Dare not choose in your minds the work you would like to do when you leave the Home of the Students. You shall do what 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 men, there is no reason for you to burden the earth with your bodies.
Many days passed before we could speak to the Golden One again. But then came the day when the sky turned white, as if the sun had burst and spread its flame in the air, and the fields lay still without breath, and the dust of the road was white in the glow. So the women of the field were weary, and they tarried over their work, and they were far from the road when we came. But the Golden One stood alone at the hedge, waiting. We stopped and we saw that their eyes, so hard and scornful to the world, were looking at us as if they would obey any word we might speak.
Today, we could only look and try to believe the sight of our eyes. We pulled the heavy curtains from the windows and we saw that the rooms were small, and we thought that not more than twelve men could have lived here. We thought it strange that men had been permitted to build a house for only twelve.Never had we seen rooms so full of light. The sunrays danced upon colors, colors, more colors than we thought possible, we who had seen no houses save the white ones, the brown ones and the grey. There were great pieces of glass on the walls, but it was not glass, for when we looked upon it we saw our own bodies and all the things behind us, as on the face of a lake. There were strange things which we had never seen and the use of which we do not know.
men would not follow us, for they never enter the Uncharted Forest. We had nothing to fear from them. The forest disposes of its own victims. This gave us no fear either. Only we wished to be away, away from the City and from the air that touches upon the air of the City. So we walked on, our box in our arms, our heart empty. We are doomed. Whatever days are left to us, we shall spend them alone. And we have heard of the corruption to be found in solitude. We have torn ourselves from the truth which is our brother men, and there is no road back for us, and no redemption. We know these things, but we do not care. We care for nothing on earth. We are tired. Only the glass box in our arms is like a living heart that gives us strength. We have lied to ourselves. We have not built this box for the good of our brothers. We built it for its own sake. It is above all our brothers to us, and its truth above their truth. Why wonder about this? We have not many days to live. We are walking to the fangs awaiting us somewhere among the great, silent trees. There is not a thing behind us to regret. Then a
I wish I had the power to tell them that the despair of their hearts was not to be final, and their night was not without hope. For the battle they lost can never be lost. For that which they died to save can never perish. Through all the darkness, through all the shame of which men are capable, the spirit of man will remain alive on this earth. It may sleep, but it will awaken. It may wear chains, but it will break through. And man will go on.
Ние, Равенство 7–2521, не бяхме щастлив през годините, прекарани в Дома на Учениците. Не защото ни беше трудно да учим. Точно обратното — защото ни беше твърде лесно. Да се родиш с пъргав ум е голям грях. Не е добре да се различаваш от своите братя, но да ги превъзхождаш, е истинско зло. Така казваха учителите и ни гледаха намръщено.
Ние бяхме добър Уличен Метач и приличахме на всички свои братя Улични Метачи. Различавахме се само по едно — проклетото ни желание да знаем. Вечер гледахме звездите прекалено дълго, гледахме дърветата и земята. А като чистехме двора в Дома на Учените, събирахме стъклениците, парчетата метал и изсушените кости, които те изхвърляха. Искаше ни се да задържим тези неща и да ги изследваме, но нямаше къде да ги скрием. И затова ги носехме на Градското Сметище. Но един ден направихме откритие.
Изведнъж осъзнахме, че това място е останало от Времената, За Които Не Бива Да Се Говори. Значи беше истина — тези времена бяха съществували, както и всички техни чудеса. Преди десетки стотици години хората са знаели тайни, които ние сме изгубили. И тогава си помислихме: „Това място е лошо. Проклети са онези, които докоснат неща от Времената, За Които Не Бива Да Се Говори. Но докато влизахме, ръката ни следваше релсата, вкопчена в желязото, сякаш не искаше да го пусне, сякаш кожата беше жадна и молеше метала да прелее в нея от тайната течност, пулсираща в студеното му тяло.
La palabra «Nosotros» es como cal derramada sobre los hombres, que los solidifica y endurece hasta hacerlos de piedra, y que aplasta todo bajo ella, y aquello que es blanco y aquello que es negro se pierden igualmente en su gris. Es la palabra mediante la cual los depravados roban la virtud de los buenos, mediante la cual los débiles roban el vigor de los fuertes, mediante la cual los necios roban la sabiduría de los sabios.
We are doomed Whatever days are left to us, we shall spend them alone. And we have heard of the corruption of solitude. We have torn ourselves from the truth which is our brother men, and there is no road back for us. and no redemption.We know these things, but we do not care. We care for nothing on earth. We are tired.
Приемете факта, че постигането на вашето щастие е единствената морална цел на вашия живот и, че в щастието, а не в болката или безумното самоугаждане, е доказателството за вашия морал, тъй като то е доказателство и резултат от вашата последователност в осъществяването на вашите идеали.''Атлас изправи рамене