I used to think (and worry - I liked obsessing) that if Jesus (or the Messiah or whoever (would it be "whoever" or "whomever"?)) WERE to show up and save us or show us the way or whatever, that no one would believe him and he (or she) would quickly be carted off to the state institution. So even if Salinger were really to show up I don't think I would believe him and I think he probably knows that, too. And I don't think he would try to convince us he was HIM. He would just listen and observe. Because that's what he did.