Scorched Earth: A Future History of Planet EarthPetrovic, Walter D.
Science
Scorched Earth: A Future History of Planet Earth
Petrovic, Walter D.
Science fiction
"No!" answered Brook and continued. "No! They were my brother's. He
played, and beautifully. It was like the great God had entered his
hands and his voice filled the walls of this place as if it were made
up of the voices of a hundred seraphims. When he departed, these
stayed as a reminder to us all of Manguino's goodness." Lloyd couldn't
decide the meaning behind those feelings expressed by Brook. His words
impressed with thoughts of sorrow, respect and praise, and yet his tone
was utterly opposite to them, and seemed as if it were being subdued by
him.
There was no mention yet, why Brook called him to his side and he
didn't think that it was to talk about the memory of his brother. Then
he remembered that Brook offered to show him some materials of
knowledge from the Twentieth Century and about the past millennia, when
he recovered.
He looked at the shelves of books adjacent to the cabinet and along the
wall to the left of the entrance. However, all the books on the
shelves were of this age; by poets and literary artists like Maxxwel,
Bothelli, Croii, Lapinz and Argynossti. There were no encyclopedias or
such books from antiquity and Lloyd grew alarmed and wary.
"You were going to show me some things that you have about the ancient
land?" asked Lloyd.
Brook smiled and winked at him.
"My, you are eager, aren't you?"
Lloyd remained quiet and Brook started to show him the promised
antiquities.
"Look around you, Lloyd. The knowledge within these pages will never
again be conceived by man's mind, and they will be forgotten, if
suppression is continued by that almighty megalomaniac."
"But, my Lord, all these writers are from our own time." stated
Brook's guest.
Brooked grinned, touched his shoulder and pointed to one of the books
on the shelf behind him.
"Look inside that book!"
Lloyd looked at the shelf and grabbed for the book. He glanced at
Brook to make certain that he took the correct one and Brook nodded,
still smiling. With his eyes, he motioned for Lloyd to look inside.
Lloyd eyed the title and his face showed frustration, as his voice rose
in annoyance.
"You joke, my Lord! This is poetry. 'Djenaud Smarte" ... it's not
even very good poetry!"
"Look inside." Brook ordered once more. "I never imagined you to get
annoyed so easily ... maybe you are afraid -- or untrusting?"
Brook's words seemed to cut deeply into Lloyd's conscience. For a
brief moment he had forgotten that he was saved from sure death by
those of this household.
He quietly opened the book and thumbed through a few pages. His eyes
finally flamed as he read the actual title page: "ELEMENTS OF
DEMOCRACY".
Lloyd looked up at Brook in silent apology.
"All these books are like this one!" Lloyd stated with certainty, but
lost his countenance when Brook confessed to him.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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