Chapter 34
“Are you not, then?” Edie whispered.
Ah. Damn.
It must have been Carruthers or Merton that Jones had already this conversation with, not Edie.
“Er. No,” Jones said. “I’m not anything, really.”
“An atheist?” Edie’s eyes got even wider.
“No! I mean, not really!” Jones put the cup down on the table again. “I’ve read the Bible, obviously. I think the teachings of Jesus are wonderful. They are essentially the same as the teachings of Mohammad or the Buddha, aren’t they?”
Edie’s eyes were about to pop out of her head. “Are they?” Her voice was still a whisper. “I’ve never read any of their writings.”
“Yes. Not exactly the same. But essentially be kind to each other. That seems decidedly sound. A good way to live.” She put her hand on Edie’s where her fingers were entwined white-knuckled on the gold patterns painted on the red table. “Edie, look at me a moment.” She tightened her fingers a little. “Please.”