“And a number of other things.”
“In any case, it’s all gone too far. Also, I don’t think you even begin to see what you’ve done.”
“Done? I’ve merely brought the whole thing into the open ... as well as put myself on record as being opposed to this ... this passion for death.”
“That of course is nonsense. Just because a few nitwits....”
“A few? Have you seen the statistics? Every month there are a few hundred more and as soon as Stokharin gets his damned roadhouses for would-be suicides going we may find that....”
“I always assumed Paul made up the statistics. But even if they are true, even if a few hundred thousand people decide to slip away every year, I am in favor of it. There are too many people as it is and most of them aren’t worth the room they take up. I suspect all this is just one of nature’s little devices to reduce the population ... like pederasty on those Greek islands.”
“You’re outrageous.”
“I’m perfectly rational which is more than I can say for you. Anyway, the reason I’ve come to see you today is, first, to warn you and, second, to say good-by.”
“Good-by? You’re not....”
“Going to kill myself?” she laughed. “Not in a hundred years ... though I must say lately I’ve begun to feel old. No, I’m going away. I’ve told Paul that I’ve had my fun, that you’re all on your own and that I want no part of what’s to come.”