Books In English "City Of Illusions" Ursula K. Le Guin | Page 17

same now all over the Earth, though we don't know. They let us be so long
as we stay here, in the cage of our ignorance and the wilderness, bowing
when they pass by above our heads. But they don't trust us. How could
they, even after twelve hundred years? There is no trust in them, because
there is no truth in them. They honor no compact, break any promise,
perjure, betray and lie inexhaustibly; and certain records from the time of
the Fall of the League hint that they could mindlie. It was the Lie that
defeated all the races of the League and left us subject to the Shing.
Remember that, Falk. Never believe the truth of anything the Enemy has
said."
"I will remember, Master, if I ever meet the Enemy."
"You will not, unless you go to them."
The apprehensiveness in Falk's face gave way to a listening, still look.
What he had been waiting for had arrived. "You mean leave the House,"
he said.
"You have thought of it yourself," Zove said as quietly.
"Yes, I have. But there is no way for me to go. I want to live here.
Parth and I—"
He hesitated, and Zove struck in, incisive and gentle. "I honor the love
grown between you and Parth, your joy and your fidelity. But you came
here on the way to somewhere else, Falk. You are welcome here; you have
always been welcome. Your partnership with my daughter must be
childless; even so, I have rejoiced in it. But I do believe that the mystery of
your being and your coming here is a great one, not lightly to be put aside;
that you walk a way that leads on; that you have work to do…"
"What work? Who can tell me?"
"What was kept from us and stolen from you, the Shing will have.
That you can be sure of."
There was an aching, scathing bitterness in Zove's voice that Falk had
never heard.
"Will those who speak no truth tell me the truth for the asking? And
how will I recognize what I seek when I find it?"
Zove was silent a little while, and then said with his usual ease and
control, "I cling to the notion, my son, that in" you lies some hope for man.
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