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in groups at the Social Meetings。 But once； standing at the hedge； we
raised our hand to our forehead and then moved it slowly； palm down；
toward Liberty 5…3000。 Had the others seen it； they could have guessed
nothing； for it looked only as if we were shading our eyes from the sun。
But Liberty 5…3000 saw it and understood。 They raised their hand to
their forehead and moved it as we had。 Thus； each day； we greet Liberty 5…
3000； and they answer； and no men can suspect。
We do not wonder at this new sin of ours。 It is our second
Transgression of Preference； for we do not think of all our brothers； as we
must； but only of one； and their name is Liberty 5…3000。 We do not know
why we think of them。 We do not know why； when we think of them； we
feel all of a sudden that the earth is good and that it is not a burden to live。
We do not think of them as Liberty 5…3000 any longer。 We have given
them a name in our thoughts。 We call them the Golden One。 But it is a
sin to give men names which distinguish them from other men。 Yet we
call them the Golden One； for they are not like the others。 The Golden One
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are not like the others。
And we take no heed of the law which says that men may not think of
women； save at the Time of Mating。 This is the time each spring when
all the men older than twenty and all the women older than eighteen are
sent for one night to the City Palace of Mating。 And each of the men
have one of the women assigned to them by the Council of Eugenics。
Children are born each winter； but women never see their children and
children never know their parents。 Twice have we been sent to the
Palace of Mating； but it is an ugly and shameful matter； of which we do
not like to think。
We had broken so many laws； and today we have broken one more。
Today； we spoke to the Golden One。
The other women were far off in the field； when we stopped at the
hedge by the side of the road。 The Golden One were kneeling alone at
the moat which runs through the field。 And the drops of water falling
from their hands； as they raised the water to their lips； were like sparks of
fire in the sun。 Then the Golden One saw us； and they did not move；
kneeling there； looking at us； and circles of light played upon their white
tunic； from the sun on the water of the moat； and one sparkling drop fell
from a finger of their hand held as frozen in the air。
Then the Golden One rose and walked to the hedge； as if they had
heard a command in our eyes。 The two other Street Sweepers of our
brigade were a hundred paces away down the road。 And we thought that
International 4…8818 would not betray us； and Union 5…3992 would not
understand。 So we looked straight upon the Golden One； and we saw the
shadows of their lashes on their white cheeks and the sparks of sun on
their lips。 And we said：
〃You are beautiful； Liberty 5…3000。〃
Their face did not move and they did not avert their eyes。 Only their
eyes grew wider； and there was triumph in their eyes； and it was not
triumph over us； but over things we could not guess。
Then they asked：
〃What is your name？〃
〃Equality 7…2521；〃 we answered。
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〃You are not one of our brothers； Equality 7…2521； for we do not wish
you to be。〃
We cannot say what they meant； for there are no words for their
meaning； but we know it without words and we knew it then。
〃No；〃 we answered； 〃nor are you one of our sisters。〃
〃If you see us among scores of women； will you look upon us？〃
〃We shall look upon you； Liberty 5…3000； if we see you among all the
women of the earth。〃
Then they asked：
〃Are Street Sweepers sent to different parts of the City or do they
always work in the same places？〃
〃They always work in the same places；〃 we answered； 〃and no one
will take this road away from us。〃
〃Your eyes；〃 they said； 〃are not like the eyes of any among men。〃
And suddenly； without cause for the thought which came to us； we felt
cold； cold to our stomach。
〃How old are you？〃 we asked。
They understood our thought； for they lowered their eyes for the first
time。
〃Seventeen；〃 they whispered。
And we sighed； as if a burden had been taken from us； for we had been
thinking without reason of the Palace of Mating。 And we thought that we
would not let the Golden One be sent to the Palace。 How to prevent it；
how to bar the will of the Councils； we knew not； but we knew suddenly
that we would。 Only we do not know why such thought came to us； for
these ugly matters bear no relation to us and the Golden One。 What
relation can they bear？
Still； without reason； as we stood there by the hedge； we felt our lips
drawn tight with hatred； a sudden hatred for all our brother men。 And the
Golden One saw it and smiled slowly； and there was in their smile the first
sadness we had seen in them。 We think that in the wisdom of women the
Golden One had understood more than we can understand。
Then three of the sisters in the field appeared； coming toward the road；
so the Golden One walked away from us。 They took the bag of seeds；
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and they threw the seeds into the furrows of earth as they walked away。
But the seeds flew wildly； for the hand of the Golden One was trembling。
Yet as we walked back to the Home of the Street Sweepers； we felt
that we wanted to sing； without reason。 So we were reprimanded tonight；
in the dining hall； for without knowing it we had begun to sing aloud some
tune we had never heard。 But it is not proper to sing without reason； save
at the Social Meetings。
〃We are singing because we are happy；〃 we answered the one of the
Home Council who reprimanded us。
〃Indeed you are happy；〃 they answered。 〃How else can men be when
they live for their brothers？〃
And now； sitting here in our tunnel； we wonder about these words。 It
is forbidden； not to be happy。 For； as it has been explained to us； men are
free and the earth belongs to them； and all things on earth belong to all
men； and the will of all men together is good for all； and so all men must
be happy。
Yet as we stand at night in the great hall； removing our garments for
sleep； we look upon our brothers and we wonder。 The heads of our
brothers are bowed。 The eyes of our brothers are dull； and never do they
look one another in the eyes。 The shoulders of our brothers are hunched；
and their muscles are drawn； as if their bodies were shrinking and wished
to shrink out of sight。 And a word steals into our mind； as we look upon
our brothers； and that word is fear。
There is fear hanging in the air of the sleeping halls； and in the air of
the streets。 Fear walks through the City； fear without name； without shape。
All men feel it and none dare to speak。
We feel it also； when we are in the Home of the Street Sweepers。 But
here； in our tunnel； we feel it no longer。 The air is pure under the ground。
There is no odor of men。 And these three hours give us strength for our
hours above the ground。
Our body is betraying us； for the Council of the Home looks with
suspicion upon us。 It is not good to feel too much joy nor to be glad that
our body lives。 For we matter not and it must not matter to us whether
we live or die； which is to be as our brothers will it。 But we； Equality 7…
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2521； are glad to be living。 If this is a vice； then we wish no virtue。
Yet our brothers are not like us。 All is not well with our brothers。
There are