On the Boundless Presumption of Conceited Humankind

Book excerpt: Olecwarden Goodenough is a man with a capital deficiency. He would sell his rights, but various acts of treason mean that he has none left to sell. He'd pawn his heart, but he loaned it to somebody years ago and she still hasn't returned it. He'd even sell his mind, if only he could find it. All that remains to Olec is the soul he doesn't believe in, which he sells in order to free the woman who borrowed his heart: Diamona Oranous, the last surviving member of the outlawed Sonat sect. Olec has never really felt at home on Earth, and all he wants is to feel his own existence: to die or to be born. After dying three times and being born twice, Olec gets his wish, though he must stand on the cusp of obliteration to truly exist: to know that he has always already existed for the long lifespan of our Universe. In the end, Olec does not die alone. He understands that kind of thinking to be a part of the boundless presumption of conceited humankind.