Post by Nalkarj on Jul 20, 2021 4:14:35 GMT
Writer Neil Gaiman and artist Shawn McManus did a great comic-book story on Norton, “Three Septembers and a January,” as part of Gaiman’s amazing Sandman series. It ends with
some particularly lovely lines Death says to Norton when it’s his time to die:
Death: You were Jewish once, weren’t you, Joshua? Did you ever hear the story of the 36 Tzaddikim?
Norton: I…do not believe so.
Death: They say that the world rests on the backs of 36 living saints—36 unselfish men and women. Because of them the world continues to exist. They are the secret kings and queens of this world.
Norton: An odd legend, young lady. But I’m afraid I do not see its significance.
Death: No? I’ve met a lot of kings and emperors and heads of states in my time, Joshua. I’ve met them all. And you know something? I think I liked you best.
Death: You were Jewish once, weren’t you, Joshua? Did you ever hear the story of the 36 Tzaddikim?
Norton: I…do not believe so.
Death: They say that the world rests on the backs of 36 living saints—36 unselfish men and women. Because of them the world continues to exist. They are the secret kings and queens of this world.
Norton: An odd legend, young lady. But I’m afraid I do not see its significance.
Death: No? I’ve met a lot of kings and emperors and heads of states in my time, Joshua. I’ve met them all. And you know something? I think I liked you best.