has been most enjoyable.” Smith’s eyes seemed even larger than normal as he stared about him. His black clothing and the stupid band of white were incongruous against the shining metal and utilitarian furnishings of the ship. Why did he wear them?
“It is because of my profession,” he said in reply to Jak’s cautiously worded question. “It is a very old uniform.”
“You do not consider me impolite?”
“How can you say that, Captain?” Smith gave his gentle smile. “Can I blame you for being curious when I have so much curiosity myself? Please do not hesitate to ask whatever may be in your mind.”
“Your profession. Cleric. What is a Cleric?”
“One who teaches Christianity.”
“So?” Jak frowned. “I have never heard of it.”
“It is a very old profession,” said Smith. “I am not surprised.” He sensed the other’s frustration. “The Brotherhood of Man?”
“No.” Jak hadn’t heard of that either, but it had a disturbing sound. “Is that what you teach?”
“In a way, yes. It is a very old teaching, and a man died because he originated it. My profession is named after that man.”
“Cleric?”
“No. Christianity. A man who believes in certain concepts, among them the Brotherhood of Man, is a Christian.”
“And you teach these ethics?”
“Humbly, yes.”
“Why humbly?”
“Because a Christian is humble. He recognizes the existence of a far greater power than himself. He believes in the existence of God.”
“I too believe in powers greater than myself,” said Jak. “Electricity for one. Atomic flux for another. Is that God?”
“No. What you speak of is but a part of the universe. God is greater than the universe.”
“The universe is infinite. Can you have something greater than infinity?” Jak was being ironic. Smith, to his surprise took him seriously.
“Yes.”
“God?”
“Yes.”
“I would like to see this God,” said Jak dryly. Smith made a gesture with his hands.
“You are confusing material things with things of the spirit. No one, no human, is capable of grasping the concept of something so great. The best we can do is to try and understand a part. It is this knowledge of inadequacy which makes us humble.”
Jak did not like to feel humble. He was Captain, master of the ship and a leader among the Folk, and there was no cause to feel humble in that. Proud, yes, but not humble. Why, if he felt humble it would almost be the same as feeling ashamed!
And this Brotherhood of Man. Jak pondered it as he strode along. Smith meant, he supposed, that everyone was equal and technically brothers. But any fool could see that it just wasn’t so. Planets had their rulers and their serfs were they equal? Were they brothers? Folk were different, of course. Folk, despite Captains and First Officers, were truly brothers under the skin. But Smith was saying that Star-Folk and Planet-People were the same.
He was, Jak thought, a little insane. He hoped that he wouldn’t let his mania get out of hand.
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