THE UNDYING FIRE
own title of the Unique and to seek to wrest from him the authorship of life. (But such jesting distresses the angels.)
"I alone create."
"But I—I ferment."
"Matter I made and all things."
"Stagnant as a sleeping top but for the wabble I give it."
"You are just the little difference of the individual. You are the little Uniqueness in everyone and everything, the Unique that breaks the law, a marginal idiosyncrasy."
"Sire, you are the Unique, the Uniqueness of the whole."
Heaven smiled, and there were halcyon days in the planets. "I shall average you out in the end and you will disappear."
"And everything will end."
"Will be complete."
"Without me!"
"You spoil the symmetry of my universe."
"I give it life."
"Life comes from me."
"No, Sire, life comes from me."
One of the great shapes in attendance became distinct as Michael bearing his sword.
"He blasphemes, O Lord. Shall I cast him forth?"
"But you did that some time ago," answered Satan, speaking carelessly over his shoulder and not even looking at the speaker. "You keep on doing it. And—I am here."
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