Read The Fireman for Free Online Page B

dance faster than t-v? People don't want to think. They're having fun."
     
    "Committing suicide."
     
    "Let them commit it."
     
    "Murdering."
     
    "Let them murder. The fewer fools there will be."
     
    "A war is starting, perhaps tonight, and no one will even talk about it."
     
    The house shook. A bomber flight was moving south. It had slowed to five hundred miles an hour and was trembling the two men standing there across from each other.
     
    "Let the war turn off the t-vs and radio, and bomb the true confessions."
     
    "I can't wait," said Montag.
     
    "Patience. The civilization is flinging itself to pieces. Stand back from the centrifuge."
     
    "There has to be another structure ready when this one falls," insisted Montag. "That's us."
     
    "A bunch of men quoting Shakespeare and saying I remember Sophocles? It would be funny if it were not tragic."
     
    "We've got to be there. We've got to remind those who are left that there are things more urgent than machines. We must remember that the right kind of work is happiness, instead of the wrong kind of leisure. We must give people things to do. We must make them feel wanted again."
     
    "They will only war again. No, Montag, go on home and go to bed. It was nice seeing you. But it's a lost cause."
     
    MONTAG paced about the room for a few moments, chafing his hands, then he returned and picked up the book and held it toward the other man.
     
    "Do you see this book? Would you like to own it?"
     
    "My God, yes! I'd give my right arm for it."
     
    "Watch." Montag began ripping the pages out, one by one, dropping them to the floor, tearing them in half, spitting on them and rolling them into wads.
     
    "Stop it!" cried Faber. "You idiot, stop it!" He sprang forward. Montag warded him off and went on tearing at the pages.
     
    "Do you see?" he said, a fistful of pages in his tightening fist, flourishing them under the chin of the old man. "Do you see what it means to have your heart torn out? Do you see what they do?"
     
    "Don't tear any more, please," said the old man.
     
    "Who can stop me? You? I'm a fireman. I can do anything I want to do. Why, I could burn your house now, do you know that? I could burn everything. I have the power."
     
    "You wouldn't!"
     
    "No. I wouldn't."
     
    "Please. The book; don't rip it any more. I can't stand that." Faber sank into a chair, his face white, his mouth trembling. "I see; I understand. My God, I'm old enough so it shouldn't matter what happens to me. I'll help you. I can't take any more of this. If I'm killed, it won't make any difference. I'm a terrible fool of an old man and it's too late, but I'll help you."
     
    "To print the books?"
     
    "Yes."
     
    "To start classes?"
     
    "Yes, yes, anything, but don't ruin that book, don't. I never thought a book could mean so much to me." Faber sighed. "Let us say that you have my limited cooperation. Let us say that part of your plan, at least, intrigues me, the idea of striking back with books planted in firemen's homes. I'll help. How much money could you get me today?"
     
    "Five thousand dollars."
     
    "Bring it here when you can. I know a man who once printed our college paper. That was the year I came to class one morning and found only two students to sign up for Ancient Greek Drama. You see, that's how it went. Like an ice-block melting in the sun.
     
    And when the people had censored themselves into a living idiocy with their purchasing power, the Government, which of course represents the people's will, being composed of representative people, froze the situation. Newspapers died. No one cared if the Government said they couldn't come back. No one wanted them back. Do they now? I doubt it, but I'll contact a printer, Montag. We'll get the books started, and wait for the war. That's one fine thing; war destroys machines so beautifully."
     
    MONTAG went to the door. "I'm afraid I'll have to take the Bible along."
     
    "No!"
     
    "Leahy guessed I have a book in the house. He