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167
The Status Civilization
·
Robert Sheckley
37
"One
might
well
ask,"
Uncle
Ingemar
droned
on,
"if
Evil
is
the
highest
attainment
of
the
nature
of
man,
why
then
did
The
Black
One
allow
any
Good
to
exist
in
the
universe?
The
problem
of
Good
has
bothered
the
unenlightened
for
ages.
I
will
now
answer
it
for
you."
"Yes,
Uncle?"
Barrent
said,
surreptitiously
pinching
himself
on
the
inside
of
the
thigh
in
an
effort
to
stay
awake.
"But
first,"
Uncle
Ingemar
said,
"let
us
define
our
terms.
Let
us
examine
the
nature
of
Good.
Let
us
boldly
and
fearlessly
stare
our
great
opponent
in
the
face
and
discover
the
true
lineaments
of
his
features."
"Yes,"
Barrent
said,
wondering
if
he
should
open
a
window.
His
eyes
felt
incredibly
heavy.
He
rubbed
them
hard
and
tried
to
pay
attention.
"Good
is
a
state
of
illusion,"
said
Uncle
Ingemar
in
his
even,
monotonous
voice,
"which
ascribes
to
man
the
nonexistent
attributes
of
altruism,
humility,
and
piety.
How
can
we
recognize
Good
as
being
an
illusion?
Because
there
is
only
man
and
The
Black
One
in
the
universe,
and
to
worship
The
Black
One
is
to
worship
the
ultimate
expression
of
oneself.
Thus,
since
we
have
proven
Good
to
be
an
illusion,
we
necessarily
recognize
its
attributes
as
nonexistent.
Understood?"
Barrent
didn't
answer.
"Do
you
understand?"
the
priest
asked
more
sharply.
"Eh?"
Barrent
said.
He
had
been
dozing
with
his
eyes
open.
He
forced
himself
awake
and
managed
to
say,
"Yes,
Uncle,
I
understand."
"Excellent.
Understanding
that,
we
ask,
why
did
The
Black
One
allow
even
the
illusion
of
Good
to
exist
in
an
Evil
universe?
And
the
answer
is
found
in
the
Law
of
Necessary
Opposites;
for
Evil
could
not
be
recognized
as
such
without
something
to
contrast
it
with.
The
best
contrast
is
an
opposite.
And
the
opposite
of
Evil
is
Good."
The
priest
smiled
triumphantly.
"It's
so
simple
and
clear-cut,
isn't
it?"
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