The Book - Magazine

This man is at the door of hell… somehow it seems to be his destination after

a life of subtle stubbornness.

he doesnt expect to find himself waking up out

of a dream… he doesnt expect to pi Imself and wake up and that kind of thing… in fact, the thought of that

happening makes him smile.

hes just mildly surprised to find himself there at the door of hell.

To all accounts, the kindly old man who is the doorman (and who conceivably

reminds him of his father) is sat reading a book… but he gets up smartly and

without time for either of them to feel

Theyre standing on ceremony says, «hold my book for a minute, would you,

while I get the door open!"(presumably, you know, you need two hands to open

the door.) for some reason the o N doesnt just put his book down on the chair

It all happens quite quickly… he finds that hes made a decision and is already

holding the old mans book… as just about anybody else would have,

but it seems a bit curious because… in howev

All a way you like to consider it… it is as if hes helping himself enter hell.

.the path of least resistance.

of course, at the same time he suddenly thinks.

even as he finally grips the book.

Ot;this is my chance for a reprieve… the final test… the straw which will tip

the good deeds over the bad.»

Next thing he knows, they have exchanged opinions on the book and he has handed

it back to the old man and is being shown into hell.