anthem(圣歌)-第10节
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leaping up to meet us； and we waited for the earth to rise and strike us in
the face。 But we ran。 We knew not where we were going。 We knew
only that we must run； run to the end of the world； to the end of our days。
Then we knew suddenly that we were lying on a soft earth and that we
had stopped。 Trees taller than we had ever seen before stood over us in
great silence。 Then we knew。 We were in the Uncharted Forest。 We had
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not thought of coming here； but our legs had carried our wisdom； and our
legs had brought us to the Uncharted Forest against our will。
Our glass box lay beside us。 We crawled to it； we fell upon it； our
face in our arms； and we lay still。
We lay thus for a long time。 Then we rose； we took our box and
walked on into the forest。
It mattered not where we went。 We knew that men would not follow
us； for they never enter the Uncharted Forest。 We had nothing to fear
from them。 The forest disposes of its own victims。 This gave us no fear
either。 Only we wished to be away； away from the City and from the air
that touches upon the air of the City。 So we walked on； our box in our
arms； our heart empty。
We are doomed。 Whatever days are left to us； we shall spend them
alone。 And we have heard of the corruption to be found in solitude。 We
have torn ourselves from the truth which is our brother men； and there is
no road back for us； and no redemption。
We know these things； but we do not care。 We care for nothing on
earth。 We are tired。
Only the glass box in our arms is like a living heart that gives us
strength。 We have lied to ourselves。 We have not built this box for the
good of our brothers。 We built it for its own sake。 It is above all our
brothers to us； and its truth above their truth。 Why wonder about this？
We have not many days to live。 We are walking to the fangs awaiting us
somewhere among the great； silent trees。 There is not a thing behind us
to regret。
Then a blow of pain struck us； our first and our only。 We thought of the
Golden One。 We thought of the Golden One whom we shall never see
again。 Then the pain passed。 It is best。 We are one of the Damned。 It
is best if the Golden One forget our name and the body which bore that
name。
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PART EIGHT
It has been a day of wonder； this； our first day in the forest。
We awoke when a ray of sunlight fell across our face。 We wanted to
leap to our feet； as we have had to leap every morning of our life； but we
remembered suddenly that no bell had rung and that there was no bell to
ring anywhere。 We lay on our back； we threw our arms out； and we
looked up at the sky。 The leaves had edges of silver that trembled and
rippled like a river of green and fire flowing high above us。 We did not
wish to move。 We thought suddenly that we could lie thus as long as we
wished； and we laughed aloud at the thought。 We could also rise； or run；
or leap； or fall down again。 We were thinking that these were thoughts
without sense； but before we knew it our body had risen in one leap。 Our
arms stretched out of their own will； and our body whirled and whirled； till
it raised a wind to rustle through the leaves of the bushes。 Then our
hands seized a branch and swung us high into a tree； with no aim save the
wonder of learning the strength of our body。 The branch snapped under
us and we fell upon the moss that was soft as a cushion。 Then our body；
losing all sense； rolled over and over on the moss； dry leaves in our tunic；
in our hair； in our face。 And we heard suddenly that we were laughing；
laughing aloud； laughing as if there were no power left in us save laughter。
Then we took our glass box； and we went on into the forest。 We went
on； cutting through the branches； and it was as if we were swimming
through a sea of leaves； with the bushes as waves rising and falling and
rising around us； and flinging their green sprays high to the treetops。 The
trees parted before us； calling us forward。 The forest seemed to welcome
us。 We went on； without thought； without care； with nothing to feel save
the song of our body。
We stopped when we felt hunger。 We saw birds in the tree branches；
and flying from under our footsteps。 We picked a stone and we sent it as
an arrow at a bird。 It fell before us。 We made a fire； we cooked the bird；
and we ate it； and no meal had ever tasted better to us。 And we thought
suddenly that there was a great satisfaction to be found in the food which
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we need and obtain by our own hand。 And we wished to be hungry again
and soon； that we might know again this strange new pride in eating。
Then we walked on。 And we came to a stream which lay as a streak
of glass among the trees。 It lay so still that we saw no water but only a
cut in the earth； in which the trees grew down； upturned； and the sky lay at
the bottom。 We knelt by the stream and we bent down to drink。 And then
we stopped。 For； upon the blue of the sky below us； we saw our own
face for the first time。
We sat still and we held our breath。 For our face and our body were
beautiful。 Our face was not like the faces of our brothers； for we felt not
pity when looking upon it。 Our body was not like the bodies of our
brothers； for our limbs were straight and thin and hard and strong。 And we
thought that we could trust this being who looked upon us from the stream；
and that we had nothing to fear with this being。
We walked on till the sun had set。 When the shadows gathered among
the trees； we stopped in a hollow between the roots； where we shall sleep
tonight。 And suddenly； for the first time this day； we remembered that we
are the Damned。 We remembered it； and we laughed。
We are writing this on the paper we had hidden in our tunic together
with the written pages we had brought for the World Council of Scholars；
but never given to them。 We have much to speak of to ourselves； and we
hope we shall find the words for it in the days to come。 Now； we cannot
speak； for we cannot understand。
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PART NINE
We have not written for many days。 We did not wish to speak。 For
we needed no words to remember that which has happened to us。
It was on our second day in the forest that we heard steps behind us。
We hid in the bushes； and we waited。 The steps came closer。 And then
we saw the fold of a white tunic among the trees； and a gleam of gold。
We leapt forward； we ran to them； and we stood looking upon the
Golden One。
They saw us； and their hands closed into fists； and the fists pulled their
arms down； as if they wished their arms to hold them； while their body
swayed。 And they could not speak。
We dared not come too close to them。 We asked； and our voice
trembled：
〃How did you come to be here； Golden One？〃
But they whispered only：
〃We have found you。 。 。 。〃
〃How did you come to be in the forest？〃 we asked。
They raised their head； and there was a great pride in their voice； they
answered：
〃We have followed you。〃
Then we could not speak； and they said：
〃We heard that you had gone to the Uncharted Forest； for the whole
City is speaking of it。 So on the night of the day when we heard it； we
ran away from the Home of the Peasants。 We found the marks of your
feet across the plain where no men walk。 So we followed them； and we
went into the forest； and we followed the path where the branches were
broken by your body。〃
Their white tunic was torn； and the branches had cut the skin of their
arms； but they
