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ANTHEM
〃Are you ready to speak？〃
But we shook our head； lying before them on the floor。 And they
departed。
We counted each day and each night as it passed。 Then； tonight； we
knew that we must escape。 For tomorrow the World Council of Scholars is
to meet in our City。
It was easy to escape from the Palace of Corrective Detention。 The
locks are old on the doors and there are no guards about。 There is no
reason to have guards； for men have never defied the Councils so far as to
escape from whatever place they were ordered to be。 Our body is healthy
and strength returns to it speedily。 We lunged against the door and it
gave way。 We stole through the dark passages； and through the dark
streets； and down into our tunnel。
We lit the candle and we saw that our place had not been found and
nothing had been touched。 And our glass box stood before us on the cold
oven； as we had left it。 What matter they now； the scars upon our back！
Tomorrow； in the full light of day； we shall take our box； and leave our
tunnel open； and walk through the streets to the Home of the Scholars。
We shall put before them the greatest gift ever offered to men。 We shall
tell them the truth。 We shall hand to them； as our confession； these pages
we have written。 We shall join our hands to theirs； and we shall work
together； with the power of the sky； for the glory of mankind。 Our blessing
upon you； our brothers！ Tomorrow； you will take us back into your fold
and we shall be an outcast no longer。 Tomorrow we shall be one of you
again。 Tomorrow 。 。 。
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ANTHEM
PART SEVEN
It is dark here in the forest。 The leaves rustle over our head； black
against the last gold of the sky。 The moss is soft and warm。 We shall
sleep on this moss for many nights； till the beasts of the forest come to tear
our body。 We have no bed now； save the moss； and no future； save the
beasts。
We are old now； yet we were young this morning； when we carried our
glass box through the streets of the City to the Home of the Scholars。 No
men stopped us； for there were none about from the Palace of Corrective
Detention； and the others knew nothing。 No men stopped us at the gate。
We walked through empty passages and into the great hall where the
World Council of Scholars sat in solemn meeting。
We saw nothing as we entered； save the sky in the great windows； blue
and glowing。 Then we saw the Scholars who sat around a long table； they
were as shapeless clouds huddled at the rise of the great sky。 There were
men whose famous names we knew； and others from distant lands whose
names we had not heard。 We saw a great painting on the wall over their
heads； of the twenty illustrious men who had invented the candle。
All the heads of the Council turned to us as we entered。 These great
and wise of the earth did not know what to think of us； and they looked
upon us with wonder and curiosity； as if we were a miracle。 It is true that
our tunic was torn and stained with brown stains which had been blood。
We raised our right arm and we said：
〃Our greeting to you； our honored brothers of the World Council of
Scholars！〃
Then Collective 0…0009； the oldest and wisest of the Council； spoke
and asked：
〃Who are you； our brother？ For you do not look like a Scholar。〃
〃Our name is Equality 7…2521；〃 we answered； 〃and we are a Street
Sweeper of this City。〃
Then it was as if a great wind had stricken the hall； for all the Scholars
spoke at once； and they were angry and frightened。
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ANTHEM
〃A Street Sweeper！ A Street Sweeper walking in upon the World
Council of Scholars！ It is not to be believed！ It is against all the rules and
all the laws！〃
But we knew how to stop them。
〃Our brothers！〃 we said。 〃We matter not； nor our transgression。 It
is only our brother men who matter。 Give no thought to us； for we are
nothing； but listen to our words； for we bring you a gift such as had never
been brought to men。 Listen to us； for we hold the future of mankind in
our hands。〃
Then they listened。
We placed our glass box upon the table before them。 We spoke of it；
and of our long quest； and of our tunnel； and of our escape from the Palace
of Corrective Detention。 Not a hand moved in that hall； as we spoke； nor
an eye。 Then we put the wires to the box； and they all bent forward and
sat still； watching。 And we stood still； our eyes upon the wire。 And slowly；
slowly as a flush of blood； a red flame trembled in the wire。 Then the
wire glowed。
But terror struck the men of the Council。 They leapt to their feet； they
ran from the table； and they stood pressed against the wall； huddled
together； seeking the warmth of one another's bodies to give them courage。
We looked upon them and we laughed and said：
〃Fear nothing； our brothers。 There is a great power in these wires；
but this power is tamed。 It is yours。 We give it to you。〃
Still they would not move。
〃We give you the power of the sky！〃 we cried。 〃We give you the key to
the earth！ Take it； and let us be one of you； the humblest among you。 Let
us all work together； and harness this power； and make it ease the toil of
men。 Let us throw away our candles and our torches。 Let us flood our
cities with light。 Let us bring a new light to men！〃
But they looked upon us； and suddenly we were afraid。 For their
eyes were still； and small； and evil。
〃Our brothers！〃 we cried。 〃Have you nothing to say to us？〃
Then Collective 0…0009 moved forward。 They moved to the table and
the others followed。
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ANTHEM
〃Yes；〃 spoke Collective 0…0009； 〃we have much to say to you。〃
The sound of their voices brought silence to the hall and to beat of our
heart。
〃Yes；〃 said Collective 0…0009； 〃we have much to say to a wretch who
have broken all the laws and who boast of their infamy！
How dared you think that your min