  
        from THE COMPLEX VISION OF PHILO St JOHN                     FRIAR1  
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             After  a while, he came to where melons grew in great profusion,  
        some very close to the road.  One  of  the  vines had grown out over  
        the lower rail of a fence and a fine yellow fruit hung from it.   He  
        picked it and raised it to his nose.  It was warm and  fragrant.  He  
        tucked  it  under  his  arm and hurried down the road, looking for a  
        place where he could eat it unobserved.  
             Before very long, he saw a man walking towards him. He tried to  
        hide  the  melon under his shirt, but it was much too large for that.  
        The man came closer.   He was tall and angular and his face was bony 
        and  weather  beaten.   He  wore  a simple blue robe gathered at the  
        waist with a piece of rope.  On his back was a knapsack.  
             He stopped and extended his hand. "Peace be with you," he said.  
             "Thank  you," Philo  said, juggling  the  melon.  He managed to  
        hold it in the crook of his arm while he took the man's hand.  
             "Are you traveling far?" the man asked.  
             "I don't know.  I'm on my way to the palace, wherever that is."  
             "I see," the man said.  
             "Please," Philo said. "I'm very confused.  What is this place?  
        And how did I get here?"  
          
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