Could a man's heart, his soul, perish and yet leave him walking and talking as if alive?

I know it's not thematically in tune with my new job and all, but I find it effective. Build a man a fire and he's warm for a day," I say. "But set a man on fire and he's warm for the rest of his life. Tao of Pratchett. I live by it.

Thank God for imminent doomsday.

Could a man's heart, his soul, perish and yet leave him walking and talking as if alive?

...you look like you fell out of a crazy tree and hit every branch on the way down.

Now I feel like James Bond. Suave and intelligent, breaking all the codes while looking fabulous.

I heard someone walk out of the alley behind me, and my body went tense and tight, despite my weariness. Then a young woman's voice said, in a passable British accent, "The Little People are easily startled, but they'll soon be back. And in greater numbers." I sagged in sudden, exhausted relief. The bad guys hardly ever quote Star Wars.