He fetches one from the drawer, hands it over. But--
"Combeferre." This is gentle again, but differently. Instead of a friend's compassionate concern -- though that remains -- his voice now has the tenor of a hymn, hushed under the vault of the sunlight sky. "Listen. France will establish a republic. It's a longer and harder road than we dreamed of, but still, at the end is a true republic, one that lasts. Universal suffrage, compulsory education, clean water, medical care available to all with governmental underwriting. The national motto once again Liberty, Equality, Fraternity, oak and fasces on its coat of arms in a grand parliament of nations. And not only France: republics will spread across Europe -- across the world. Even Poland, even Greece." Eventually. But it's not the road there, the deaths and betrayals and conquerors and partitions he's speaking of now: it's what was won at the end of the road, and the achievements that were only fierce dreams while they lived.
"I'm not speaking only of belief, my friend. People come to Milliways from all worlds; there's a library, vaster than anything you've seen. I read of the French Republic in a history book. Set down as accomplished fact, its continuation taken for granted. The rights of all humanity seen as an inevitability."
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timeasmymeasure
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Date: 2014-12-12 08:38 pm (UTC)He fetches one from the drawer, hands it over. But--
"Combeferre." This is gentle again, but differently. Instead of a friend's compassionate concern -- though that remains -- his voice now has the tenor of a hymn, hushed under the vault of the sunlight sky. "Listen. France will establish a republic. It's a longer and harder road than we dreamed of, but still, at the end is a true republic, one that lasts. Universal suffrage, compulsory education, clean water, medical care available to all with governmental underwriting. The national motto once again Liberty, Equality, Fraternity, oak and fasces on its coat of arms in a grand parliament of nations. And not only France: republics will spread across Europe -- across the world. Even Poland, even Greece." Eventually. But it's not the road there, the deaths and betrayals and conquerors and partitions he's speaking of now: it's what was won at the end of the road, and the achievements that were only fierce dreams while they lived.
"I'm not speaking only of belief, my friend. People come to Milliways from all worlds; there's a library, vaster than anything you've seen. I read of the French Republic in a history book. Set down as accomplished fact, its continuation taken for granted. The rights of all humanity seen as an inevitability."