Гимн
Part Twelve
ButIstillwonderhowitwaspossible,inthosegracelessyearsoftransition,longago,thatmendidnotseewhithertheyweregoing,andwenton,inblindnessandcowardice,totheirfate.Iwonder,foritishardformetoconceivehowmenwhoknewtheword“I”couldgiveitupandnotknowwhattheylost.Butsuchhasbeenthestory,forIhavelivedintheCityofthedamned,andIknowwhathorrormenpermittedtobebroughtuponthem.
Perhaps,inthosedays,therewereafewamongmen,afewofclearsightandcleansoul,whorefusedtosurrenderthatword.Whatagonymusthavebeentheirsbeforethatwhichtheysawcomingandcouldnotstop!Perhapstheycriedoutinprotestandinwarning.Butmenpaidnoheedtotheirwarning.Andthey,thesefew,foughtahopelessbattle,andtheyperishedwiththeirbannerssmearedbytheirownblood.Andtheychosetoperish,fortheyknew.Tothem,Isendmysaluteacrossthecenturies,andmypity.
Theirsisthebannerinmyhand.AndIwishIhadthepowertotellthemthatthedespairoftheirheartswasnottobefinal,andtheirnightwasnotwithouthope.Forthebattletheylostcanneverbelost.Forthatwhichtheydiedtosavecanneverperish.Throughallthedarkness,throughalltheshameofwhichmenarecapable,thespiritofmanwillremainaliveonthisearth.Itmaysleep,butitwillawaken.Itmaywearchains,butitwillbreakthrough.Andmanwillgoon.Man,notmen.
Hereonthismountain,Iandmysonsandmychosenfriendsshallbuildournewlandandourfort
