Reading: Paper

This piece is called ‘Paper’ and is from my book Noah’s Ark. The video was shot in Engelberg, Switzerland.

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“When God told Noah that the flood was coming, he immediately started building a gigantic ship which was to contain a summary of everything. But if he had only made a ship large enough for himself and a large quantity of paper and ink, he could have created a truly new world through the description of everything he had seen. God created everything on Earth as a book for man to read, and so it was foolish just to choose a number of animals that wouldn’t mean more to Noah after the flood than before, and which would only repeat what had already been created. I believe Noah misinterpreted God’s command when he chose to bring a stable instead of a representation. He made his own existence superfluous.” Says the professor, while the students take notes. After the lecture, to the bitter and uncomprehending protests of the students, he collects all their notes and reads them with a contented look on his face. He doesn’t recognize his own thoughts in a single one. At the last minute, he remembers to add his own manuscript to the pile before putting everything into his waterproof briefcase.

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