At least he was now able to follow most conversations easily, and had learned to pronounce words so that Indra was not the only person who could understand him. He was very glad that Anglish was now the world language, though French, Russian and Mandarin still flourished.
'I've another problem, Indra – and I guess you're the only person who can help. When I say "God", why do people look embarrassed?'
Indra did not look at all embarrassed; in fact, she laughed.
'That's a very complicated story. I wish my old friend Dr Khan was here to explain it to you – but he's on Ganymede, curing any remaining True Believers he can find there. When all the old religions were discredited – let me tell you about Pope Pius XX sometime – one of the greatest men in history! – we still needed a word for the Prime Cause, or the Creator of the Universe – if there is one...'
'There were lots of suggestions – Deo – Theo – Jove – Brahma – they were all tried, and some of them are still around – especially Einstein's favourite, "The Old One". But Deus seems to be the fashion nowadays.'
'I'll try to remember; but it still seems silly to me.'
'You'll get used to it: I'll teach you some other reasonably polite expletives, to use when you want to express your feelings...'
'You said that all the old religions have been discredited. So what do people believe nowadays?'
'As little as possible. We're all either Deists or Theists.'
'You've lost me. Definitions, please.'
'They were slightly different in your time, but here are the latest versions. Theists believe there's not more than one God; Deists that there is not less than one God.'
'I'm afraid the distinction's too subtle for me.'
'Not for everyone; you'd be amazed at the bitter controversies it's aroused. Five centuries ago, someone used what's known as surreal mathematics to prove there's an infinite number of grades between Theists and Deists. Of course, like most dabblers with infinity, he went insane. By the way, the best-known Deists were Americans – Washington, Franklin, Jefferson.'