"It may not make it worth it to you, I know, but I am very glad you're
here. I've never had such a fine carpenter."
I stared at her.
"And I'm hoping that in the future you will also provide me with some of
your sculpture."
"You're not thinking straight. Whatever my abilities are, they would never
be missed. There must be millions of good carpenters. Too many. There
are too many of everything because there are billions too many people."
"Have you ever heard the anecdote of the horseshoe crab?"
I didn't know what she was talking about and told her so.
"Olive would miss you. I would miss you."
I turned away.
Adonie said one thing more: "The stunning turbulence of mental forces can
be transformed into the vital energies of compassion. It is not denied by
the laws of physics. Only humans can forbid this."