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we allowed our lives。 We exist through； by and for our brothers who are
the State。 Amen。〃
Then we slept。 The sleeping halls were white and clean and bare of
all things save one hundred beds。
We； Equality 7…2521； were not happy in those years in the Home of the
Students。 It was not that the learning was too hard for us。 It was that the
learning was too easy。 This is a great sin； to be born with a head which is
too quick。 It is not good to be different from our brothers； but it is evil to
be superior to them。 The Teachers told us so； and they frowned when
they looked upon us。
So we fought against this curse。 We tried to forget our lessons； but
we always remembered。 We tried not to understand what the Teachers
taught； but we always understood it before the Teachers had spoken。 We
looked upon Union 5…3992； who were a pale boy with only half a brain；
and we tried to say and do as they did； that we might be like them； like
Union 5…3992； but somehow the Teachers knew that we were not。 And we
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were lashed more often than all the other children。
The Teachers were just； for they had been appointed by the Councils；
and the Councils are the voice of all justice； for they are the voice of all
men。 And if sometimes； in the secret darkness of our heart； we regret
that which befell us on our fifteenth birthday； we know that it was through
our own guilt。 We had broken a law； for we had not paid heed to the
words of our Teachers。 The Teachers had said to us all：
〃Dare not choose in your minds the work you would like to do when
you leave the Home of the Students。 You shall do that which the Council
of Vocations shall prescribe for you。 For the Council of Vocations knows
in its great wisdom where you are needed by your brother men； better than
you can know it in your unworthy little minds。 And if you are not needed
by your brother man； there is no reason for you to burden the earth with
your bodies。〃
We knew this well； in the years of our childhood； but our curse broke
our will。 We were guilty and we confess it here： we were guilty of the
great Transgression of Preference。 We preferred some work and some
lessons to the others。 We did not listen well to the history of all the
Councils elected since the Great Rebirth。 But we loved the Science of
Things。 We wished to know。 We wished to know about all the things
which make the earth around us。 We asked so many questions that the
Teachers forbade it。
We think that there are mysteries in the sky and under the water and in
the plants which grow。 But the Council of Scholars has said that there
are no mysteries； and the Council of Scholars knows all things。 And we
learned much from our Teachers。 We learned that the earth is flat and that
the sun revolves around it； which causes the day and the night。 We
learned the names of all the winds which blow over the seas and push the
sails of our great ships。 We learned how to bleed men to cure them of all
ailments。
We loved the Science of Things。 And in the darkness； in the secret
hour； when we awoke in the night and there were no brothers around us；
but only their shapes in the beds and their snores； we closed our eyes； and
we held our lips shut； and we stopped our breath； that no shudder might let
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our brothers see or hear or guess； and we thought that we wished to be sent
to the Home of the Scholars when our time would come。
All the great modern inventions come from the Home of the Scholars；
such as the newest one； which was found only a hundred years ago； of
how to make candles from wax and string； also； how to make glass； which
is put in our windows to protect us from the rain。 To find these things；
the Scholars must study the earth and learn from the rivers； from the sands；
from the winds and the rocks。 And if we went to the Home of the
Scholars； we could learn from these also。 We could ask questions of
these； for they do not forbid questions。
And questions give us no rest。 We know not why our curse makes us
seek we know not what； ever and ever。 But we cannot resist it。 It
whispers to us that there are great things on this earth of ours； and that we
can know them if we try； and that we must know them。 We ask； why
must we know； but it has no answer to give us。 We must know that we may
know。
So we wished to be sent to the Home of the Scholars。 We wished it
so much that our hands trembled under the blankets in the night； and we
bit our arm to stop that other pain which we could not endure。 It was evil
and we dared not face our brothers in the morning。 For men may wish
nothing for themselves。 And we were punished when the Council of
Vocations came to give us our life Mandates which tell those who reach
their fifteenth year what their work is to be for the rest of their days。
The Council of Vocations came on the first day of spring； and they sat
in the great hall。 And we who were fifteen and all the Teachers came into
the great hall。 And the Council of Vocations sat on a high dais； and they
had but two words to speak to each of the Students。 They called the
Students' names； and when the Students stepped before them； one after
another； the Council said： 〃Carpenter〃 or 〃Doctor〃 or 〃Cook〃 or 〃Leader。〃
Then each Student raised their right arm and said： 〃The will of our
brothers be done。〃
Now if the Council has said 〃Carpenter〃 or 〃Cook；〃 the Students so
assigned go to work and they do not study any further。 But if the Council
has said 〃Leader；〃 then those Students go into the Home of the Leaders；
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which is the greatest house in the City； for it has three stories。 And there
they study for many years； so that they may become candidates and be
elected to the City Council and the State Council and the World Council
by a free and general vo