Read The Last Place to Stand for Free Online Page A

that the Castaways called themselves something different.”
    “That's right,” said the teacher. “They call themselves the Waldenese, which they think is a good thing. Walden was a story about a lazy man who wanted to leave society in order not to contribute to it any longer. Then he could do whatever he wanted, not thinking about the needs of anyone else. He could have even died out there and it would have made no difference to society, for he had done nothing to improve it.”
    “But we are all one people and we work toward the common good,” one of the older and brightest students said.
    “Very well said,” the teacher smiled.
     

Chapter 14
    “I see you have decided to join us,” said John, the leader of the group.
    “I wanted to give it a try.” The group looked friendly toward him. They were seated outside on wooden chairs in a circle.
    “And what are you called?” asked John.
    “X4287,” he said.
    “I've heard you are getting your sight back, X4287,” said the leader.
    “Just barely. At least I can walk now though.”
    “Excellent,” said the leader.
    The leader addressed the group: “We have all been among the Technophiles for a long time, long enough to receive in our bodies and souls the destruction that can occur there. This is a place where we can end all that. And begin something new.”
    “So what do you do here?” asked X4287.
    “Mostly talk, and get mad, and sometimes even cry. It depends. But most of all we are healed. You are now our twelfth member. Now I want you to think about what it was like being among the Technos, or if you like to call them the Solpaths, you may. Try to remember how you felt. If you were not busy, if you did not have something that needed to be done, how did you feel? Put yourself in that place again and try to feel it.”
    “You want to know how I felt?” said a big man. “I felt like crap. I wanted to kill or be killed. I didn't think it at the time, you know, but I worked just to escape the feeling. And I knew it too. It took a while though before I knew there was anything to escape to.”
    “Hmmm,” said the leader. “I can identify with that. Who’s next?”
    “I felt very lonely,” said a middle aged woman. “I was surrounded by people, but I was always lonely.”
    “I'm sure a lot of us have felt that,” said the leader.
    X4287 spoke up, “I'm not even sure. I didn't really think about it before. I was always so busy.”
    “I'm sure a lot of us could identify with that too,” said the leader. “It often takes time to learn again to feel, and remember.”
    A thin wiry man said, “One thing is for sure, I sure feel better now.”
    “Yes,” said the leader.
    A few of the others shook their heads, lost in the feelings of a previous time. One lady had tears streaming down her face, but remained silent.
    “Here's what I want you to do,” said the leader. “I want you all to think about this further this week and write down what you come up with.”
    “And X4287, I have an additional assignment for you. I want you to start thinking about a name, rather than an ID. An ID is like a serial number given to machines, but has no personality to it. You were meant for more than that. Think carefully about it, ask your new friends, read some of your favorite books, if you have any, and see what you come up with.”
    “I will do my best,” said X4287. “But can I ask you a question?”
    “Sure.”
    “Where did you get your name?”
    “My name is John,” the teacher said, “The man I got my name from was a writer who could write the times and lives of men so that you felt you knew them, and you understood their circumstances. His name was John Steinbeck.”
    “Hmm,” said X4287. “I'll do my best to come up with a name.”
    “Take as long as you like. It's an important decision.”
    “I will,” said X4287.
     

Chapter 15
    The old man with short brown hair sat in a chair on the other side of the office from X213. She had seen him