of the World Council. They sat before us and they
did not move. And we saw no breath to stir the folds of their white
togas. But we knew that they were alive, for a finger of the hand of the
oldest rose, pointed to us, and fell down again. This was the only
thing which moved, for the lips of the oldest did not move as they said:
"Street Sweeper."

We felt the cords of our neck grow tight as our head rose higher to look
upon the faces of the Council, and we were happy. We knew we had been
guilty, but now we had a way to atone for it. We would accept our Life
Mandate, and we would work for our brothers, gladly and willingly, and
we would erase our sin against them, which they did not know, but we
knew. So we were happy, and proud of ourselves and of our victory over
ourselves. We raised our right arm and we spoke, and our voice was the
clearest, the steadiest voice in the hall that day, and we said:

"The will of our brothers be done."

And we looked straight into the eyes of the Council, but their eyes were
as cold as blue glass buttons.

So we went into the Home of the Street Sweepers. It is a grey house on a
narrow street. There is a sundial in its courtyard, by which the Council
of the Home can tell the hours of the day and when to ring the bell.
When the bell rings, we all arise from our beds. The sky is green and
cold in our windows to the east. The shadow on the sundial marks off a
half-hour while we dress and eat our breakfast in the dining hall, where
there are five long tables with twenty clay plates and twenty clay cups
on each table. Then we go to work in the streets of the City, with our
brooms and our rakes. In five hours, when the sun is high, we return to
the Home and we eat our midday meal, for which one-half hour is allowed.
Then we go to work again. In five hours, the shadows are blue on the
pavements, and the sky is blue with a deep brightness which is not
bright. We come back to have our dinner, which lasts one hour. Then the
bell rings and we walk in a straight column to one of the City Halls,
for the Social Meeting. Other columns of men arrive from the Homes
of the different Trades. The candles are lit, and the Councils of the
different Homes stand in a pulpit, and they speak to us of our duties
and of our brother men. Then visiting Leaders mount the pulpit and they
read to us the speeches which were made in the City Council that day,
for the City Council represents all men and all men must know