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A review by shoba
VALIS by Philip K. Dick
4.0
Why did Kevin’s cat have to die?
Our friend Kevin always began his attack one way. “What about my dead cat?” Kevin would ask. Several years ago, Kevin had been out walking his cat in the early evening. Kevin, the fool, had not put the cat on a leash, and the cat had dashed into the street and right into the front wheel of a passing car….Kevin liked to say, “On judgment day when I’m brought up before the great judge I’m going to say, ‘Hold on a second,’ and then I’m going to whip out my dead cat from inside my coat. ‘How do you explain this?’ I’m going to ask.”
Kevin asks the Savior.
I said to Kevin, “Did you get a chance to ask Sophia about your dead cat?” I meant the question sarcastically, but Kevin, to my surprise, turned his head and said, seriously:
“Yep.”
“What’d she say?” I said.
Kevin, inhaling deeply and gripping the steering wheel tight, said, “She said that MY DEAD CAT….” He paused, raising his voice. “MY DEAD CAT WAS STUPID.”
The answer.
“Death is the real name for it; not God, not the Savior, not love— death. Kevin is right about his cat. It’s all there in his dead cat. The Great Judge can’t answer Kevin: ‘Why did my cat die?’ Answer: ‘Damned if I know.’ There is no answer; there is only a dead animal that just wanted to cross the street. We’re all animals that want to cross the street only something mows us down half-way across that we never saw. Go ask Kevin. ‘Your cat was stupid.’ Who made the cat? Why did he make the cat stupid? Did the cat learn by being killed, and if so, what did he learn? Did Sherri learn anything from dying of cancer? Did Gloria learn anything—”
This is a bizarre story and again Philip K Dick manages not to disappoint. Like Horselover Fat and Phil, I too will stay awake, keeping watch.
“I sat; I waited; I watched; I kept myself awake. As we had been told, originally, long ago, to do; I kept my commission.”
Isaiah 40:31
But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.
Matthew 25: 6, 13
And at midnight there was a cry made, Behold, the bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet him…. Watch therefore, for ye know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of man cometh.
Our friend Kevin always began his attack one way. “What about my dead cat?” Kevin would ask. Several years ago, Kevin had been out walking his cat in the early evening. Kevin, the fool, had not put the cat on a leash, and the cat had dashed into the street and right into the front wheel of a passing car….Kevin liked to say, “On judgment day when I’m brought up before the great judge I’m going to say, ‘Hold on a second,’ and then I’m going to whip out my dead cat from inside my coat. ‘How do you explain this?’ I’m going to ask.”
Kevin asks the Savior.
I said to Kevin, “Did you get a chance to ask Sophia about your dead cat?” I meant the question sarcastically, but Kevin, to my surprise, turned his head and said, seriously:
“Yep.”
“What’d she say?” I said.
Kevin, inhaling deeply and gripping the steering wheel tight, said, “She said that MY DEAD CAT….” He paused, raising his voice. “MY DEAD CAT WAS STUPID.”
The answer.
“Death is the real name for it; not God, not the Savior, not love— death. Kevin is right about his cat. It’s all there in his dead cat. The Great Judge can’t answer Kevin: ‘Why did my cat die?’ Answer: ‘Damned if I know.’ There is no answer; there is only a dead animal that just wanted to cross the street. We’re all animals that want to cross the street only something mows us down half-way across that we never saw. Go ask Kevin. ‘Your cat was stupid.’ Who made the cat? Why did he make the cat stupid? Did the cat learn by being killed, and if so, what did he learn? Did Sherri learn anything from dying of cancer? Did Gloria learn anything—”
This is a bizarre story and again Philip K Dick manages not to disappoint. Like Horselover Fat and Phil, I too will stay awake, keeping watch.
“I sat; I waited; I watched; I kept myself awake. As we had been told, originally, long ago, to do; I kept my commission.”
Isaiah 40:31
But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.
Matthew 25: 6, 13
And at midnight there was a cry made, Behold, the bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet him…. Watch therefore, for ye know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of man cometh.