The Mountain Shadow

by Gregory David Roberts

You know how important that is, don’t you? A chance to escape?’

Somehow, I was disconnected from a world of friendship I’d helped to build.

‘Everything is practice, Karla.’

They’re outlaws who sold out to rich people, but the outlaw is still in there.

‘Why do we let the few push the many to compete and consume and fight?’ Idriss said. ‘When will we demand peace, as passionately as we demand freedom?’

‘Exploitation is the spiritual language of profit,’ Idriss began sadly. The students, who’d heard Idriss riff before, were already beginning to nod their heads in time to his ontological poetry. ‘Oppression is the spiritual language of tyranny,’ Idriss said. The students began to mumble, wakening to Idriss’s chant. ‘Hypocrisy is the spiritual language of greed,’ Idriss continued. ‘Ruthlessness is the spiritual language of power, and bigotry is the spiritual language of fear.’ ‘Are you taking notes, Randall?’ I asked, as Idriss took a breath. ‘Aye aye, sir,’ he replied. ‘Violence is the spiritual language of hate,’ Idriss said, ‘and arrogance is the spiritual language of vanity.’

‘Birds are the spiritual language of the sky,’ Idriss said. ‘And trees are the spiritual language of the earth.’

‘Everything is spiritual,

‘I am always comfortable, Karla, wherever I am,’ he said cheerfully,

‘I’m so messed up that only freedom can save me.’

she liked the happy mix of Parsis, Hindus and Muslims even more.

Sometimes, I feel like I’m so full of ideas they’re falling out of my head.’

I didn’t want to reminisce. I didn’t even want to remember.

‘Fish are like you, baby. They’re pretty quick.’