Гимн
Part One
”Butourhandwhichfollowedthetrack,aswecrawled,clungtotheironasifitwouldnotleaveit,asiftheskinofourhandwerethirstyandbeggingofthemetalsomesecretfluidbeatinginitscoldness.
Wereturnedtotheearth.International4-8818lookeduponusandsteppedback.
“Equality7-2521,”theysaid,“yourfaceiswhite.”
Butwecouldnotspeakandwestoodlookinguponthem.
Theybackedaway,asiftheydarednottouchus.Thentheysmiled,butitwasnotagaysmile;itwaslostandpleading.Butstillwecouldnotspeak.Thentheysaid:
“WeshallreportourfindtotheCityCouncilandbothofuswillberewarded.”
Andthenwespoke.Ourvoicewashardandtherewasnomercyinourvoice.Wesaid:
“WeshallnotreportourfindtotheCityCouncil.Weshallnotreportittoanymen.”
Theyraisedtheirhandstotheirears,forneverhadtheyheardsuchwordsasthese.
“International4-8818,”weasked,“willyoureportustotheCouncilandseeuslashedtodeathbeforeyoureyes?”
Theystoodstraightallofasuddenandtheyanswered:“Ratherwouldwedie.”
“Then,”wesaid,“keepsilent.Thisplaceisours.Thisplacebelongstous,Equality7-2521,andtonoothermenonearth.Andifeverwesurrenderit,weshallsurrenderourlifewithitalso.”
ThenwesawthattheeyesofInternational4-8818werefulltothelidswithtearstheydarednotdrop.Theywhispered,andtheirvoicetrembled,sothattheirwordslostallshape:
“ThewilloftheCouncilisaboveallthings,foritisthewillofourbrothers,whichisholy.Butifyouwishitso,weshallobeyyou.
