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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 from us。 They took the bag of seeds；
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and they threw the seeds into the furrows of earth as they walked away。
But the seeds flew wildly； for the hand of the Golden One was trembling。
Yet as we walked back to the Home of the Street Sweepers； we felt
that we wanted to sing； without reason。 So we were reprimanded tonight；
in the dining hall； for without knowing it we had begun to sing aloud some
tune we had never heard。 But it is not proper to sing without reason； save
at the Social Meetings。
〃We are singing because we are happy；〃 we answered the one of the
Home Council who reprimanded us。
〃Indeed you are happy；〃 they answered。 〃How else can men be when
they live for their brothers？〃
And now； sitting here in our tunnel； we wonder about these words。 It
is forbidden； not to be happy。 For； as it has been explained to us； men are
free and the earth belongs to them； and all things on earth belong to all
men； and the will of all men together is good for all； and so all men must
be happy。
Yet as we stand at night in the great hall； removing our garments for
sleep； we look upon our brothers and we wonder。 The heads of our
brothers are bowed。 The eyes of our brothers are dull； and never do they
look one another in the eyes。 The shoulders of our brothers are hunched；
and their muscles are drawn； as if their bodies were shrinking and wished
to shrink out of sight。 And a word steals into our mind； as we look upon
our brothers； and that word is fear。
There is fear hanging in the air of the sleeping halls； and in the air of
the streets。 Fear walks through the City； fear without name； without shape。
All men feel it and none dare to speak。
We feel it also； when we are in the Home of the Street Sweepers。 But
here； in our tunnel； we feel it no longer。 The air is pure under the ground。
There is no odor of men。 And these three hours give us strength for our
hours above the ground。
Our body is betraying us； for the Council of the Home looks with
suspicion upon us。 It is not good to feel too much joy nor to be glad that
our body lives。 For we matter not and it must not matter to us whether
we live or die； which is to be as our brothers will it。 But we； Equality 7…
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2521； are glad to be living。 If this is a vice； then we wish no virtue。
Yet our brothers are not like us。 All is not well with our brothers。
There are Fraternity 2…5503； a quiet boy with wise； kind eyes； who cry
suddenly； without reason； in the midst of day or night； and their body
shakes with sobs they cannot explain。 There are Solidarity 9…6347； who
are a bright youth； without fear in the day； but they scream in their sleep；
and they scream： 〃Help us！ Help us！ Help us！〃 into the night； in a
voice which chills our bones； but the Doctors cannot cure Solidarity 9…
6347。
And as we all undress at night； in the dim light of the candles； our
brothers are silent； for they dare not speak the thoughts of their minds。
For all must agree with all； and they cannot know if their thoughts are the
thoughts of all； and so they fear to speak。 And they are glad when the
candles are blown for the night。 But we； Equality 7…2521； look through
the window upon the sky； and there is peace in the sky； and cleanliness；
and dignity。 And beyond the City there lies the plain； and beyond the
plain； black upon the black sky； there lies the Uncharted Forest。
We do not wish to look upon the Uncharted Forest。 We do not wish
to think of it。 But ever do our eyes return to that black patch upon the
sky。 Men never enter the Uncharted Forest； for there is no power to
explore it and no path to lead among its ancient trees which stand as
guards of fearful secrets。 It is whispered that once or twice in a hundred
years； one among the men of the City escape alone and run to the
Uncharted Forest； without call or reason。 These men do not return。 They
perish from hunger and from the claws of the wild beasts which roam the
Forest。 But our Councils say that this is only a legend。 We have heard
that there are many Uncharted Forests over the land； among the Cities。
And it is whispered that they have grown over the ruins of many cities of
the Unmentionable Times。 The trees have swallowed the ruins； and the
bones under the ruins； and all the things which perished。 And as we look
upon the Uncharted Forest far in the night； we think of the secrets of the
Unmentionable Times。 And we wonder how it came to pass that these
secrets were lost to the world。 We have heard the legends of the great
fighting； in which many men fought on one side and only a few on the
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other。 These few were the Evil Ones and they were conquered。 Then
great fires raged over the land。 And in these fires the Evil Ones and all
the things made by the Evil Ones were burned。 And the fire which is
called the Dawn of the Great Rebirth； was the Script Fire where all the
scripts of the Evil Ones were burned； and with them all the words of the
Evil Ones。 Great mountains of flame
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stood in the squares of the Cities for three months。 Then came the
Great Rebirth。
The words of the Evil Ones 。 。 。 The words of the Unmentionable
Times 。 。 。 What are the words which we have lost？
May the Council have mercy upon us！ We had no wish to write such a
question； and we knew not what we were doing till we had written it。 We
shall not ask this question and we shall not think it。 We shall not call death
upo