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came to the oldest of the younger ones。 It was a long gap in Years； and an immensely longer gap in culture and tradition。 Never had there been…never could there possibly have been…such another gap between the older and the younger generations。
Sitting there； on the Library steps； pounding the chip of granite into smaller and smaller grains； he began now to have what seemed a little clearer vision of the future。 It was all tied up in that same old question。 How much did man strike outward to affect all his surroundings and how much did the surroundings press in upon him？ Did the Napoleonic age produce Napoleon or did he produce it？ So； even if Joey had lived； the welter of circumstances； the circumstances that made Jack and Roger and Ralph； would probably have affected Joey too； and one small boy was not much to set up against all of that。 Yes； even if Joey had lived； things would probably have continued to move in the way they already seemed to be moving。 Now that Joey was dead； it was certain…certain； that is； as far as anyone could reasonably expect； granting always some unforeseeable accident。
The stars in their courses！ （The chip of granite was nothing but powder under the blows of the harnmer。） The stars in their courses！ No； he did not believe in astrology； and yet the shifting of the stars showed that the solar system too was changing； and that the earth itself was being a more or a less habitable place for man。 Thus； at some profounder depth of reality； astrology might be right； and the changes in the sky could be taken as symbol of all the grinding wheels of circumstance。 The stars in their courses！ What was man； little man； to withstand them？
Yes； the future was certain。 The Tribe was not going to restore civilization。 It did not want civilization。 For a while the scavenging would go on…this opening of cans； this expending of cartridges and matches stored up from the past； all this uncreative but happy manner of life。 Then at last； sooner or later； there would be more and more people； and the supplies would fail。 There would perhaps be no quick catastrophe because many cattle could be had for the taking； and life would go on。 So； he thought； and then a new idea came to him with a sudden impact。 Even though cattle were left； though there was much food； what would happen when the ammunition for the rifles was exhasted？ When the matches were gone？ In fact； one might not even have to wait until the ammunition was exhausted。 Powder deteriorated with time。 Three or four generations； and all who were left might be merely some groveling primitives who had lost civilization and yet； on the other hand； had not learned all those thousand basic skills which enabled savages to live with some degree of stability and fort！ Possibly； indeed…and perhaps this would best…in three or four generations the race would not be able to survive at all； would not be able to make the transition between the scavenging； uncreative life； and some new level of life at which they could remain permanently； or from which they could once more begin a slow advance。
Again he pounded heavily on the edge of the step。 Another chunk of the granite fell off。 He looked at it gloomily。 He had just decided not to worry； and here he was； hard at it again。 What could he know about what would be happening three or four generations from now？ He got up and started to walk home。 He was quieter now。
〃Yes；〃 he thought； again shaping words； 〃a leopard can't change its spots； and I'll always be a worrier； even though I've lived with Em for twenty…two years。 I look before and after。 Relax！ Yes； I should relax a little。 What I have been trying to do…that has failed。 I'll admit it。 Just the same； I'm certain I'll never stop trying a little。 Now； perhaps； if I try for something less； I may in the end attain something more。〃
Chapter 10
By the time he had finished the long walk up the hill to the houses； his vague plans had shaped themselves； but he would have to wait until morning to begin。
That night； however； an autumn storm began； and he awoke in the morning to a world of low…lying cloud and steady dropping。 He felt surprise； for with all the recent troubles he had failed to realize that time was slipping away。 Now； however； when he thought of the matter； he remembered that the sun had been setting well toward the south and that the month； if one could still think in such terms； would be November。 The rain interfered with the immediate fulfillment of his plans； but there was plenty of time； and he could mature his ideas with thought。
So pletely had his attitudes changed within the last day that the sounds of the assembling children； that morning； came to him as a shock。 〃Of course！〃 he thought。 〃They are expecting to have school again。〃
He went downstairs to meet with them。 They were all there…all except Joey； and two younger ones。 He looked into their faces； as they sat on chairs wriggling； or squatted more fortably on the floor。 They were looking back at him； he imagined； with more alertness than usual。 Joey was gone； and they must be wondering how this would affect school。 Yet the change； he knew； must be only temporary； and behind this alertness must lurk still that basic lack of interest against which he had already struggled。
He let his glance run over the little group； pausing individually upon each face。 They were fine children； not really stupid； but they lacked the flair。 No； there was not one！ He made his decision； and he felt no pain in it。
〃School is dismissed；〃 he said。
There was a momentary look almost as of consternation in all the faces； and then he saw that they were suddenly pleased； although they were making some effort not to show their pleasure。
〃School is dismissed！〃 he repeated； feeling that he was being dramatic about it in spite of himself。 〃There will be no more school…ever！〃
Again he saw a look of consternation e into the faces； and this time no pleasure showed afterwards。 They stirred uneasily in their seats。 Some of them got up to go。 But they knew that something had happened； something deeper than their minds could grasp。
They went out slowly and quietly。 During as much as a minute after they had gone out into the dripping of the rain； there was silence。 Then he heard them suddenly shout； and they were children again。 School had been a passing incident。 Probably they would never think of it again； certainly they would never regret it。 For a moment Ish felt a heaviness within him。 〃Joey； Joey！〃 he thought。 But he had no regret for what he had just done； and he knew that he had made the right decision。 〃School is dismissed！〃 he thought。 〃School dismissed！〃 And he remembered suddenly that he had sat in this same room many years before； and watched the electric lights fade out。
Three days of rain gave him plenty of time to think things over and mature all his plans。 At last a morning dawned with blue sky and a chilly wind from the north。 The sun came out； the vegetation dried。 Now was the time。
He hunted through the deserted and overgrown gardens。 This had never been an area where citrus fruits were grown mercially； but lemons had produced well enough； and here and there someone had nursed a lemon tree in his garden。 That wood； he remembered； was suitable。 Of course he could have read any number of books； but his approach had changed。 He would read no books on this matter。 He could do well enough by himself。
Two blocks up the street there had once been a large and showy garden。 There he found a lemon tree。 It was still living； although nearly crowded out by the growth of two pines …Moreover； it had suffered badly in a frost of some years previous。 Never having been pruned after the frost； the tree was only a wreck of itself。 Long suckers had shot up from its base after the frost； and some of these again had died。
Avoiding the long thorns； Ish pressed his way into the tangle； found a suitable shoot； and took out his pocket…knife。 The shoot at its base was nearly as big as his thumb。 The dead lemon wood was almost as hard as bone； but after a while he whittled it through with his knife and pulled it out from the tangle。 The shoot was seven feet long； straight for four feet before other branches had begun to interfere and it had grown crooked。 At his shaking； it was stiff； but when he leaned against it； it bent and straightened sharply as he released the pressure。 It would suffice。
〃Yes；〃 he thought a little bitterly； 〃it will be good enough for all my needs。〃
He carried the lemon…shoot back to the house； and sat on the porch； in the sun； whittling。 First he cut off the crooked end of the shoot so that he had four feet of straight wood remaining。
Then he stripped off the dead bark； and began to taper the shoot at both ends。 The work was very slow； and he paused frequently to sharpen the knife on a whetstone。 The white tough…grained wood seemed to turn the edge after ouly a few strokes。
Walt and Josey had been off playing with the other children； but at lunch…time they came back。 〃What are you doing？〃 Josey asked him。
〃I'm getting ready to play a game；〃 Ish answered her。 He would not make the mistake； he had de