The Devil and Miss Prym. Пауло Коэльо

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      The Devil and Miss Prym

      Paulo

       Coelho

      Translated by Amanda Hopkinson

       and Nick Caistor

      Hail Mary, conceived without sin, pray for us who

       turn to Thee for help. Amen.

      And a certain ruler asked him, saying, ‘Good Master, what

       shall I do to inherit eternal life?’ And Jesus said unto him,

       ‘Why callest thou me good? None is good, save one, that is God.’

      Luke 18 :18-19

      Table of Contents

       Cover Page

       Title Page

       Dedication

       Epigraph

Author’s note

For almost fifteen years

The hotel was, at

The inhabitants of Viscos

Chantal found it virtually

Exhausted, functioning almost like

       That night, when she

       By the time the

       The fork banged repeatedly

       The man opened the

       ‘It’s a good sign,’

       Although Viscos had 281

       Chantal hesitated no longer

       Given the large number

       ‘Let each of us

       ‘Let’s drop all this

       Chantal arrived at the

       The priest dined frugally

       The two women reached

       ‘In church, on hallowed

       Chantal breakfasted on the

       Berta was watching the

       The stranger went into

       The Celtic monolith was

       Only three people and

       Chantal looked for the

       THE ALCHEMIST

       BY THE RIVER PIEDRA I SAT DOWN AND WEPT

       THE FIFTH MOUNTAIN

       THE PILGRIMAGE

       THE VALKYRIES

       VERONIKA DECIDES TO DIE

       CONFESSIONS OF A PILGRIM

       MANUAL OF THE WARRIOR OF LIGHT

       ELEVEN MINUTES

       ALSO BY PAULO COELHO

       Copyright

       About the Publisher

       Author’s note

      The first story about division comes from ancient Persia: the god of time, having created the universe, sees harmony all around him, but feels that there is still something very important missing – a companion with whom to share all this beauty.

      For a thousand years, he prays for a son. The story does not say to whom he prays, given that he is omnipotent, the sole, supreme lord; nevertheless, he prays and, finally, he becomes pregnant.

      When he realises he has achieved his heart’s desire, the god of time is filled with remorse, suddenly conscious of how fragile the balance of things is. But it is too late and the child is already on its way. All he achieves by his lamentations is to cause the son he is carrying in his belly to divide into two.

      The legend recounts that just as Good (Ormuzd) is born out of the god of time’s prayers, so Evil (Ahriman) is born out of his remorse – twin brothers.

      The concerned father arranges everything so that Ormuzd will emerge first from his belly, to take charge of his brother and to prevent Ahriman from throwing the universe into confusion. However, Evil – being very intelligent and resourceful – manages to push Ormuzd aside at the moment of their birth, and thus is the first to see the light of the stars.

      Distraught, the god of time resolves to forge alliances on Ormuzd’s behalf: he brings into being the human race so that they can fight alongside Ormuzd and stop Ahriman taking control of everything.

      In the Persian legend, the human race is born to be the ally of Good, and, according to tradition, Good will triumph in the end. However,