，甚至没有解释他要在圣诞节和新年之间离开纽约去看他女儿他父母亲。女儿要从加利福尼亚来威斯康星州和他见面，所以就不可能在纽约见安杰拉——即使他想见她——或者说敢见她的话。 安杰拉的来信是5个半月来第一件使他清醒的事情。第二件事情是他昨晚回到奥克城和家人在一起的时候。他们围在圣诞树旁，喝传统的蛋奶，交换、拆解包裹着的令人惊喜的礼物，在门前雪地上和朱迪一起听圣歌。 第三件使他清醒的事情发生在教堂的前排板凳那儿。 突然，兰德尔意识到自己现在坐在教堂前排的板凳上。汤姆?凯里的讲道已经结束，他身边的人们，他亲爱的家人和朋友们正在从板凳上站起来。 在这片刻之间，他看到了他们闪亮的眼睛，所有的人的眼睛都因为充满了希望而闪耀着光芒——他的母亲，满含感激和幸福，他的父亲，心旷神怡。他父母亲看上去都比过去年轻了许多，他们都因为能听到这伟大的声音而感到极其激动。他妹妹克莱尔现在要比以前更加坚定而自信，使她更下定了决心不再去找那位已经结婚的情人、雇主，不再继续那份工作，她要走自己的路，找另一个人重新开始生活。他女儿朱迪在听了讲道之后表现得沉静，有一种兰德尔以前从未见到过的成熟。 他回头一望，800多位教区居民，正三三两两，成群结队地，带着一生中从未见过的温馨、样和、自信走出教堂。 为达到目的，任何一种手段都可以。安杰拉在他们最后一次的相聚时曾这么告诉他。 手段不重要。目的才是一切。 That's what she said. 对于这话，他否定过。 然而，现在，在这一时刻——因为它是圣诞节，因为它是家，因为它是几个月中最使人清醒的时刻，他亲自看到了成百双眼睛闪耀出来的对神仰望的光辉——这一时刻，他可能会对安杰拉说，——也许目的是最重要的。 他将永远，永远不再像当时那么坚决。 他往前倾了一点去吻母亲。“太妙了，是不是？”他说道。 “想想，孩子，我活到能看到这一天真是太好了。”她说，“即使将来不再有这样的日子，我和你父亲也满足了，我们已经心满意足了。” “是的，妈妈。”他说，“再说一句圣诞快乐。妈，您和克莱尔、赫尔曼舅舅，还有埃德?约翰逊和朱迪回家去吧。我租了一辆车，爸和我要一起坐车回去。我们要走那条远路，就像我小时候那样，那时候爸常开着车，还记得吗？不过，时间不会太长，妈，饭还未热时我们就到了。” 他转向父亲，父亲正拄着拐杖。他把胳膊放进父亲腋窝搀扶父亲，领他到红地毯的走廊来。 父亲对他微微一笑，“我们欠主的东西实在太多了。我们没有全心全意地敬畏他、信仰他。可他仍然赐福于我们，使我们健康、精神地在一起听他的好信息。” “是的，爸，”兰德尔柔声地说。父亲现在说话又恢复了病前的状态，他感到轻松了一些。 “好，孩子，现在，”令人尊敬的内森?兰德尔和从前一样诚恳，“我想我们今天在教堂听讲道的时间很长了。和你一块儿回家实在是一件快事，只要和以前一样。” 他们一路上的确又和往日一样了，但是兰德尔的感觉又与往昔不同。 他们回家的路要走很远，这是一条碎石和土铺成的小路。路上，已被刚刚下的雪掩盖了，路旁有一个小池塘，四周都是白雪，像是给池塘穿上的裙子。从这条路回家比那条通过奥克城商业区的道路远10或15分钟。 兰德尔慢慢开着车，仔细回味着令人怀旧的插曲。 兰德尔觉得他们两人都有点滑稽，因为那堆在身上的厚厚的衣服使他看上去像圆圆的大胖娃娃。还在教堂时意识到气温下降了，太阳的光也没有多少热度，他们在教堂的门厅里便穿上了大衣，戴上了围巾和手套。现在，坐在这辆租来的汽车上（暖气坏了），他们倒也觉得很舒适、温暖。 一会儿后，父亲开始说话，有时因为生病的原因显得说不清楚，但是他的能量似乎又被煽动了起来。兰德尔非常高兴地保持沉默，静静地听父亲说话。 “看那边的池塘，”他父亲用手一指说，“世界上还有比这个自然景象更美更宁静的吗？我总是对埃德?约翰逊说，如果索罗当初见到了这地方，肯定就不会喜欢沃尔登了。很高兴他没见到这地方，否则，经他一渲染，这里肯定被游客挤满了。那乱丢的烂纸和啤酒瓶一定会使我们受不了的。你看，现在还是你小时候的那样子，你还记得吗？史蒂夫？” “我还记得，爸爸，”兰德