| The first excerpt represents the past or something you must release, and is drawn from Running a Thousand Miles for Freedom by William and Ellen Craft: and tiptoed across the yard into the street. I say
tiptoed, because we were like persons near a totter-
ing avalanche, afraid to move, or even breathe freely,
for fear the sleeping tyrants should be aroused, and
come down upon us with double vengeance, for
daring to attempt to escape in the manner which
we contemplated.
We shook hands, said farewell, and started in
different directions for the railway station. I took
the nearest possible way to the train, for fear I
should be recognized by some one, and got into the
Running a Thousand Miles for Freedom |
The second excerpt represents the present or the deciding factor of the moment, and is drawn from Almayer's Folly by Joseph Conrad: heavy tread, and hailed it with a command to stop. The man
stopped at some little distance, and Dain expected him to speak,
but all he could hear was his deep breathing. Through a break in
the flying clouds a sudden and fleeting brightness descended upon
the clearing. Before the darkness closed in again, Dain saw a
hand holding some glittering object extended towards him, heard
Nina's cry of "Father!" and in an instant the girl was between
him and Almayer's revolver. Nina's loud cry woke up the echoes
of the sleeping woods, and the three stood still as if waiting
for the return of silence before they would give expression to
their various feelings. At the appearance of Nina, Almayer's arm
Almayer's Folly |
The third excerpt represents the future or something you must embrace, and is drawn from Allan Quatermain by H. Rider Haggard: how ye tamper with the great majesty of the God, even before
His high altar! There is a Power that is more than your power;
there is a Justice that is higher than your justice. Beware
how ye lift an impious hand against it! Let the sacrifice be
sacrificed, oh Queens.'
Then Sorais made answer in her deep quiet tones, that always
seemed to me to have a suspicion of mockery about them, however
serious the theme: 'Oh, Agon, thou hast spoken according to thy
desire, and thou hast spoken truth. But it is thou who wouldst
lift an impious hand against the justice of thy God. Bethink
thee the midday sacrifice is accomplished; the Sun hath claimed
Allan Quatermain |
