Chapter four

«Jesus, son of Joseph!»

Son of a carpenter, tired of useless to turn his head on the missing sides, stops.

«What?»

«Do you know the Holy Scripture well?»

«Not understood…»

If a comrade thinks, that I am trying to insult him – it is in vain. I am only bringing him to the subject of interest.

«Then remind me of the beginning of Genesis?»

«In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth. The earth was formless and empty, and darkness was over the deep, and the Spirit of God moved over the water».»

«That’s it!» I sigh. «And we don’t have that either: neither darkness, nor abyss, nor water!»

Jesus sniffs knowingly.

«So you said, that I… well, this… not this… is not the Lord?»

«You are not the Lord!»

And once again I am on the topic of «nothing». In vain the companion hopes for something… or on someone, for example, on me. «In order to avoid further torment», I quickly condemn his hope. But the guy is clearly not going to move away from canon.

«But there is no other Lord either!»

«Other»?!»

I artistically «kill» the applicant by mimicry and voice: for the mind. «Killed» corresponds to the image instantly: he «dies»… with crimson paint on dark cheeks.

«I’m sorry… I didn’t put it that way… I want to say: „There is no Lord“…»

That’s better!

«That is, I wanted to say: „The Lord is not here“…»

With a hasty correction, Jesus is ahead of my failed gratitude for a sober look. No objections: he is clever. He is clever and cunning: «they do not deny, loving, because life does not end tomorrow,» as one comrade said. Therefore, instead of a friendly pat on the shoulder, I now have to «stand a little on my friend» – not for selfishness again, but in the interests of the cause solely.

«Step forward – two steps back!» Am I right, comrade Jesus?»

The opposition is silent. Confounded? Lurking for better times? I can’t guarantee anything anymore, especially since the «best times» come suddenly – and again on me.

«The Lord is everywhere…»

«… should be… theoretically!» I’m not in debt: the sequence should be… consistent! «Everywhere»! Everywhere is somewhere not here! And here – do you see him, or even feel? No, mate: if there is no classics, then there is no Spirit of God! That’s because he has nothing to do here: neither darkness, nor water, nor the abyss! And everything should be according to the instructions: no gag! After all, the Bible – if you believe its readers-admirers – is not just a book, but a record from the words of the Author! Or do I think so by my naivety?»

Jesus courageously suffers an insult for himself and for the Lord and prefers to be left without a text. Now I have the opportunity to grin relatively calmly.

«So, one conclusion is already there… about what is not. And we have… nothing! Nothing classic… together with the Chief Classic! Hence what is the second conclusion?»

Jesus wipes his head. The text is already coming from somewhere below.

«Do you want to do without the Lord?»

No, this guy needs to be closely monitored! He is definitely well acquainted with the dialectic! Well, we make a knot for memory!

«I don’t know how it is in your age, but in ours it’s not accepted… it was to answer a question with a question…»

And without that, not a model of harmony, Jesus immediately hunched over the norm. Well, man: not a guy, but a virgin… in terms of feelings! It is impossible this way: start crying immediately… because of the little things!

«Well, well, Izzy!» I clap the shoulder of the ex-God conciliatingly. «Now (I don’t want to, but I’m shouting on an adverb!) I never thought to offend you, and, if, nevertheless, I managed it – sorry, for the sake of Go… that is, sorry.»

Jesus calms down: «a sweet word is nice and cat». And I have a lesson: there is no need to dissuade the little boy… ahead of time: there will be time and occasion.

«Well, that’s okay,» I put my arm around his shoulders. «So, what is the second conclusion? Here it is: will we begin to live or will we continue to exist?»

Jesus unexpectedly snorts and moves his head from the side to the side. Honestly: it seems that he is not two thousand years old, but he is our contemporary!

«Well, you, brother, determined!»

In my heart I «stroke myself on the head»: that’s up to the «brother»! It means: «go the right way, comrades!»

«This is the question of questions! And not some kind of abstract philosophy: the meaning of life!»

«True understood, Izzy! So I ask you for the meaning of life!»

Jesus ceases to grumble and will cloud his face.

«If I really understand you correctly… then you offer me participation in the arrangement?»

«Yes!» I repay to the son of a carpenter. He sighs and shakes his head already «in a different sense».

«That is, we do not take the Lord into account?»

What an unexpected wording for «Christ»! The guy is clearly doing well… on the road to materialism… although I make mistake.

«There is not Him, Izzy!»

Jesus frowns painfully – and I «spill the balm».

«At least, there is not him here! Although, if we are here and he is not, then he is not anywhere! Even if somewhere there is something in addition to «this»! After all, you yourself said: «Where two or three have gathered in my name – there I am with them!» And if he is not with them… with us, that is, then… to «no» there is no trial! Well, agree: this is elementary logic!

«Balm», as always, is not enough – and I «replace» it with a «bitter pill». Poor Jesus, there is nothing left but to swallow, at least, because… there is nothing else left… due to the lack of «nothing else» in stock.

«And then, Izzy: we are here with you! And another habitat for us will not be! Even, if it is theoretically allowed, that the Lord does exist, then we will have to, you want, you do not want, to admit that he exists in another dimension. Somewhere „there“, in another world, which with our does not intersect! You yourself see the environment: not a damn thing does not surround us! Hence the question: what, and let us wander with thoughts… and even if looking through the desert… absent?! Or spit on the conventions…»

«Is Lord just „convention“?»

«Well: „to the discrepancy of the canon“…»

«Spit it out»?!»

Izzy, do not try my patience! I have it not so much, and it is not long-playing! But then, «after what you go, you will find it!»

«Well: „close our eyes“! Does this wording suit you?»

I already have a link in the upper octave – and Jesus clearly refuses «wake the sleeping dog». In other words: he remains, albeit without mimicry, but without text.

«Hence the classic choice: «pro» or «contra»? Sorry, mate, but «terciam non datur»! Translation, I think, is not required: it is unlikely that the Roman procurator of Judea spoke the language of the aborigines. You daring him in Latin, wasn’t that’s you?

Jesus nods his head.

«I understand your question. Not the last one: the first.»

Oh, how he left the confession of impudence! What do you say: well done! But it’s another reason for alarm for the future.

«Of course, I am "pro"…in principle…»

What is this news?! Comrade obviously forgotten! More than that: more and more actively unbelted! Here and indulge the little boy! A little boy, it turns out – «with a fly in his nose»!

«What does this „principle“ mean?!»

Jesus does not suddenly hesitate: getting used to, or what?

«This means, that I agree with the idea of arrangement, but I would like to clarify: on what ideas?»

«It’s funny!» I refuse to smile easily. «With the idea… on what ideas?! Yes, you, it turns out, you can work not only with women and boys! Renan put you up for nothing!»

«What kind of Renan?»

I wave my hand.

«One of your «sympathizers».

Judging by the acetic expression on his face, Jesus easily «took apart the quotes». On this occasion, it is advisable to a little «splash balm pick».

«By the way, quotes can be omitted: man did not decide on the verdict… But this is so: a lyrical digression… What regards your question…»

I think artistically: I connect the palm and already thoroughly overgrown chin to the process. Here, to you – «soul of thoughts»! Here, to you – «because we are no longer on earth»! It turns out, that life is life everywhere, and not necessarily this, which is the form of existence of protein bodies!

«You are right: ideas are fundamentally.»

I intelligently hold the guy under the elbow: both «demonstrate» and «ask» at the same time. The last is in every sense at once: both the direction of his thoughts, and the right tone for both of us.

«Well: let’s go on milestones. That you once declared himself King of the Jews!»

«You say!»

«Oh!» I am wincing without any arts, that is, genuinely. «Just do not, Izzy!»

«What is not needed?»

Jesus honestly hangs his lips: the guy is already in the subject, but do not know also.

«Nothing is needed: neither the then evasiveness, nor today’s!»

Jesus’ eyes suddenly get wet – and he feels tremulously, both in his nose and in his voice.

«Has it really „reached“ to you?»

«Yes, so that you, there, do not mean: my brains, or our age! But I ask you: keep it simple! As one comrade from Chekhov said: „Arkady, don’t talk beautifully!“ I do not interrogate you, and do not catch the word! Your confessions are not needed to me, but I need your complicity in the creative process. And you, instead…»

I sadly wave my hand, while generously forgiving Jesus the theoretically possible rudeness. And it seems, my efforts do not disappear in vain.

«Okay.»

Sniffing, Jesus courageously draws a line under this topic. And rightly so: a more interesting one is waiting for us – and not one.

«Only I have a small clarification: I did not declare myself the King of the Jews, but they declared me! And this is me – not about the procurator.»

«Do you mean a group of mates?»

«Yes.»

«But you did not mind?»

With the intonation of the voice, I de facto remove the question mark.

«Khe-khe…» Jesus begins to diligently clear his throat.

«But you did not mind?» I climbed an octave higher – and Jesus nods with his head doomedly.

«I did not mind…»

«But the king is the ruler of the kingdom, isn’t he? That is, he is the first person of the state? Leader, can I say?»

I do not need to develop a theme and put pressure on Jesus: the guy «turns on» instantly.

«That is, you want to say, that I stood for the idea of the state?»

«Do you want to say something against?»

Jesus almost smiles guiltily – and throws up his hands.

«You’re right: I stood for the need of the state. But my kingdom was supposed to be „not of this world“. Do you feel the difference? So that „don’t get me right“, but „God is Gods, and Caesar is Caesar“!»

«This is «from another opera»!» I scorn my hand. «The logia are not clearly on the subject of «heavenly device»! This, as I understand it, was only about the banal tax payment. If wider: on the execution of laws. So, «from the world»,» not «from the world», but the kingdom is a form of government in the form of autocracy!»

Jesus looks down with embarrassment.

«Yes, but – the state in heaven… in paradise, that is…»

«We are not in paradise!» I press the opposition in the bud. «Yes, this „sky“ is not a biblical land! „And God called the firmament Heaven“. Do you remember?.. Oh yes: about „remember?“ – I beg your pardon.»

This I recover in response to the painfully wrinkled face of Jesus. And then: such an insult is it!

«That you have the right to ask me such a question. But all the others have the right to ask me already. As well as answering them «for myself and for that guy No, brother: nothing is better than the state – with all its depravity – are not invented yet. Well, agree? Or «cave communism» is better?!»

I slyly smile – and Jesus freezes in the tense waiting for another trick: the boy has already studied me a little.

«And biblical paradise is not anarchy either! Not only are angels distributed by rank, so not all souls acquire equal rights: some will still be… well, they must turn out to be „more equal than others“! Remember: those, who suffered for „Christ“, will take the best places in paradise out of turn! Even the „Abraham’s bosom“ is for the elect! What about the control of „fellow souls“? All of them are „covered in participation“: they give and give praise under the watchful eye of the cherubs at the seraphim singing!»

The guy grieved – it shows in his face. He clearly prefers much less of my acquaintance with the Holy Scriptures. And then: even the fool will understand, that these are additional difficulties. And Izzy has already proved that he, with all his ignorance, is far from a fool. So much the worse for him: I vigorously deploy the offensive: