Professional Documents
Culture Documents
by Wolfgang Jeschke
3. Historical outline:
The Dark, Random Age.
IBM EDP
The Public Punch Card.
Judas pointed at the shirt he was wearing. It was still black, while to live in the huge skyscrapers that too often fell to the ground.
though red blood was all over it. Lester felt quite stupid since he Because of this a wounded fellow had chosen to live on the trains
hadn't noticed it before. permanently.
"The Party of the Melancholy of the Good Old Time," Judas an... So in the gigantic web of the Underground caves, thousands of
swered, "The Party of Freedom to All Servants, Children, Insiders, trains were running to and fro, filled with people who never left
Slaves, Thwarters, and Socialists. This is our motto since the Holy them.
Prophet Benito died, hung by his feet in Loreto. He sacrificed him- Children had been born in the trains, kids who had never known
self to allow the Word of God to be spread over the world. We are such things as sunlight-and Parties. They were pale, thin midgets,
among the richest and mightiest Parties, you know. And we've a lot fully accustomed to the darkness.
of followers hidden among other Parties' ranks." Judas Imabeliever looked around. He stared at the men and the
Lester nodded. He was right. The Fascists was one of the most women who occupied the seats in the train-some of them ap-
powerful Parties. Its Supreme Ruler was Amintore Letsspendthe- parently mere passers-by, who were already preparing for the jump
nighttogether, the same man who until two years ago had been the out, some youngsters in groups of three or four, amusing themselves
head of another strong Party, the Party of the Universal Red-Guards in sinister games of love.
Progress. At the opposite end of the car a sort of tent had been raised to be
"And you?" Imabeliever asked. a shelter. Long-bearded men were playing cards, while a couple of
Lester was struck by a sudden embarrassment. He could not reveal women lay on the seats, prey of LSD.
that he was not in any Party anymore. Not now at least. Two young cherubs of hell were looking out the window with large
"I'm a DAISY," Lester lied. "The Party of the Destroying Action on opened eyes, pointing at things Lester and Judas were unable to see
Immorality in the Succession of the Years. The Party that Guaran- in the dark. They shrieked with laughter, and to Lester the night out-
tees the Sacred Inviolability of the Family Link. The Party whose side seemed to echo them.
Members are Brothers. Gimme Your Wife and I Gonna Give You "Oh no," Judas finally answered, as if to himself. "I won't stay
Mine, you know." here. I really couldn't get accustomed. I'll get out as soon as I feel up
. Slogans. Yet he could not help uttering them all, as he spoke about to it. I'd rather die than stay here forever."
his Party; that was the result of years and years of conditioning. "You can stay here for seven days," Lester reminded him. "Then
"It's a good Party too," Imabeliever said. "It scored big last Revo- your Party will declare you officially dead, and another man will take
lution Day, didn't it?" your place. Your life wouldn't be worth a dime then. Bureaucracy
They had been fourth, Lester thought. Too many casualties, and won't allow you to appear again if declared officially dead. Bureau-
nothing to do. It had not been a fine day for them-they needed a cracy cannot fail; so they kill you."
full victory. "I know. But I hope I can be back before seven days are gone.
"What are you going to do now?" Lester asked, pointing at the Today was just an accident." A flash of resolution lighted Judas's
man's stump. "You won't go out at one of the next stations, will eyes. "It won't happen again. Where do you have to go?"
you? You're wounded and you've lost blood; you're bound to get "Next stop," Lester replied.
chopped."
Judas Imabeliever did not answer at once. He looked over the A light flashed on a wall. The station was getting close.
glass to the dark of the cave-you could hardly realize the train was Lester smiled, self-confident.
running at full speed in that unbounded night. "OUf ways are parting," he said. "Hope we meet again one day."
"No," he finally answered. "I ain't gonna risk my life." Judas's turn to smile.
"So you're staying here." Lester absentmindedly nodded. "You can bet, you old Moralist! One day it will be Revolution
Day. I shall slay thee with mine own hands."
It was common, anyway. Many people made their home in the Un- Lester felt touched by the courteous compliment. But he would
derground trains. Some flats could still be found in the city, provid- not take part in the battle; he smiled, recollecting. Not with the
ing that you were a speedy gunfighter. But it was not always worth- DAISY, at least!
202 The Best from the Rest of the World
ill shall slay thee there," he answered, according to what etiquette
demanded. "Good-bye."
The train stopped in the station. Brakes jarred again. .Lester
moved toward the gate, his nerves like violin strings, quite ready.
The train stopped.
"Good luck," Judas Imabeliever hailed him. But Lester wasn't lis-
tening anymore.
He was just going to jump down-
Then the gate quickly opened, and dosed.
On Lester. Nobody Here But Us Shadows
by Sam J. Lundwall