Chapter LXVI

And now Gud came to a place where the ether was as thick as coal tar. It was so dark that Fidu could not even imagine a moon, and Gud could not see any reason for existence.

Just as he had about decided that there would never be any more light, Gud saw a wee small flicker shining in the inky void, as might an invisible star if there never had been brighter stars to pale its flame.

Hastening on Gud and Fidu came upon the source of light and found it to be a man with a torch in his hand who was very much occupied in searching for something.

"Have you lost anything?" asked Gud.

"No," replied the man, "but I am looking for something."

"I shall be glad to assist you," offered Gud, "and my dog here is very good in locating lost articles; so if you will kindly tell us what you are looking for we will help you find it."

"I am looking," replied the man, "for creation's dawn and the end of all things. I also wish to find the unknowable first cause and the eternal varieties and the limits of space. I am searching for the cause of hope, the reason for despair, the explanation of love and the excuse for crime. I am seeking a reason for all that is, and a cause for all that ever was and an accurate prophesy of all that ever will be. I am also hunting for the fundamental principles, the absolute truth, the laws of nature, the theories of science, the hypotheses of metaphysics, the interpretations of creeds, the aims of arts and the melodies of songs that have never been sung. And I do wish so to locate all the unknown stars, and trace all the lost comets, and determine what kept the heavens in order before the law of gravitation was enacted. But most of all I want to find out why my wife thinks I am a fool to be out here looking for these things."

"If you do not object to a little operation," said Gud, "I can find all these things for you and show you where they all are."

Then without waiting for the man to reply, Gud caused a deep sleep to fall upon him, and straightway Gud opened up the man's skull and took out his brains and laid them upon a platter.

When the man awoke he looked upon his own brains and saw that they were very much like calf's brains, except that they were more convoluted and sutured.

"And why is this platter set before me?" demanded the man as he stood there gazing upon his own brains.

"Because," replied Gud, "therein lies what you were looking for, and you need search no further, for it is all there and much more besides."

"So, so," said the man, "I see it all, and now I shall go home to my wife and find if a child has been born unto her while I have been away."

"Then," said Gud, "would you give me your torch, since you will not be needing it longer?"

The man did so; and after he had gone, Gud took the torch and set the darkness on fire.