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A.R.Yngve DARC AGES Book Three _________________________ |
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Chapter 13
The fourth and fifth broadcast began with Darc and his band performing the ancient number "I'm All Shook Up". The speech he held afterward was calmer, less rebellious than his previous ones, yet it reverberated with conviction. He thought of Shara and Eye-Leg as he spoke. "This is the Voice of Liberty. I have talked about the liberty of all people before, and I know that my words have confused, even frightened many of you. This can be difficult to hear -- for rich, poor, nobles, and Lepers. This time I wish to talk about how all people must be considered equal in order to be free. "In my time, in the Golden Age, there was a saying: 'All humans are created equal under God.' And all good people respected and lived by that saying. You may be confused by those words. I think I hear you say: 'How can all humans be created equal? Some are born men, some are born women, some are born gifted, or dumb. Some are born into rich families, some into poverty. And some are born Lepers.' "So how, you may think, can all people be born equal? Well, when I say 'equal' I do not mean 'exactly alike', or of equal intelligence, or equal lot in life. I mean equal worth. Where is this maxim written down? It was written down on a document more than 1,000 years ago -- and was then sadly forgotten, even in my time. But it is also written into the book of Nature. We are all created from the same stuff -- the same atoms. The laws that govern Nature are the same for all, regardless of class. We all must live brief lives, and then we must face what might lie beyond death -- so must I. This is the universal human condition. "Since we share the same universe, we are equal. But we are free to live in different ways, within those laws of Nature. We are free to treat each other in different ways as long as we do not aspire to be above nature. Indeed, if a nobleman robs a poor woman of her bread, he is not struck by lightning. Nature does not send Plague upon us because of our sins. How unfair, you may say! Why do not the gods interfere, and correct our ways? Because we are free! If the gods governed our every step, we would be nothing but puppets -- but we are not, unless we choose to be. Likewise, we choose not to let our appetites govern us. If we let greed, anger and lust control our selves, we quickly become as unfree, as helpless as children. "If the gods and the appetites are not to control our acts, then who will? All of us will. It is our born responsibility to respect the equal worth of all humans, regardless of creed, birth, and gender. This is the only way for humanity to survive and thrive. Say, if you saw a thief beat up a weaker man and walk away with his possessions -- would it be wise of you to just watch it happen, and say 'It is none of my concern?' The thief would then become bold enough to go after you. "So: Each time a human is in need of help, or suffers injustice, it means the whole of humanity is threatened. Eventually, the sins of one man will affect the wellbeing of another because they share the same world. That is why we must live by the maxim: All humans are created equal. "Does this include the Lepers too? Yes. These unfortunate millions who live in poverty in the Wastelands, are worth just as much as those living in the wealth of the closed cities. And we must work to cure the Lepers from the Plague, if we are to be truthful to the one maxim: All humans are created equal. My allies and I are steadily working to find that cure, and soon I shall reveal more about our work. "This is the voice of Darc. This is The Voice of Liberty." Darc gestured to Mechao, who switched off the transmitter. Another futile cry into open air, Darc thought as he rested his sore throat. Speaking and singing was beginning to put a strain on his vocal cords. How long will I have to keep on doing this? Is it already too late? What the hell is Bor Damon going to do when he hears this? Are the noble-noses already arming up to attack us? Sometimes I wish I had the guts to just give up. Shara ran up to him and hugged him forcefully. She nearly burst into tears as she said: "Did you mean it? Every word?" He held her tight, pulling her into his lap. "Yes. It was a good thing you did for Eye-Leg. I love you, Shara." Her face seemed to radiate with happiness. They soon walked off to look after Eye-Leg together. After having heard that fifth broadcast speech, Dohan was acting restless and anxious to speak. Meijji was the first to notice. She stood in the way of the pacing young warrior and faced him: "What's on your mind?" He looked at her, his face taut with concentration. "The things Darc said... about being truthful to the maxim. That all humans are created equal. Damn me! Now I understand what's happened to me since he appeared." Meijji scrutinized him for a clue -- she had heard Darc and Dohan recount their adventures, and found them fascinating. However, Dohan's current behavior mystified her completely. Dohan noticed her puzzled face and explained rapidly, gesturing with clenched fists. "All the time, I suspected him to be the reincarnated Singing King! Until he talked me out of it, or almost did, in Amrica that night. But all that happened... it makes sense after this last speech. He has taught me... taught us... how to live by the maxim of human equality. And I haven't got it until now! "I was brought up to be a member of the self-professed elite, the chosen ones, who would defend our inferiors from even lesser inferiors! I don't deserve to call myself a knight! You were right -- I am a dumb brute." Meijji shook her head, and stroked Dohan's coarse cheek with her palm. "You are a great man, Dohan. Don't let a single mistake bring you down. And you're wrong. If you weren't a knight before, you surely are one now. What's on your mind? What are you going to do next?" He softened at her touch, but his inspiration would not falter. "First, I will organize a proper defense of this island. Instead of taking over my father's army, I'll settle for this island's. Darc's work, and the islanders of course, must be protected at all costs!" "I see. And then?" "If we live through this, I will work to create a world-spanning brotherhood of knights... that will protect all Lepers, while they are being cured from the Plague! Yes -- that would be the noblest cause." "And then?" Her gaze was dropping to the floor, and her hand moved away from his face. "And then..." Dohan stopped, and stared at Meijji for a moment. Then he grabbed her slim, brown body and lifted it above his head. She shrieked. "But first of all, I'll marry you!" he shouted. And they both began to laugh. A sister of Meijji was eavesdropping on Dohan when he uttered his promise. She immediately ran to her mother and told her. "And it's about time, too," was Amada's laconic reaction to the news. "Let us get to work." |
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