Алая чума

           AndifIcatchHare-Liptryingtobustyourhead,Hoo-Hoo,I’llfixhimwiththatsamegunpowder. Granserain’tsuchafoolasyouthink,andI’mgoingtolistentohimandsomedayI’llbebossoverthewholebunchofyou.” 

           Theoldmanshookhisheadsadly,andsaid: 

           “Thegunpowderwillcome. Nothingcanstopit—thesameoldstoryoverandover. Manwillincrease,andmenwillfight. Thegunpowderwillenablementokillmillionsofmen,andinthiswayonly,byfireandblood,willanewcivilization,insomeremoteday,beevolved. Andofwhatprofitwillitbe? Justastheoldcivilizationpassed,sowillthenew. Itmaytakefiftythousandyearstobuild,butitwillpass. Allthingspass. Onlyremaincosmicforceandmatter,everinflux,everactingandreactingandrealizingtheeternaltypes—thepriest,thesoldier,andtheking. Outofthemouthsofbabescomesthewisdomofalltheages. Somewillfight,somewillrule,somewillpray;andalltherestwilltoilandsuffersorewhileontheirbleedingcarcassesisrearedagain,andyetagain,withoutend,theamazingbeautyandsurpassingwonderofthecivilizedstate. ItwerejustaswellthatIdestroyedthosecave-storedbooks—whethertheyremainorperish,alltheiroldtruthswillbediscovered,theiroldlieslivedandhandeddown. Whatistheprofit—” 

           Hare-Lipleapedtohisfeet,givingaquickglanceatthepasturinggoatsandtheafternoonsun. 

           “Gee!”hemutteredtoEdwin,“Theoldgeezergetsmorelong-windedeveryday. Let’spullforcamp.”