" Phoebe asked me, " Tell me, what do you think of the afterlife?" I was a bit nonplussed. I had no idea what she thought, but I knew that the question must be of greater interest to someone of her age than to me. But our conversation had been completely honest, and before I could speak, honesty and tact had joined hands in my answer. " I have no faith at all," I said, " but sometimes I have hope." I rather think," she replied, " that total annihilation is the most comfortable position." I was shaken. The horse clopped on. The children laughed behind us.When I die," she said, " I don't expect to see any of my loved ones again. I'll just become a part of all this." She waved her hand at the surrounding countryside. " That's all right with me. "