第1部分(第3/7 頁)

ned to life amid the wounded struggling for their lives in pools of

blood；　a　soldier　who　could　tell　him　about　the　secrets　of　the　Otherworld。　But

one　of　Tamerlane’s　warriors；　taking　the　seeker　for　the　enemy；　cleaved　him　in

half　with　a　smooth　stroke　of　his　scimitar；　causing　him　to　conclude　that　in　the

Hereafter　man　gets　split　in　two。

Nonsense！　Quite　the　opposite；　I’d　even　say　that　souls　divided　in　life　merge

in　the　Hereafter。　Contrary　to　the　claims　of　sinful　infidels　who’ve　fallen　under

the　sway　of　the　Devil；　there　is　indeed　another　world；　thank　God；　and　the　proof

is　that　I’m　speaking　to　you　from　here。　I’ve　died；　but　as　you　can　plainly　tell；　I

haven’t　ceased　to　be。　Granted；　I　must　confess；　I　haven’t　encountered　the　rivers

flowing beside the silver and gold kiosks of Heaven； the broad…leaved trees

bearing plump fruit and the beautiful virgins mentioned in the Glorious

Koran—though I do very well recall how often and enthusiastically I made

pictures of those wide…eyed houris described in the chapter “That Which Is

ing。” Nor is there a trace of those rivers of milk； wine； fresh water and

honey described with such flourish； not in the Koran； but by visionary

dreamers　like　Ibn　Arabi。　But　I　have　no　intention　of　tempting　the　faith　of　those

who　live　rightfully　through　their　hopes　and　visions　of　the　Otherworld；　so　let

me declare that all I’ve seen relates specifically to my own very personal

circumstances。 Any believer with even a little knowledge of life after death

would　know　that　a　malcontent　in　my　state　would　be　hard…pressed　to　see　the