Part Four

           ManydayspassedbeforewecouldspeaktotheGoldenOneagain.Butthencamethedaywhentheskyturnedwhite,asifthesunhadburstandspreaditsflameintheair,andthefieldslaystillwithoutbreath,andthedustoftheroadwaswhiteintheglow.Sothewomenofthefieldwereweary,andtheytarriedovertheirwork,andtheywerefarfromtheroadwhenwecame.ButtheGoldenOnestoodaloneatthehedge,waiting.Westoppedandwesawthattheireyes,sohardandscornfultotheworld,werelookingatusasiftheywouldobeyanywordwemightspeak.

           Andwesaid:

           “Wehavegivenyouanameinourthoughts,Liberty5-3000.”

           “Whatisourname?”theyasked.

           “TheGoldenOne.”

           “NordowecallyouEquality7-2521whenwethinkofyou.”

           “Whatnamehaveyougivenus?”Theylookedstraightintooureyesandtheyheldtheirheadhighandtheyanswered:

           “TheUnconquered.”

           Foralongtimewecouldnotspeak.Thenwesaid:

           “Suchthoughtsastheseareforbidden,GoldenOne.”

           “Butyouthinksuchthoughtsastheseandyouwishustothinkthem.”

           Welookedintotheireyesandwecouldnotlie.

           “Yes,”wewhispered,andtheysmiled,andthenwesaid:“Ourdearestone,donotobeyus.”

           Theysteppedback,andtheireyeswerewideandstill.

           “Speakthesewordsagain,”theywhispered.

           “Whichwords?”weasked.Buttheydidnotanswer,andweknewit.

           “Ourdearestone,”wewhispered.

           Neverhavemensaidthistowomen