Part Twelve

           ItwaswhenIreadthefirstofthebooksIfoundinmyhousethatIsawtheword“I.”AndwhenIunderstoodthisword,thebookfellfrommyhands,andIwept,Iwhohadneverknowntears.Iweptindeliveranceandinpityforallmankind.

           IunderstoodtheblessedthingwhichIhadcalledmycurse.Iunderstoodwhythebestinmehadbeenmysinsandmytransgressions;andwhyIhadneverfeltguiltinmysins.Iunderstoodthatcenturiesofchainsandlasheswillnotkillthespiritofmannorthesenseoftruthwithinhim.

           Ireadmanybooksformanydays.ThenIcalledtheGoldenOne,andItoldherwhatIhadreadandwhatIhadlearned.Shelookedatmeandthefirstwordsshespokewere:

           “Iloveyou.”

           ThenIsaid:

           “Mydearestone,itisnotproperformentobewithoutnames.Therewasatimewheneachmanhadanameofhisowntodistinguishhimfromallothermen.Soletuschooseournames.Ihavereadofamanwholivedmanythousandsofyearsago,andofallthenamesinthesebooks,hisistheoneIwishtobear.Hetookthelightofthegodsandhebroughtittomen,andhetaughtmentobegods.Andhesufferedforhisdeedasallbearersoflightmustsuffer.HisnamewasPrometheus.”

           “Itshallbeyourname,”saidtheGoldenOne.

           “AndIhavereadofagoddess,”Isaid,“whowasthemotheroftheearthandofallthegods.HernamewasGaea.Letthisbeyourname,myGoldenOne,foryouaretobethemotherofanewkindofgods.”

           “Itshallbemyname,”saidtheGoldenOne.

           NowIlookahead.Myfutureisclearbeforeme.