Their white tunic was torn； and the branches had cut the skin of their
arms； but they spoke as if they had never taken notice of it； nor of
weariness； nor of fear。
〃We have followed you；〃 they said； 〃and we shall follow you wherever
you go。 If danger threatens you； we shall face it also。 If it be death； we
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shall die with you。 You are damned； and we wish to share your
damnation。〃
They looked upon us； and their voice was low； but there was bitterness
and triumph in their voice。
〃Your eyes are as a flame； but our brothers have neither hope nor fire。
Your mouth is cut of granite； but our brothers are soft and humble。 Your
head is high； but our brothers cringe。 You walk； but our brothers crawl。
We wish to be damned with you； rather than blessed with all our brothers。
Do as you please with us； but do not send us away from you。〃
Then they knelt； and bowed their golden head before us。
We had never thought of that which we did。 We bent to raise the
Golden One to their feet； but when we touched them； it was as if madness
had stricken us。 We seized their body and we pressed our lips to theirs。
The Golden One breathed once； and their breath was a moan； and then
their arms closed around us。
We stood together for a long time。 And we were frightened that we had
lived for twenty…one years and had never known what joy is possible to
men。
Then we said：
〃Our dearest one。 Fear nothing of the forest。 There is no danger in
solitude。 We have no need of our brothers。 Let us forget their good and
our evil； let us forget all things save that we are together and that there is
joy as a bond between us。 Give us your hand。 Look ahead。 It is our
own world； Golden One； a strange； unknown world； but our own。〃
Then we walked on into the forest； their hand in ours。
And that night we knew that to hold the body of women in our arms is
neither ugly nor shameful； but the one ecstasy granted to the race of men。
We have walked for many days。 The forest has no end； and we seek
no end。 But each day added to the chain of days between us and the City
is like an added blessing。
We have made a bow and many arrows。 We can kill more birds than
we need for our food； we find water and fruit in the forest。 At night； we
choose a clearing； and we build a ring of fires around it。 We sleep in the
midst of that ring； and the beasts dare not attack us。 We can see their
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eyes； green and yellow as coals； watching us from the tree branches
beyond。 The fires smoulder as a crown of jewels around us； and smoke
stands still in the air； in columns made blue by the moonlight。 We sleep
together in the midst of the ring； the arms of the Golden One around us；
their head upon our breast。
Some day； we shall stop and build a house； when we shall have gone
far enough。 But we do not have to hasten。 The days before us are
without end； like the forest。
We cannot understand this new life which we have found； yet it seems
so clear and so simple。 When questions come to puzzle us； we walk
faster； then turn and forget all things as we watch the Golden One
following。 The shadows of leaves fall upon their arms； as they spread the
branches apart； but their shoulders are in the sun。 The skin of their arms is
like a blue mist； but their shoulders are white and glowing； as if the light
fell not from above； but rose from under their skin。 We watch the leaf
which has fallen upon their shoulder； and it lies at the curve of their neck；
and a drop of dew glistens upon it like a jewel。 They approach us； and they
stop； laughing； knowing what we think； and they wait obediently； without
questions； till it pleases us to turn and go on。
We go on and we bless the earth under our feet。 But questions come
to us again； as we walk in silence。 If that which we have found is the
corruption of solitude； then what can men wish for save corruption？ If this
is the great evil of being alone； then what is good and what is evil？
Everything which comes from the many is good。 Everything which
comes from one is evil。 This have we been taught with our first breath。 We
have broken the law； but we have never doubted it。 Yet now； as we walk
through the forest； we are learning to doubt。
There is no life for men； save in useful toil for the good of all their
brothers。 But we lived not； when we toiled for our brothers； we were only
weary。 There is no joy for men； save the joy shared with all their
brothers。 But the only things which taught us joy were the power we
created in our wires； and the Golden One。 And both these joys belong to
us alone； they come from us alone； they bear no relation to all our brothers；
and they do not concern our brothers in any way。 Thus do we wonder。
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There is some error； one frightful error； in the thinking of men。 What
is that error？ We do not know； but the knowledge struggles within us；
struggles to be born。 Today； the Golden One stopped suddenly and said：
〃We love you。〃
But they frowned and shook their head and looked at us helplessly。
〃No；〃 they whispered； 〃that is not what we wished to say。〃
They were silent； then they spoke slowly； and their words were halting；
like the words of a child learning to speak for the first time：
〃We are one 。 。 。 alone 。 。 。 and only 。 。 。 and we love you who are
one 。 。 。 alone 。 。 。 and only。〃
We looked into each other's eyes and we knew that the breath of a
miracle had touched us； and fled； and left us groping vainly。
And we felt torn； torn for some word we could not find。
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PART TEN
We are sitting at a table and we are writing this upon paper made
thousands of years ago。 The light is dim； and we cannot see the Golden
One； only one lock of gold on the pillow of an ancient bed。 This is our
home。
We came upon it today； at sunrise。 For many days we had been
crossing a chain of mountains。 The forest rose among cliffs； and
whenever we walked out upon a barren stretch of rock we saw great peaks
before us in the west； and to the north of us； and to the south； as far as our
eyes could see。 The peaks were red and brown； with the green streaks of
forests as veins upon them； with blue mists as veils over their heads。 We
had never heard of these mountains； nor seen them marked on any map。
The Uncharted Forest has protected them from the Cities and from the
men of the Cities。
We climbed paths where the wild goat dared not follow。 Stones
rolled from under our feet； and we heard them striking the rocks below；
farther and farther down； and the mountains rang with each stroke； and
long after the strokes had died。 But we went on； for we knew that no men
would ever follow our track nor reach us here。
Then today； at sunrise； we saw a white flame among the trees； high on
a sheer peak before us。 We thought that it was a fire and stopped。 But
the flame was unmoving； yet blinding as liquid metal。 So we climbed
toward it through the rocks。 And there； before us； on a broad summit； with
the mountains rising behind it； stood a house such as we had never seen；
and the white fire came from the sun on the glass of its windows。
The house had two stories and a strange roof flat as a floor。 There
was more window than wall upon its walls； and the windows went on
straight around the corners； though how this kept the house standing we
could not guess。 The walls were hard and smooth； of that stone un