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the Scholars； we want the help of our brother Scholars and their wisdom
joined to ours。 There is so much work ahead for all of us； for all the
Scholars of the world。
In a month； the World Council of Scholars is to meet in our City。 It is
a great Council； to which the wisest of all lands are elected； and it meets
once a year in the different Cities of the earth。 We shall go to this
Council and we shall lay before them； as our gift； this glass box with the
power of the sky。 We shall confess everything to them。 They will see；
understand and forgive。 For our gift is greater than our transgression。 They
will explain it to the Council of Vocations； and we shall be assigned to the
Home of the Scholars。 This has never been done before； but neither has a
gift such as ours ever been offered to men。
We must wait。 We must guard our tunnel as we had never guarded it
before。 For should any men save the Scholars learn of our secret； they
would not understand it； nor would they believe us。 They would see
nothing； save our crime of working alone； and they would destroy us and
our light。 We care not about our body； but our light is 。 。 。
Yes； we do care。 For the first time do we care about our body。 For
this wire is as a part of our body； as a vein torn from us； glowing with our
blood。 Are we proud of this thread of metal； or of our hands which made
it； or is there a line to divide these two？
We stretch out our arms。 For the first time do we know how strong
our arms are。 And a strange thought comes to us： we wonder； for the first
time in our life； what we look like。 Men never see their own faces and
never ask their brothers about it； for it is evil to have concern for their own
faces or bodies。 But tonight； for a reason we cannot fathom； we wish it
were possible to us to know the likeness of our own person。
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ANTHEM
PART SIX
We have not written for thirty days。 For thirty days we have not been
here； in our tunnel。 We had been caught。 It happened on that night when
we wrote last。 We forgot； that night； to watch the sand in the glass which
tells us when three hours have passed and it is time to return to the City
Theatre。 When we remembered it； the sand had run out。
We hastened to the Theatre。 But the big tent stood grey and silent
against the sky。 The streets of the City lay before us； dark and empty。 If
we went back to hide in our tunnel； we would be found and our light found
with us。 So we walked to the Home of the Street Sweepers。
When the Council of the Home questioned us； we looked upon the
faces of the Council； but there was no curiosity in those faces； and no
anger； and no mercy。 So when the oldest of them asked us： 〃Where
have you been？〃 we thought of our glass box and of our light； and we
forgot all else。 And we answered：
〃We will not tell you。〃
The oldest did not question us further。 They turned to the two youngest；
and said； and their voice was bored：
〃Take our brother Equality 7…2521 to the Palace of Corrective
Detention。 Lash them until they tell。〃
So we were taken to the Stone Room under the Palace of Corrective
Detention。 This room has no windows and it is empty save for an iron post。
Two men stood by the post； naked but for leather aprons and leather hoods
over their faces。 Those who had brought us departed； leaving us to the
two Judges who stood in a corner of the room。 The Judges were small；
thin men； grey and bent。 They gave the signal to the two strong hooded
ones。
They tore the clothes from our body； they threw us down upon our
knees and they tied our hands to the iron post。 The first blow of the lash
felt as if our spine had been cut in two。 The second blow stopped the
first； and for a second we felt nothing； then the pain struck us in our throat
and fire ran in our lungs without air。 But we did not cry out。
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ANTHEM
The lash whistled like a singing wind。 We tried to count the blows； but
we lost count。 We knew that the blows were falling upon our back。 Only
we felt nothing upon our back any longer。 A flaming grill kept dancing
before our eyes； and we thought of nothing save that grill； a grill； a grill of
red squares； and then we knew that we were looking at the squares of the
iron grill in the door； and there were also the squares of stone on the walls；
and the squares which the lash was cutting upon our back； crossing and re…
crossing itself in our flesh。
Then we saw a fist before us。 It knocked our chin up； and we saw the
red froth of our mouth on the withered fingers； and the Judge asked：
〃Where have you been？〃
But we jerked our head away； hid our face upon our tied hands； and bit
our lips。
The lash whistled again。 We wondered who was sprinkling burning
coal dust upon the floor； for we saw drops of red twinkling on the stones
around us。
Then we knew nothing； save two voices snarling steadily； one after the
other； even though we knew they were speaking many minutes apart：
〃Where have you been where have you been where have you been
where have you been？ 。 。 。〃
And our lips moved； but the sound trickled back into our throat； and
the sound was only：
〃The light 。 。 。 The light 。 。 。 The light。 。 。 。〃
Then we knew nothing。
We opened our eyes； lying on our stomach on the brick floor of a cell。
We looked upon two hands lying far before us on the bricks； and we
moved them； and we knew that they were our hands。 But we could not
move our body。 Then we smiled； for we thought of the light and that we
had not betrayed it。
We lay in our cell for many days。 The door opened twice each day；
once for the men who brought us bread and water； and once for the Judges。
Many Judges came to our cell； first the humblest and then the most
honored Judges of the City。 They stood before us in their white togas； and
they asked：
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ANTHEM
〃Are you ready to speak？〃
But we shook our head； lying before them on the floor。 And they
departed。
We counted each day and each night as it passed。 Then； tonight； we
knew that we must escape。 For tomorrow the World Council of Scholars is
to meet in our City。
It was easy to escape from the Palace of Corrective Detention。 The
locks are old on the doors and there are no guards about。 There is no
reason to have guards； for men have never defied the Councils so far as to
escape from whatever place they were ordered to be。 Our body is healthy
and strength returns to it speedily。 We lunged against the door and it
gave way。 We stole through the dark passages； and through the dark
streets； and down into our tunnel。
We lit the candle and we saw that our place had not been found and
nothing had been touched。 And our glass box stood before us on the cold
oven； as we had left it。 What matter they now； the scars upon our back！
Tomorrow； in the full light of day； we shall take our box； and leave our
tunnel open； and walk through the streets to the Home of the Scholars。
We shall put before them the greatest gift ever offered to men。 We shall
tell them the truth。 We shall hand to them； as our confession； these pages
we have written。 We shall join our hands to theirs； and we shall work
together； with the power of the sky； for the glory of mankind。 Our blessing
upon you； our brothers！ Tomorrow； you will take us back into your fold
and we shall be an outcast no longer。 Tomorrow we shall be one of you
again。 Tomorrow 。 。 。
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ANTHEM
PART SEVEN
It is dark here in the forest。 The leave