nature as a whole. We can come to realize with crystal clarity that everything is
related, even that everything is One. The goal is to comprehend everything that exists
in an all-embracing perception. Only then will we achieve true happiness and
contentment. This was what Spinoza called seeing everything ‘sub specie aeternitatis.’
“
“Which means what?”
“To see everything from the perspective of eternity. Wasn’t that where we
started?”
“It’ll have to be where we end, too. I must get going.”
Alberto got up and fetched a large fruit dish from the book shelves. He set it on
the coffee table.
“Won’t you at least have a piece of fruit before you go?”
Sophie helped herself to a banana. Alberto took a green apple.
She broke off the top of the banana and began to peel it.
“There’s something written here,” she said suddenly.
“Where?”
“Here—inside the banana peel. It looks as if it was written with an ink brush.”
Sophie leaned over and showed Alberto the banana. He read aloud:
Here I am again, Hilde. I’m everywhere. Happy birthday!
“Very funny,” said Sophie.
“He gets more crafty all the time.”
“But it’s impossible ... isn’t it? Do you know if they grow bananas in
Lebanon?”
Alberto shook his head.
“I’m certainly not going to eat that.”
“Leave it then. Someone who writes birthday greetings to his daughter on the
inside of an unpeeled banana must be mentally disturbed. But he must also be quite
ingenious.”
“Yes, both.”
“So shall we establish here and now that Hilde has an ingenious father? In other
words, he’s not so stupid.”
“That’s what I’ve been telling you. And it could just as well be him that made
you call me Hilde last time I came here. Maybe he’s the one putting all the words in
our mouths.”
“Nothing can be ruled out. But we should doubt everything.”
“For all we know, our entire life could be a dream.”
“But let’s not jump to conclusions. There could be a simpler explanation.”
“Well whatever, I have to hurry home. My mom is waiting for me.”
Alberto saw her to the door. As she left, he said:
“We’ll meet again, dear Hilde.”
Then the door closed behind her.
LOCKE
… as hare and empty as a blackboard before the teacher arrives…
Sophie arrived home at eight-thirty. That was one and a half hours after the
agreement—which was not really an agreement. She had simply skipped dinner and
left a message for her mother that she would be back not later than seven.
“This has got to stop, Sophie. I had to call information and ask if they had any
record of anyone named Alberto in the Old Town. They laughed at me.”