I Was Dimly Aware That I Might

Mr. Franz, I Think Careers Are A 20th Century Invention And I Don't Want One.

I'm Intrigued By Fanatics - People Who Are Seduced By The Promise, Or The Illusion, Of The Absolute.

But Somethings In Life Are More Important Than Being Happy. Like Being Free To Think For Yourself.

When A Young Person Is Moved By A Passion And Feels Compelled To Go On This Sort Of Quest, I Think You Have To Let Him. You Can't Stop Him. In Our Culture We Don't Have Formal Rights Of Passage Like In Some Ancient Cultures. Subjecting Yourself To Risk... May Be Something You Have To Go Through To Be A Man Or A Woman.

When Alex Left For Alaska," Franz Remembers, "i Prayed. I Asked God To Keep His Finger On The Shoulder Of That One; I Told Him That Boy Was Special. But He Let Alex Die. So On December 26, When I Learned What Happened, I Renounced The Lord. I Withdrew My Church Membership And Became An Atheist. I Decided I Couldn't Believe In A God Who Would Let Something That Terrible Happen To A Boy Like Alex.