Гимн
Part Seven
Weraisedourrightarmandwesaid:
“Ourgreetingtoyou,ourhonoredbrothersoftheWorldCouncilofScholars!”
ThenCollective0-0009,theoldestandwisestoftheCouncil,spokeandasked:
“Whoareyou,ourbrother?ForyoudonotlooklikeaScholar.”
“OurnameisEquality7-2521,”weanswered,“andweareaStreetSweeperofthisCity.”
Thenitwasasifagreatwindhadstrickenthehall,foralltheScholarsspokeatonce,andtheywereangryandfrightened.
“AStreetSweeper!AStreetSweeperwalkinginupontheWorldCouncilofScholars!Itisnottobebelieved!Itisagainstalltherulesandallthelaws!”
Butweknewhowtostopthem.
“Ourbrothers!”wesaid.“Wematternot,norourtransgression.Itisonlyourbrothermenwhomatter.Givenothoughttous,forwearenothing,butlistentoourwords,forwebringyouagiftsuchashadneverbeenbroughttomen.Listentous,forweholdthefutureofmankindinourhands.”
Thentheylistened.
Weplacedourglassboxuponthetablebeforethem.Wespokeofit,andofourlongquest,andofourtunnel,andofourescapefromthePalaceofCorrectiveDetention.Notahandmovedinthathall,aswespoke,noraneye.Thenweputthewirestothebox,andtheyallbentforwardandsatstill,watching.Andwestoodstill,oureyesuponthewire.Andslowly,slowlyasaflushofblood,aredflametrembledinthewire.Thenthewireglowed.
ButterrorstruckthemenoftheCouncil.
