From: The Great Divorce: A Dream I saw coming towards us a Ghost who carried something on his shoulder. Like all Ghosts, he was unsubstantial, but they differed from one another as smokes differ. Some had been whitish; this one was dark and oily. What sat on his shoulder was a little red lizard, and it was twitching its tail like a whip and whispering things in his ear. As we caught sight of him, he turned his head to the reptile with a snarl of impatience. Shut up, I tell you! he said. It wagged its tail and continued to whisper to him. He ceased snarling, and presently began to smile. Then he fumed and started to limp westward, away from the mountains. Off so soon? said a voice. The speaker was more or less human in shape but larger than a man, and so bright that I could hardly look at him. His presence smote on my eyes and on my body too (for there was heat coming from him as well as light) like the morning sun at the beginning of a tyrannous summer day. Yes, I’m off, said the Ghost. Thanks for all your hospitality. But [...]![]()
