Зима тревоги нашей

           Nowaslow,deliberateencirclementwasmovingonNewBaytown,anditwassetinmotionbyhonorablemen.Ifitsucceeded,theywouldbethoughtnotcrookedbutclever.Andifafactortheyhadoverlookedmovedin,wouldthatbeimmoralordishonorable?Ithinkthatwoulddependonwhetherornotitwassuccessful.Tomostoftheworldsuccessisneverbad.Irememberhow,whenHitlermoveduncheckedandtriumphant,manyhonorablemensoughtandfoundvirtuesinhim.AndMussolinimadethetrainsrunontime,andVichycollaboratedforthegoodofFrance,andwhateverelseStalinwas,hewasstrong.Strengthandsuccess—theyareabovemorality,abovecriticism.Itseems,then,thatitisnotwhatyoudo,buthowyoudoitandwhatyoucallit.Isthereacheckinmen,deepinthem,thatstopsorpunishes?Theredoesn’tseemtobe.Theonlypunishmentisforfailure.Ineffectnocrimeiscommittedunlessacriminaliscaught.InthemovedesignedforNewBaytownsomemenhadtogethurt,someevendestroyed,butthisinnowaydeterredthemovement.

           Icouldnotcallthisastrugglewithmyconscience.OnceIperceivedthepatternandacceptedit,thepathwasclearlymarkedandthedangersapparent.Whatamazedmemostwasthatitseemedtoplanitself;onethinggrewoutofanotherandeverythingfittedtogether.Iwatcheditgrowandonlyguideditwiththelightesttouch.

           WhatIhaddoneandplannedtodowasundertakenwithfullknowledgethatitwasforeigntome,butnecessaryasastirrupistomountatallhorse.