Against the Day

by Thomas Pynchon

“It sounds kind of close, don’t you think?” When Fleetwood shrugged, “I mean, you’ve had . . . encounters with elephants?” “Now and then.” “You have an elephant gun with you?” “No. You?” “So, this one charges us, what do we do?” “Depends how much he’s charging—try to talk him down a little?” “Anti-Semitic!”

Funny

This person greeted the Cohen by raising his left hand, then spreading the fingers two and two away from the thumb so as to form the Hebrew letter shin, signifying the initial letter of one of the pre-Mosaic (that is, plural) names of God, which may never be spoken. “Basically wishing long life and prosperity,” explained the Cohen, answering with the same gesture.

Spock!

“But suppose I did stick it out. I’ve been curious for some time—as members here move closer to enlightenment, is there any sort of discount on the dues we pay?”

Funny