Part Two

           Liberty5-3000...Libertyfive-threethousand...Liberty5-3000....

           Wewishtowritethisname.Wewishtospeakit,butwedarenotspeakitaboveawhisper.Formenareforbiddentotakenoticeofwomen,andwomenareforbiddentotakenoticeofmen.Butwethinkofoneamongwomen,theywhosenameisLiberty5-3000,andwethinkofnoothers.ThewomenwhohavebeenassignedtoworkthesoilliveintheHomesofthePeasantsbeyondtheCity.WheretheCityendsthereisagreatroadwindingofftothenorth,andweStreetSweepersmustkeepthisroadcleantothefirstmilepost.Thereisahedgealongtheroad,andbeyondthehedgeliethefields.Thefieldsareblackandploughed,andtheylielikeagreatfanbeforeus,withtheirfurrowsgatheredinsomehandbeyondthesky,spreadingforthfromthathand,openingwideapartastheycometowardus,likeblackpleatsthatsparklewiththin,greenspangles.Womenworkinthefields,andtheirwhitetunicsinthewindarelikethewingsofsea-gullsbeatingovertheblacksoil.

           AndthereitwasthatwesawLiberty5-3000walkingalongthefurrows.Theirbodywasstraightandthinasabladeofiron.Theireyesweredarkandhardandglowing,withnofearinthem,nokindnessandnoguilt.Theirhairwasgoldenasthesun;theirhairflewinthewind,shiningandwild,asifitdefiedmentorestrainit.Theythrewseedsfromtheirhandasiftheydeignedtoflingascornfulgift,andtheearthwasabeggarundertheirfeet.

           Westoodstill;forthefirsttimedidweknowfear,andthenpain.