Comeuppance

Sheila wrote the next line, not realizing it was Koiné Greek:

‘Εν ‘αρΧη ην ‘ο λογος ην προς τον Θεον, και Θεος ην ‘ο λογος…

She realized that this was the first line of the prophecy of the gospel.

It was a short order because she had come this far, and it didn’t seem like the cosmic order of the universe was going to change for her. But she prayed nonetheless that the dice would roll in her favor.

There was a sense in which the justice that was inherent in the universe would come to her, and Dostoevsky’s floating ax would describe her fate. She looked at Poxig, who gave her a quick glance. Then, she returned to her prophetic wanderings.

“Is it possible that each will receive his or her comeuppance?” she said.

“Yes, since the cosmic order of the universe could not be altered,” Poxig returned. But Poxig didn’t flinch. The still ax in space still terrified him. It was the absurdity of evil, that the great Dostoevsky had described.