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They stood still as a stone； and they looked straight upon us； straight into
our eyes。 There was no smile on their face； and no welcome。 But their
face was taut； and their eyes were dark。 Then they turned as swiftly； and
they walked away from us。
But the following day； when we came to the road； they smiled。 They
smiled to us and for us。 And we smiled in answer。 Their head fell back；
and their arms fell； as if their arms and their thin white neck were stricken
suddenly with a great lassitude。 They were not looking upon us； but upon
the sky。 Then they glanced at us over their shoulder； as we felt as if a hand
had touched our body； slipping softly from our lips to our feet。
Every morning thereafter； we greeted each other with our eyes。 We
dared not speak。 It is a transgression to speak to men of other Trades； save
in groups at the Social Meetings。 But once； standing at the hedge； we
raised our hand to our forehead and then moved it slowly； palm down；
toward Liberty 5…3000。 Had the others seen it； they could have guessed
nothing； for it looked only as if we were shading our eyes from the sun。
But Liberty 5…3000 saw it and understood。 They raised their hand to
their forehead and moved it as we had。 Thus； each day； we greet Liberty 5…
3000； and they answer； and no men can suspect。
We do not wonder at this new sin of ours。 It is our second
Transgression of Preference； for we do not think of all our brothers； as we
must； but only of one； and their name is Liberty 5…3000。 We do not know
why we think of them。 We do not know why； when we think of them； we
feel all of a sudden that the earth is good and that it is not a burden to live。
We do not think of them as Liberty 5…3000 any longer。 We have given
them a name in our thoughts。 We call them the Golden One。 But it is a
sin to give men names which distinguish them from other men。 Yet we
call them the Golden One； for they are not like the others。 The Golden One
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ANTHEM
are not like the others。
And we take no heed of the law which says that men may not think of
women； save at the Time of Mating。 This is the time each spring when
all the men older than twenty and all the women older than eighteen are
sent for one night to the City Palace of Mating。 And each of the men
have one of the women assigned to them by the Council of Eugenics。
Children are born each winter； but women never see their children and
children never know their parents。 Twice have we been sent to the
Palace of Mating； but it is an ugly and shameful matter； of which we do
not like to think。
We had broken so many laws； and today we have broken one more。
Today； we spoke to the Golden One。
The other women were far off in the field； when we stopped at the
hedge by the side of the road。 The Golden One were kneeling alone at
the moat which runs through the field。 And the drops of water falling
from their hands； as they raised the water to their lips； were like sparks of
fire in the sun。 Then the Golden One saw us； and they did not move；
kneeling there； looking at us； and circles of light played upon their white
tunic； from the sun on the water of the moat； and one sparkling drop fell
from a finger of their hand held as frozen in the air。
Then the Golden One rose and walked to the hedge； as if they had
heard a command in our eyes。 The two other Street Sweepers of our
brigade were a hundred paces away down the road。 And we thought that
International 4…8818 would not betray us； and Union 5…3992 would not
understand。 So we looked straight upon the Golden One； and we saw the
shadows of their lashes on their white cheeks and the sparks of sun on
their lips。 And we said：
〃You are beautiful； Liberty 5…3000。〃
Their face did not move and they did not avert their eyes。 Only their
eyes grew wider； and there was triumph in their eyes； and it was not
triumph over us； but over things we could not guess。
Then they asked：
〃What is your name？〃
〃Equality 7…2521；〃 we answered。
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ANTHEM
〃You are not one of our brothers； Equality 7…2521； for we do not wish
you to be。〃
We cannot say what they meant； for there are no words for their
meaning； but we know it without words and we knew it then。
〃No；〃 we answered； 〃nor are you one of our sisters。〃
〃If you see us among scores of women； will you look upon us？〃
〃We shall look upon you； Liberty 5…3000； if we see you among all the
women of the earth。〃
Then they asked：
〃Are Street Sweepers sent to different parts of the City or do they
always work in the same places？〃
〃They always work in the same places；〃 we answered； 〃and no one
will take this road away from us。〃
〃Your eyes；〃 they said； 〃are not like the eyes of any among men。〃
And suddenly； without cause for the thought which came to us； we felt
cold； cold to our stomach。
〃How old are you？〃 we asked。
They understood our thought； for they lowered their eyes for the first
time。
〃Seventeen；〃 they whispered。
And we sighed； as if a burden had been taken from us； for we had been
thinking without reason of the Palace of Mating。 And we thought that we
would not let the Golden One be sent to the Palace。 How to prevent it；
how to bar the will of the Councils； we knew not； but we knew suddenly
that we would。 Only we do not know why such thought came to us； for
these ugly matters bear no relation to us and the Golden One。 What
relation can they bear？
Still； without reason； as we stood there by the hedge； we felt our lips
drawn tight with hatred； a sudden hatred for all our brother men。 And the
Golden One saw it and smiled slowly； and there was in their smile the first
sadness we had seen in them。 We think that in the wisdom of women the
Golden One had understood more than we can understand。
Then three of the sisters in the field appeared； coming toward the road；
so the Golden One walked away