Dimension of Miracles (22 page)

But Carmody himself, propelled by the faithful Seeth-wright, plunged onward through the endless worlds. He moved in a direction best characterized as ‘down,’ through the myriad potentialities of Earth, and into the clustered improbabilities, and finally into the serried ranges of the constructed impossibilities.

The Prize chided him, saying, ‘That was your own world that you abandoned, Carmody! Are you aware of that?’

‘Yes, I am aware of it,’ Carmody said.

‘And now there can be no return.’

‘I am aware of that, too.’

‘I suppose you thought you’d find some gaudy utopia in the worlds ahead?’ the Prize said; with a marked sneer.

‘No, not exactly.’

‘What then?’

Carmody shook his head and refused to answer.

‘Whatever it was, you can forget about it,’ the Prize said bitterly. ‘Your predator is close behind you and will infallibly be your death.’

‘I don’t doubt it,’ Carmody said, in a moment of strange calm. ‘But in terms of long-range planning, I never did expect to get out of this Universe alive.’

‘That is meaningless,’ the Prize said. ‘The fact is, you have lost everything.’

‘I don’t agree,’ Carmody said. ‘Permit me to point out that I am presently still alive.’

‘Agreed. But only for the moment.’

‘I have always been alive only for the moment,’ Carmody said. ‘I could never count on more. It was my error to expect more. That holds true, I believe, for all of my possible and potential circumstances.’

‘Then what do you hope to achieve with your moment?’

‘Nothing,’ Carmody said. ‘Everything.’

‘I don’t understand you any longer,’ the Prize said.

‘Something about you has changed, Carmody. What is it?’

‘A minor thing,’ Carmody told him. ‘I have simply given up a longevity which I never possessed anyhow. I have turned away from the con game which the Gods run in their heavenly sideshow. I no longer care under which shell the pea of immortality might be found. I don’t need it. I have my moment, which is quite enough.’

‘Saint Carmody!’ the Prize said, in tones of deepest sarcasm. ‘No more than a shadow’s breadth separates you and death! What will you do now with your pitiable moment?’

‘I shall continue to live it,’ Carmody said. ‘That is what moments are for.’