Islam's answer to Sigmund Freud

"Want to hear a Russian joke?" Rostov said as they climbed the side of the valley toward the road. "Brezhnev was telling his old mother how well he had done. He showed her his apartments - huge, with western furniture, dishwasher, freezer, servants, everything. She didn't say a word. He took her to his dacha on the Black Sea - a big villa with a swimming pool, private beach, more servants. Still she wasn't impressed. Finally he said, 'Mother, mother, why don't you say something? Aren't you proud?' So she said, 'It's wonderful Leonid. But what will you do if the Communists come back?' "

Rostov roared with laughter at his own story, but Hassan only smiled.

"You don't think it's funny?" Rostov said.

"Not very," Hassan told him. "It's guilt that makes you laugh at that joke. I dont' feel guilty so I don't find it funny."

Rostov shrugged, thinking: Thank you Yasif Hassan, Islam's answer to Sigmund Freud. They reached the road and stood there for a while, watching the cars speed by as Hassan caught his breath.

Rostov said, "Oh, listen, there's something I've always wanted to ask you. Did you really screw Ashford's wife?"

"Only four or five times a week," Hassan said, and he laughed, loudly.

Rostov said, "Who feels guilty now?"

- - K. Follet, Triple