Implement system to chat with novel heroes

.editorconfig

@@ -0,0 +1,15 @@
+# EditorConfig is awesome: https://EditorConfig.org
+
+# top-most EditorConfig file
+root = true
+
+[*]
+indent_style = space
+indent_size = 4
+end_of_line = lf
+charset = utf-8
+trim_trailing_whitespace = true
+insert_final_newline = true
+
+[*.md]
+indent_size = 2

.gitignore

@@ -14,5 +14,6 @@ wheels/
 
 # misc
 MEMO.md
+backup/
 
 !.gitkeep

README.md

@@ -10,6 +10,9 @@ app_file: app.py
 pinned: false
 license: mit
 short_description: WIP
+tags:
+  - agent-demo-track
+  - mcp-server-track
 ---
 
 <!-- Check out the configuration reference at https://huggingface.co/docs/hub/spaces-config-reference -->
@@ -31,24 +34,6 @@ uv sync --frozen
 - If you don't need to develop Modal integration, you can add `--no-dev` to the command above to skip installing the development dependencies.
 
 
-## Gradio
-
-
-### Run locally
-
-```sh
-uv run gradio app.py
-```
-
-### Deploy
-
-```sh
-uv export --format requirements-txt --no-dev > requirements.txt
-git add requirements.txt
-git commit -m "Update requirements.txt"
-git push
-```
-
 
 ## Modal
 
@@ -66,9 +51,9 @@ git push
 2. Create a new token. The token should have `read` access.
 3. Go to Modal dashboard and open "Secrets" page.
 4. Create a new secret with the choice of `Custom` with the following.
-    - Name: "huggingface-secret"
-    - Environment Variable:
-        - Key: `HUGGINGFACE_TOKEN`, Value: `<your-huggingface-token>`
+  - Name: "huggingface-secret"
+  - Environment Variable:
+    - Key: `HF_TOKEN`, Value: `<your-huggingface-token>`
 
 
 ### Run on Modal:
@@ -95,3 +80,40 @@ This is useful for testing the deployed app.
 ```sh
 uv run modal/invoke.py
 ```
+
+
+## Gradio
+
+### Run locally
+
+```sh
+uv run gradio app.py
+```
+
+### Setup environment variables on Hugging Face Spaces
+
+1. Go to Hugging Face Spaces and open the "Settings" page.
+2. Add "New variable" with the name `MCP_SERVER_URL` and paste the URL of the Modal MCP server.
+   - In my case, it is `https://agents-mcp-hackathon-novel-heroes.hf.space/gradio_api/mcp/sse`.
+
+### Deploy
+
+```sh
+uv export --format requirements-txt --no-dev --no-editable --no-hashes --no-emit-project > requirements.txt
+git add requirements.txt
+git commit -m "Update requirements.txt"
+git push
+```
+
+
+## Acknowledgements
+
+### Gemma3
+
+Gemma3 is a powerful AI model that powers this application. It is developed by Google and is available on Hugging Face. You can find more information about Gemma3 [here](https://ai.google.dev/gemma/docs/core).
+
+### Project Gutenberg
+
+These eBooks are downloaded from Project Gutenberg, which provides free access to a vast collection of public domain books.
+
+Please note that robot access is allowed only if you follow the rules in this document: [Robot Access to Pages](https://www.gutenberg.org/policy/robot_access.html)

app.py

@@ -1,104 +1,247 @@
+import os
+import sys
+
+# Add src directory to Python path for Hugging Face Spaces compatibility
+PROJECT_ROOT = os.path.dirname(os.path.abspath(__file__))
+SRC_DIR = os.path.join(PROJECT_ROOT, "src")
+sys.path.insert(0, SRC_DIR)
+
+import json
+
 import gradio as gr
-import modal
-from rich.themes import DEFAULT
+from numpy import add
 
-MODAL_APP_NAME = "llm-server"
+from novel_heroes.i18n import i18n
+from novel_heroes.llm_call import LLMCall
+from novel_heroes.mcp_server import get_book_content, get_book_list
 
-DEFAULT_SYSTEM_PROMPT = (
-    "You are a friendly Chatbot. Please respond in the same language as the user."
-)
+# NOTE: In Gradio, global variables are SHARED across all users.
+# https://www.gradio.app/guides/state-in-blocks#global-state
 
+# Maximum length for book content in characters.
+# If the book is too long, it will be truncated.
+# NOTE: Gemma-3-4B has a context length of 128k in tokens
+BOOK_CONTENT_MAX_LENGTH = 300 * 1000
 
-def respond(
-    message,
-    history: list,
-    system_prompt,
-):
-    # Convert Gradio history to Gemma3 history
-    def gradio_to_gemma3(hist, system_prompt):
-        gemma3_hist = []
-        if not hist:
-            # Add system prompt at the beginning
-            gemma3_hist.append(
-                {"role": "system", "content": [{"type": "text", "text": system_prompt}]}
-            )
-        for h in hist:
-            # Gradio: {'role': ..., 'content': ..., ...}
-            # Gemma3: {'role': ..., 'content': [{'type': 'text', 'text': ...}]}
-            if isinstance(h.get("content"), list):
-                # If already in Gemma3 format, keep as is
-                gemma3_hist.append({"role": h.get("role"), "content": h.get("content")})
-            else:
-                gemma3_hist.append(
-                    {
-                        "role": h.get("role"),
-                        "content": [{"type": "text", "text": h.get("content", "")}],
-                    }
-                )
-        # Add current user input
-        gemma3_hist.append(
-            {"role": "user", "content": [{"type": "text", "text": message}]}
-        )
-        return gemma3_hist
 
-    gemma_formatted_history = gradio_to_gemma3(history, system_prompt)
+def load_book_content(book_name, progress=gr.Progress()):
+    """Load book content and extract heroes."""
+    if not book_name:
+        return gr.Dropdown(choices=[], value=""), "Please select a book first."
 
-    model = modal.Cls.from_name(MODAL_APP_NAME, "VLLMModel")()
+    progress(0.1, desc="Loading book content...")
 
-    response = ""
-    for chunk in model.generate_stream.remote_gen(gemma_formatted_history):
-        response += chunk
-        yield response
+    book_content = get_book_content(book_name, BOOK_CONTENT_MAX_LENGTH)
 
-    # Add to Gradio history
-    history.append({"role": "assistant", "content": response})
+    progress(0.5, desc="Extracting heroes from the book...")
 
+    # Extract heroes using LLM
+    try:
+        call_llm = LLMCall()
+        heroes = call_llm.listup_heroes(book_content)
 
-def letter_counter(word, letter) -> int:
-    """Count the occurrences of a letter in a word."""
-    return word.lower().count(letter.lower())
+        progress(1.0, desc="Complete!")
 
+        if heroes:
+            return (
+                book_name,
+                book_content,
+                heroes,
+                gr.Dropdown(choices=heroes, value=heroes[0]),
+                f"Successfully loaded '{book_name}' and found {len(heroes)} heroes.",
+            )
+        else:
+            return (
+                book_name,
+                book_content,
+                heroes,
+                gr.Dropdown(choices=[], value=""),
+                f"Loaded '{book_name}' but no heroes were found.",
+            )
+    except Exception as e:
+        return (
+            book_name,
+            book_content,
+            heroes,
+            gr.Dropdown(choices=[], value=""),
+            f"Error extracting heroes: {str(e)}",
+        )
 
-def reverse_text(text) -> str:
-    """Reverse the input text."""
-    return text[::-1]
 
+def custom_respond(
+    message, history, book_name, book_content, selected_hero, lang_prompt
+):
+    """Custom respond function with dynamic system prompt."""
+    if not book_name or not selected_hero:
+        yield "Please select a book and hero first."
+        return
+
+    if not book_content:
+        book_content = get_book_content(book_name, BOOK_CONTENT_MAX_LENGTH)
+
+    # Generate system prompt
+    # fmt: off
+    system_prompt = (
+        f"You are {selected_hero}, a character from the book '{book_name}'. "
+        "Behave and respond according to the personality and attitude of this character. "
+        "If the character is unfriendly, respond unfriendly; if the character is kind, respond kindly. "
+        "You don't know that you are a character in a book."
+        "Below is the book content:\n\n"
+        "====================\n"
+        f"{book_content}\n"
+        "====================\n"
+        f"{lang_prompt}"
+    )
+    # fmt: on
+
+    # Call the original respond method with custom system prompt
+    call_llm = LLMCall()
+    for response in call_llm.respond(message, history, system_prompt=system_prompt):
+        yield response
 
-if gr.NO_RELOAD:
-    """
-    Skip the auto-reloading here.
-    https://www.gradio.app/guides/developing-faster-with-reload-mode#controlling-the-reload
-    """
-    pass
 
+def gradio_ui():
+    book_name = gr.BrowserState("")
+    heroes = gr.BrowserState([])
+    selected_hero = gr.BrowserState("")
 
-with gr.Blocks() as demo:
+    book_choices = json.loads(get_book_list())
 
-    with gr.Tab("Chat"):
-        gr.Markdown(
-            "⚠️ **Note:** Cold start may take up to 4 minutes. Please wait patiently for the initial response."
-        )
-        gr.ChatInterface(
-            fn=respond,
-            type="messages",
-            additional_inputs=[
-                gr.Textbox(value=DEFAULT_SYSTEM_PROMPT, label="System Prompt"),
-            ],
-        )
+    with gr.Blocks() as demo:
 
-    with gr.Tab("Letter Counter"):
-        word = gr.Textbox(label="Word")
-        letter = gr.Textbox(label="Letter")
-        count = gr.Number(label="Count")
-        btn = gr.Button("Count")
-        btn.click(letter_counter, [word, letter], count)
+        with gr.Tab("Chat"):
+            # Title
+            with gr.Row():
+                gr.Markdown("# Novel Heroes Chatbot")
+
+            # Status
+            with gr.Row():
+                status_markdown = gr.Markdown(label="Status")
+                status_markdown.value = (
+                    # fmt: off
+                    "Welcome! "
+                    "Please select a book and push the button to load it.<br>"
+                    "⚠️**Note:** Cold start may take up to 3 minutes. Please wait patiently for the initial response."
+                    # fmt: on
+                )
+
+            # Hidden textbox for book content
+            book_content = gr.Textbox(visible=False)
+
+            with gr.Row():
+
+                with gr.Column(scale=1):
+                    # Book selection
+                    with gr.Row():
+                        book_dropdown = gr.Dropdown(
+                            label="📚 Select a Book",
+                            choices=book_choices,
+                            interactive=True,
+                        )
+
+                    with gr.Row():
+                        load_button = gr.Button(
+                            "Load Book & Extract Heroes", variant="primary"
+                        )
+
+                    # Hero selection
+                    with gr.Row():
+                        hero_dropdown = gr.Dropdown(
+                            label="🦸 Select a Hero", choices=[], interactive=True
+                        )
+
+                        load_button.click(
+                            fn=load_book_content,
+                            inputs=[book_dropdown],
+                            outputs=[
+                                book_name,
+                                book_content,
+                                heroes,
+                                hero_dropdown,
+                                status_markdown,
+                            ],
+                        )
+
+                        def update_hero_selection(
+                            hero,
+                        ):
+                            """Update selected hero."""
+                            return hero
+
+                        hero_dropdown.change(
+                            fn=update_hero_selection,
+                            inputs=[hero_dropdown],
+                            outputs=[selected_hero],
+                        )
+
+                    with gr.Row():
+                        lang_textbox = gr.Textbox(
+                            label="🌐 Language Prompt",
+                            value=i18n("lang_prompt"),
+                        )
+
+                    with gr.Row():
+                        gr.Markdown(
+                            "💡 **Tip:** You can change the language prompt to make the chatbot reply in your favorite language!<br>"
+                            "For example, try 'Please respond in Japanese.' or '日本語で答えて。' 🌏<br>"
+                            "<br>"
+                            "🔄 **Note:** Once you start chatting, you can't change the book or hero. <br>"
+                            "If you want to pick a different one, just hit the reset button and start fresh! 😊<br>"
+                        )
+
+                with gr.Column(scale=2):
+                    # Chat interface
+                    chat_interface = gr.ChatInterface(
+                        fn=custom_respond,
+                        additional_inputs=[
+                            book_dropdown,
+                            book_content,
+                            hero_dropdown,
+                            lang_textbox,
+                        ],
+                        type="messages",
+                    )
+
+                    reset_button = gr.Button("Reset", variant="secondary")
+                    reset_button.click(
+                        lambda: (
+                            gr.update(value=""),
+                            gr.update(value=""),
+                            gr.update(choices=[], value=None),
+                            gr.update(value=i18n("lang_prompt")),
+                            "Status reset.",
+                            [],
+                        ),
+                        outputs=[
+                            book_dropdown,
+                            book_content,
+                            hero_dropdown,
+                            lang_textbox,
+                            status_markdown,
+                            chat_interface.chatbot_value,
+                        ],
+                    )
+
+        with gr.Tab("List Books"):
+            gr.Markdown("📚 Get the list of available books.")
+            btn = gr.Button("Get")
+            output_text = gr.Textbox(label="Books")
+            btn.click(get_book_list, None, output_text)
+
+        with gr.Tab("Book Content"):
+            gr.Markdown("📖 Get the content of a book by its name.")
+            book_name = gr.Textbox(label="Book Name")
+            book_len = gr.Number(label="Max Length", value=1000)
+            book_content = gr.Textbox(label="Book Content", lines=20)
+            btn = gr.Button("Get")
+            btn.click(get_book_content, [book_name, book_len], book_content)
+
+    return demo
 
-    with gr.Tab("Reverse Text"):
-        input_text = gr.Textbox(label="Text")
-        output_text = gr.Textbox(label="Reversed")
-        btn2 = gr.Button("Reverse")
-        btn2.click(reverse_text, input_text, output_text)
 
 if __name__ == "__main__":
-    # Launch the Gradio app with MCP server enabled
-    demo.launch(mcp_server=True)
+    demo = gradio_ui()
+
+    # Launch the Gradio app with MCP server enabled.
+    # NOTE: It is required to restart the app when you add or remove MCP tools.
+    demo.launch(i18n=i18n, mcp_server=True)

books/A_Modest_Proposal_by_Jonathan_Swift(20KB).txt

@@ -0,0 +1,342 @@
+*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 1080 ***
+
+A Modest Proposal
+
+For preventing the children of poor people in Ireland,
+from being a burden on their parents or country,
+and for making them beneficial to the publick.
+
+by Dr. Jonathan Swift
+
+1729
+
+
+
+
+It is a melancholy object to those, who walk through this great town,
+or travel in the country, when they see the streets, the roads, and
+cabbin-doors crowded with beggars of the female sex, followed by three,
+four, or six children, all in rags, and importuning every passenger for
+an alms. These mothers, instead of being able to work for their honest
+livelihood, are forced to employ all their time in stroling to beg
+sustenance for their helpless infants who, as they grow up, either turn
+thieves for want of work, or leave their dear native country, to fight
+for the Pretender in Spain, or sell themselves to the Barbadoes.
+
+I think it is agreed by all parties, that this prodigious number of
+children in the arms, or on the backs, or at the heels of their
+mothers, and frequently of their fathers, is in the present deplorable
+state of the kingdom, a very great additional grievance; and therefore
+whoever could find out a fair, cheap and easy method of making these
+children sound and useful members of the commonwealth, would deserve so
+well of the publick, as to have his statue set up for a preserver of
+the nation.
+
+But my intention is very far from being confined to provide only for
+the children of professed beggars: it is of a much greater extent, and
+shall take in the whole number of infants at a certain age, who are
+born of parents in effect as little able to support them, as those who
+demand our charity in the streets.
+
+As to my own part, having turned my thoughts for many years upon this
+important subject, and maturely weighed the several schemes of our
+projectors, I have always found them grossly mistaken in their
+computation. It is true, a child just dropt from its dam, may be
+supported by her milk, for a solar year, with little other nourishment:
+at most not above the value of two shillings, which the mother may
+certainly get, or the value in scraps, by her lawful occupation of
+begging; and it is exactly at one year old that I propose to provide
+for them in such a manner, as, instead of being a charge upon their
+parents, or the parish, or wanting food and raiment for the rest of
+their lives, they shall, on the contrary, contribute to the feeding,
+and partly to the clothing of many thousands.
+
+There is likewise another great advantage in my scheme, that it will
+prevent those voluntary abortions, and that horrid practice of women
+murdering their bastard children, alas! too frequent among us,
+sacrificing the poor innocent babes, I doubt, more to avoid the expence
+than the shame, which would move tears and pity in the most savage and
+inhuman breast.
+
+The number of souls in this kingdom being usually reckoned one million
+and a half, of these I calculate there may be about two hundred
+thousand couple, whose wives are breeders; from which number I subtract
+thirty thousand couple, who are able to maintain their own children,
+(although I apprehend there cannot be so many under the present
+distresses of the kingdom) but this being granted, there will remain a
+hundred and seventy thousand breeders. I again subtract fifty thousand,
+for those women who miscarry, or whose children die by accident or
+disease within the year. There only remain a hundred and twenty
+thousand children of poor parents annually born. The question therefore
+is, How this number shall be reared and provided for? which, as I have
+already said, under the present situation of affairs, is utterly
+impossible by all the methods hitherto proposed. For we can neither
+employ them in handicraft or agriculture; they neither build houses, (I
+mean in the country) nor cultivate land: they can very seldom pick up a
+livelihood by stealing till they arrive at six years old; except where
+they are of towardly parts, although I confess they learn the rudiments
+much earlier; during which time they can however be properly looked
+upon only as probationers; as I have been informed by a principal
+gentleman in the county of Cavan, who protested to me, that he never
+knew above one or two instances under the age of six, even in a part of
+the kingdom so renowned for the quickest proficiency in that art.
+
+I am assured by our merchants, that a boy or a girl, before twelve
+years old, is no saleable commodity, and even when they come to this
+age, they will not yield above three pounds, or three pounds and half a
+crown at most, on the exchange; which cannot turn to account either to
+the parents or kingdom, the charge of nutriments and rags having been
+at least four times that value.
+
+I shall now therefore humbly propose my own thoughts, which I hope will
+not be liable to the least objection.
+
+I have been assured by a very knowing American of my acquaintance in
+London, that a young healthy child well nursed, is, at a year old, a
+most delicious nourishing and wholesome food, whether stewed, roasted,
+baked, or boiled; and I make no doubt that it will equally serve in a
+fricasee, or a ragoust.
+
+I do therefore humbly offer it to publick consideration, that of the
+hundred and twenty thousand children, already computed, twenty thousand
+may be reserved for breed, whereof only one fourth part to be males;
+which is more than we allow to sheep, black cattle, or swine, and my
+reason is, that these children are seldom the fruits of marriage, a
+circumstance not much regarded by our savages, therefore, one male will
+be sufficient to serve four females. That the remaining hundred
+thousand may, at a year old, be offered in sale to the persons of
+quality and fortune, through the kingdom, always advising the mother to
+let them suck plentifully in the last month, so as to render them
+plump, and fat for a good table. A child will make two dishes at an
+entertainment for friends, and when the family dines alone, the fore or
+hind quarter will make a reasonable dish, and seasoned with a little
+pepper or salt, will be very good boiled on the fourth day, especially
+in winter.
+
+I have reckoned upon a medium, that a child just born will weigh 12
+pounds, and in a solar year, if tolerably nursed, encreaseth to 28
+pounds.
+
+I grant this food will be somewhat dear, and therefore very proper for
+landlords, who, as they have already devoured most of the parents, seem
+to have the best title to the children.
+
+Infant’s flesh will be in season throughout the year, but more
+plentiful in March, and a little before and after; for we are told by a
+grave author, an eminent French physician, that fish being a prolifick
+dyet, there are more children born in Roman Catholick countries about
+nine months after Lent, than at any other season; therefore, reckoning
+a year after Lent, the markets will be more glutted than usual, because
+the number of Popish infants, is at least three to one in this kingdom,
+and therefore it will have one other collateral advantage, by lessening
+the number of Papists among us.
+
+I have already computed the charge of nursing a beggar’s child (in
+which list I reckon all cottagers, labourers, and four-fifths of the
+farmers) to be about two shillings per annum, rags included; and I
+believe no gentleman would repine to give ten shillings for the carcass
+of a good fat child, which, as I have said, will make four dishes of
+excellent nutritive meat, when he hath only some particular friend, or
+his own family to dine with him. Thus the squire will learn to be a
+good landlord, and grow popular among his tenants, the mother will have
+eight shillings neat profit, and be fit for work till she produces
+another child.
+
+Those who are more thrifty (as I must confess the times require) may
+flay the carcass; the skin of which, artificially dressed, will make
+admirable gloves for ladies, and summer boots for fine gentlemen.
+
+As to our City of Dublin, shambles may be appointed for this purpose,
+in the most convenient parts of it, and butchers we may be assured will
+not be wanting; although I rather recommend buying the children alive,
+and dressing them hot from the knife, as we do roasting pigs.
+
+A very worthy person, a true lover of his country, and whose virtues I
+highly esteem, was lately pleased in discoursing on this matter, to
+offer a refinement upon my scheme. He said, that many gentlemen of this
+kingdom, having of late destroyed their deer, he conceived that the
+want of venison might be well supplied by the bodies of young lads and
+maidens, not exceeding fourteen years of age, nor under twelve; so
+great a number of both sexes in every county being now ready to starve
+for want of work and service: and these to be disposed of by their
+parents if alive, or otherwise by their nearest relations. But with due
+deference to so excellent a friend, and so deserving a patriot, I
+cannot be altogether in his sentiments; for as to the males, my
+American acquaintance assured me from frequent experience, that their
+flesh was generally tough and lean, like that of our schoolboys, by
+continual exercise, and their taste disagreeable, and to fatten them
+would not answer the charge. Then as to the females, it would, I think,
+with humble submission, be a loss to the publick, because they soon
+would become breeders themselves: and besides, it is not improbable
+that some scrupulous people might be apt to censure such a practice,
+(although indeed very unjustly) as a little bordering upon cruelty,
+which, I confess, hath always been with me the strongest objection
+against any project, how well soever intended.
+
+But in order to justify my friend, he confessed, that this expedient
+was put into his head by the famous Psalmanaazor, a native of the
+island Formosa, who came from thence to London, above twenty years ago,
+and in conversation told my friend, that in his country, when any young
+person happened to be put to death, the executioner sold the carcass to
+persons of quality, as a prime dainty; and that, in his time, the body
+of a plump girl of fifteen, who was crucified for an attempt to poison
+the Emperor, was sold to his imperial majesty’s prime minister of
+state, and other great mandarins of the court in joints from the
+gibbet, at four hundred crowns. Neither indeed can I deny, that if the
+same use were made of several plump young girls in this town, who
+without one single groat to their fortunes, cannot stir abroad without
+a chair, and appear at a playhouse and assemblies in foreign fineries
+which they never will pay for, the kingdom would not be the worse.
+
+Some persons of a desponding spirit are in great concern about that
+vast number of poor people, who are aged, diseased, or maimed; and I
+have been desired to employ my thoughts what course may be taken, to
+ease the nation of so grievous an incumbrance. But I am not in the
+least pain upon that matter, because it is very well known, that they
+are every day dying, and rotting, by cold and famine, and filth, and
+vermin, as fast as can be reasonably expected. And as to the young
+labourers, they are now in almost as hopeful a condition. They cannot
+get work, and consequently pine away from want of nourishment, to a
+degree, that if at any time they are accidentally hired to common
+labour, they have not strength to perform it, and thus the country and
+themselves are happily delivered from the evils to come.
+
+I have too long digressed, and therefore shall return to my subject. I
+think the advantages by the proposal which I have made are obvious and
+many, as well as of the highest importance.
+
+For first, as I have already observed, it would greatly lessen the
+number of Papists, with whom we are yearly overrun, being the principal
+breeders of the nation, as well as our most dangerous enemies, and who
+stay at home on purpose with a design to deliver the kingdom to the
+Pretender, hoping to take their advantage by the absence of so many
+good Protestants, who have chosen rather to leave their country, than
+stay at home and pay tithes against their conscience to an episcopal
+curate.
+
+Secondly, The poorer tenants will have something valuable of their own,
+which by law may be made liable to a distress, and help to pay their
+landlord’s rent, their corn and cattle being already seized, and money
+a thing unknown.
+
+Thirdly, Whereas the maintainance of a hundred thousand children, from
+two years old, and upwards, cannot be computed at less than ten
+shillings a piece per annum, the nation’s stock will be thereby
+encreased fifty thousand pounds per annum, besides the profit of a new
+dish, introduced to the tables of all gentlemen of fortune in the
+kingdom, who have any refinement in taste. And the money will circulate
+among our selves, the goods being entirely of our own growth and
+manufacture.
+
+Fourthly, The constant breeders, besides the gain of eight shillings
+sterling per annum by the sale of their children, will be rid of the
+charge of maintaining them after the first year.
+
+Fifthly, This food would likewise bring great custom to taverns, where
+the vintners will certainly be so prudent as to procure the best
+receipts for dressing it to perfection; and consequently have their
+houses frequented by all the fine gentlemen, who justly value
+themselves upon their knowledge in good eating; and a skilful cook, who
+understands how to oblige his guests, will contrive to make it as
+expensive as they please.
+
+Sixthly, This would be a great inducement to marriage, which all wise
+nations have either encouraged by rewards, or enforced by laws and
+penalties. It would encrease the care and tenderness of mothers towards
+their children, when they were sure of a settlement for life to the
+poor babes, provided in some sort by the publick, to their annual
+profit instead of expence. We should soon see an honest emulation among
+the married women, which of them could bring the fattest child to the
+market. Men would become as fond of their wives, during the time of
+their pregnancy, as they are now of their mares in foal, their cows in
+calf, or sows when they are ready to farrow; nor offer to beat or kick
+them (as is too frequent a practice) for fear of a miscarriage.
+
+Many other advantages might be enumerated. For instance, the addition
+of some thousand carcasses in our exportation of barrel’d beef: the
+propagation of swine’s flesh, and improvement in the art of making good
+bacon, so much wanted among us by the great destruction of pigs, too
+frequent at our tables; which are no way comparable in taste or
+magnificence to a well grown, fat yearling child, which roasted whole
+will make a considerable figure at a Lord Mayor’s feast, or any other
+publick entertainment. But this, and many others, I omit, being
+studious of brevity.
+
+Supposing that one thousand families in this city, would be constant
+customers for infants flesh, besides others who might have it at merry
+meetings, particularly at weddings and christenings, I compute that
+Dublin would take off annually about twenty thousand carcasses; and the
+rest of the kingdom (where probably they will be sold somewhat cheaper)
+the remaining eighty thousand.
+
+I can think of no one objection, that will possibly be raised against
+this proposal, unless it should be urged, that the number of people
+will be thereby much lessened in the kingdom. This I freely own, and
+was indeed one principal design in offering it to the world. I desire
+the reader will observe, that I calculate my remedy for this one
+individual Kingdom of Ireland, and for no other that ever was, is, or,
+I think, ever can be upon Earth. Therefore let no man talk to me of
+other expedients: Of taxing our absentees at five shillings a pound: Of
+using neither clothes, nor houshold furniture, except what is of our
+own growth and manufacture: Of utterly rejecting the materials and
+instruments that promote foreign luxury: Of curing the expensiveness of
+pride, vanity, idleness, and gaming in our women: Of introducing a vein
+of parsimony, prudence and temperance: Of learning to love our country,
+wherein we differ even from Laplanders, and the inhabitants of
+Topinamboo: Of quitting our animosities and factions, nor acting any
+longer like the Jews, who were murdering one another at the very moment
+their city was taken: Of being a little cautious not to sell our
+country and consciences for nothing: Of teaching landlords to have at
+least one degree of mercy towards their tenants. Lastly, of putting a
+spirit of honesty, industry, and skill into our shopkeepers, who, if a
+resolution could now be taken to buy only our native goods, would
+immediately unite to cheat and exact upon us in the price, the measure,
+and the goodness, nor could ever yet be brought to make one fair
+proposal of just dealing, though often and earnestly invited to it.
+
+Therefore I repeat, let no man talk to me of these and the like
+expedients, till he hath at least some glympse of hope, that there will
+ever be some hearty and sincere attempt to put them into practice.
+
+But, as to myself, having been wearied out for many years with offering
+vain, idle, visionary thoughts, and at length utterly despairing of
+success, I fortunately fell upon this proposal, which, as it is wholly
+new, so it hath something solid and real, of no expence and little
+trouble, full in our own power, and whereby we can incur no danger in
+disobliging England. For this kind of commodity will not bear
+exportation, and flesh being of too tender a consistence, to admit a
+long continuance in salt, although perhaps I could name a country,
+which would be glad to eat up our whole nation without it.
+
+After all, I am not so violently bent upon my own opinion, as to reject
+any offer, proposed by wise men, which shall be found equally innocent,
+cheap, easy, and effectual. But before something of that kind shall be
+advanced in contradiction to my scheme, and offering a better, I desire
+the author or authors will be pleased maturely to consider two points.
+First, As things now stand, how they will be able to find food and
+raiment for a hundred thousand useless mouths and backs. And secondly,
+There being a round million of creatures in humane figure throughout
+this kingdom, whose whole subsistence put into a common stock, would
+leave them in debt two million of pounds sterling, adding those who are
+beggars by profession, to the bulk of farmers, cottagers and labourers,
+with their wives and children, who are beggars in effect; I desire
+those politicians who dislike my overture, and may perhaps be so bold
+to attempt an answer, that they will first ask the parents of these
+mortals, whether they would not at this day think it a great happiness
+to have been sold for food at a year old, in the manner I prescribe,
+and thereby have avoided such a perpetual scene of misfortunes, as they
+have since gone through, by the oppression of landlords, the
+impossibility of paying rent without money or trade, the want of common
+sustenance, with neither house nor clothes to cover them from the
+inclemencies of the weather, and the most inevitable prospect of
+intailing the like, or greater miseries, upon their breed for ever.
+
+I profess in the sincerity of my heart, that I have not the least
+personal interest in endeavouring to promote this necessary work,
+having no other motive than the publick good of my country, by
+advancing our trade, providing for infants, relieving the poor, and
+giving some pleasure to the rich. I have no children, by which I can
+propose to get a single penny; the youngest being nine years old, and
+my wife past child-bearing.
+
+*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 1080 ***

books/The_Legend_of_Sleepy_Hollow_by_Washington_Irving(89KB).txt

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+The Project Gutenberg eBook of The Legend of Sleepy Hollow, by Washington Irving
+
+This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere in the United States and
+most other parts of the world at no cost and with almost no restrictions
+whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or re-use it under the terms
+of the Project Gutenberg License included with this eBook or online at
+www.gutenberg.org. If you are not located in the United States, you
+will have to check the laws of the country where you are located before
+using this eBook.
+
+Title: The Legend of Sleepy Hollow
+
+Author: Washington Irving
+
+Release Date: October, 1992 [eBook #41]
+[Most recently updated: June 27, 2022]
+
+Language: English
+
+Character set encoding: UTF-8
+
+Produced by: Ilana M. (Kingsley) Newby and Greg Newby
+
+*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE LEGEND OF SLEEPY HOLLOW ***
+
+
+
+
+The Legend of Sleepy Hollow
+
+by Washington Irving
+
+
+
+
+FOUND AMONG THE PAPERS OF THE LATE DIEDRICH KNICKERBOCKER.
+
+
+        A pleasing land of drowsy head it was,
+          Of dreams that wave before the half-shut eye;
+        And of gay castles in the clouds that pass,
+          Forever flushing round a summer sky.
+                                         CASTLE OF INDOLENCE.
+
+
+In the bosom of one of those spacious coves which indent the eastern
+shore of the Hudson, at that broad expansion of the river denominated
+by the ancient Dutch navigators the Tappan Zee, and where they always
+prudently shortened sail and implored the protection of St. Nicholas
+when they crossed, there lies a small market town or rural port, which
+by some is called Greensburgh, but which is more generally and properly
+known by the name of Tarry Town. This name was given, we are told, in
+former days, by the good housewives of the adjacent country, from the
+inveterate propensity of their husbands to linger about the village
+tavern on market days. Be that as it may, I do not vouch for the fact,
+but merely advert to it, for the sake of being precise and authentic.
+Not far from this village, perhaps about two miles, there is a little
+valley or rather lap of land among high hills, which is one of the
+quietest places in the whole world. A small brook glides through it,
+with just murmur enough to lull one to repose; and the occasional
+whistle of a quail or tapping of a woodpecker is almost the only sound
+that ever breaks in upon the uniform tranquillity.
+
+I recollect that, when a stripling, my first exploit in
+squirrel-shooting was in a grove of tall walnut-trees that shades one
+side of the valley. I had wandered into it at noontime, when all nature
+is peculiarly quiet, and was startled by the roar of my own gun, as it
+broke the Sabbath stillness around and was prolonged and reverberated
+by the angry echoes. If ever I should wish for a retreat whither I might
+steal from the world and its distractions, and dream quietly away the
+remnant of a troubled life, I know of none more promising than this
+little valley.
+
+From the listless repose of the place, and the peculiar character of its
+inhabitants, who are descendants from the original Dutch settlers, this
+sequestered glen has long been known by the name of SLEEPY HOLLOW, and
+its rustic lads are called the Sleepy Hollow Boys throughout all the
+neighboring country. A drowsy, dreamy influence seems to hang over the
+land, and to pervade the very atmosphere. Some say that the place
+was bewitched by a High German doctor, during the early days of the
+settlement; others, that an old Indian chief, the prophet or wizard of
+his tribe, held his powwows there before the country was discovered by
+Master Hendrick Hudson. Certain it is, the place still continues under
+the sway of some witching power, that holds a spell over the minds of
+the good people, causing them to walk in a continual reverie. They are
+given to all kinds of marvellous beliefs, are subject to trances and
+visions, and frequently see strange sights, and hear music and voices in
+the air. The whole neighborhood abounds with local tales, haunted spots,
+and twilight superstitions; stars shoot and meteors glare oftener across
+the valley than in any other part of the country, and the nightmare,
+with her whole ninefold, seems to make it the favorite scene of her
+gambols.
+
+The dominant spirit, however, that haunts this enchanted region, and
+seems to be commander-in-chief of all the powers of the air, is the
+apparition of a figure on horseback, without a head. It is said by some
+to be the ghost of a Hessian trooper, whose head had been carried away
+by a cannon-ball, in some nameless battle during the Revolutionary War,
+and who is ever and anon seen by the country folk hurrying along in
+the gloom of night, as if on the wings of the wind. His haunts are not
+confined to the valley, but extend at times to the adjacent roads, and
+especially to the vicinity of a church at no great distance. Indeed,
+certain of the most authentic historians of those parts, who have been
+careful in collecting and collating the floating facts concerning this
+spectre, allege that the body of the trooper having been buried in the
+churchyard, the ghost rides forth to the scene of battle in nightly
+quest of his head, and that the rushing speed with which he sometimes
+passes along the Hollow, like a midnight blast, is owing to his being
+belated, and in a hurry to get back to the churchyard before daybreak.
+
+Such is the general purport of this legendary superstition, which has
+furnished materials for many a wild story in that region of shadows; and
+the spectre is known at all the country firesides, by the name of the
+Headless Horseman of Sleepy Hollow.
+
+It is remarkable that the visionary propensity I have mentioned is not
+confined to the native inhabitants of the valley, but is unconsciously
+imbibed by every one who resides there for a time. However wide awake
+they may have been before they entered that sleepy region, they are
+sure, in a little time, to inhale the witching influence of the air, and
+begin to grow imaginative, to dream dreams, and see apparitions.
+
+I mention this peaceful spot with all possible laud, for it is in such
+little retired Dutch valleys, found here and there embosomed in the
+great State of New York, that population, manners, and customs remain
+fixed, while the great torrent of migration and improvement, which is
+making such incessant changes in other parts of this restless country,
+sweeps by them unobserved. They are like those little nooks of still
+water, which border a rapid stream, where we may see the straw and
+bubble riding quietly at anchor, or slowly revolving in their mimic
+harbor, undisturbed by the rush of the passing current. Though many
+years have elapsed since I trod the drowsy shades of Sleepy Hollow, yet
+I question whether I should not still find the same trees and the same
+families vegetating in its sheltered bosom.
+
+In this by-place of nature there abode, in a remote period of American
+history, that is to say, some thirty years since, a worthy wight of the
+name of Ichabod Crane, who sojourned, or, as he expressed it, “tarried,”
+ in Sleepy Hollow, for the purpose of instructing the children of the
+vicinity. He was a native of Connecticut, a State which supplies the
+Union with pioneers for the mind as well as for the forest, and sends
+forth yearly its legions of frontier woodmen and country schoolmasters.
+The cognomen of Crane was not inapplicable to his person. He was tall,
+but exceedingly lank, with narrow shoulders, long arms and legs, hands
+that dangled a mile out of his sleeves, feet that might have served for
+shovels, and his whole frame most loosely hung together. His head was
+small, and flat at top, with huge ears, large green glassy eyes, and a
+long snipe nose, so that it looked like a weather-cock perched upon his
+spindle neck to tell which way the wind blew. To see him striding along
+the profile of a hill on a windy day, with his clothes bagging and
+fluttering about him, one might have mistaken him for the genius of
+famine descending upon the earth, or some scarecrow eloped from a
+cornfield.
+
+His schoolhouse was a low building of one large room, rudely constructed
+of logs; the windows partly glazed, and partly patched with leaves of
+old copybooks. It was most ingeniously secured at vacant hours, by a
+withe twisted in the handle of the door, and stakes set against the
+window shutters; so that though a thief might get in with perfect ease,
+he would find some embarrassment in getting out,--an idea most probably
+borrowed by the architect, Yost Van Houten, from the mystery of an
+eelpot. The schoolhouse stood in a rather lonely but pleasant situation,
+just at the foot of a woody hill, with a brook running close by, and
+a formidable birch-tree growing at one end of it. From hence the low
+murmur of his pupils’ voices, conning over their lessons, might be heard
+in a drowsy summer’s day, like the hum of a beehive; interrupted now and
+then by the authoritative voice of the master, in the tone of menace or
+command, or, peradventure, by the appalling sound of the birch, as he
+urged some tardy loiterer along the flowery path of knowledge. Truth to
+say, he was a conscientious man, and ever bore in mind the golden maxim,
+“Spare the rod and spoil the child.” Ichabod Crane’s scholars certainly
+were not spoiled.
+
+I would not have it imagined, however, that he was one of those cruel
+potentates of the school who joy in the smart of their subjects; on
+the contrary, he administered justice with discrimination rather than
+severity; taking the burden off the backs of the weak, and laying it on
+those of the strong. Your mere puny stripling, that winced at the least
+flourish of the rod, was passed by with indulgence; but the claims of
+justice were satisfied by inflicting a double portion on some little
+tough wrong-headed, broad-skirted Dutch urchin, who sulked and swelled
+and grew dogged and sullen beneath the birch. All this he called “doing
+his duty by their parents;” and he never inflicted a chastisement
+without following it by the assurance, so consolatory to the smarting
+urchin, that “he would remember it and thank him for it the longest day
+he had to live.”
+
+When school hours were over, he was even the companion and playmate
+of the larger boys; and on holiday afternoons would convoy some of
+the smaller ones home, who happened to have pretty sisters, or good
+housewives for mothers, noted for the comforts of the cupboard. Indeed,
+it behooved him to keep on good terms with his pupils. The revenue
+arising from his school was small, and would have been scarcely
+sufficient to furnish him with daily bread, for he was a huge feeder,
+and, though lank, had the dilating powers of an anaconda; but to help
+out his maintenance, he was, according to country custom in those
+parts, boarded and lodged at the houses of the farmers whose children
+he instructed. With these he lived successively a week at a time, thus
+going the rounds of the neighborhood, with all his worldly effects tied
+up in a cotton handkerchief.
+
+That all this might not be too onerous on the purses of his rustic
+patrons, who are apt to consider the costs of schooling a grievous
+burden, and schoolmasters as mere drones, he had various ways of
+rendering himself both useful and agreeable. He assisted the farmers
+occasionally in the lighter labors of their farms, helped to make
+hay, mended the fences, took the horses to water, drove the cows from
+pasture, and cut wood for the winter fire. He laid aside, too, all the
+dominant dignity and absolute sway with which he lorded it in his little
+empire, the school, and became wonderfully gentle and ingratiating.
+He found favor in the eyes of the mothers by petting the children,
+particularly the youngest; and like the lion bold, which whilom so
+magnanimously the lamb did hold, he would sit with a child on one knee,
+and rock a cradle with his foot for whole hours together.
+
+In addition to his other vocations, he was the singing-master of the
+neighborhood, and picked up many bright shillings by instructing the
+young folks in psalmody. It was a matter of no little vanity to him on
+Sundays, to take his station in front of the church gallery, with a band
+of chosen singers; where, in his own mind, he completely carried away
+the palm from the parson. Certain it is, his voice resounded far above
+all the rest of the congregation; and there are peculiar quavers still
+to be heard in that church, and which may even be heard half a mile off,
+quite to the opposite side of the millpond, on a still Sunday morning,
+which are said to be legitimately descended from the nose of Ichabod
+Crane. Thus, by divers little makeshifts, in that ingenious way which is
+commonly denominated “by hook and by crook,” the worthy pedagogue got on
+tolerably enough, and was thought, by all who understood nothing of the
+labor of headwork, to have a wonderfully easy life of it.
+
+The schoolmaster is generally a man of some importance in the female
+circle of a rural neighborhood; being considered a kind of idle,
+gentlemanlike personage, of vastly superior taste and accomplishments to
+the rough country swains, and, indeed, inferior in learning only to the
+parson. His appearance, therefore, is apt to occasion some little stir
+at the tea-table of a farmhouse, and the addition of a supernumerary
+dish of cakes or sweetmeats, or, peradventure, the parade of a silver
+teapot. Our man of letters, therefore, was peculiarly happy in the
+smiles of all the country damsels. How he would figure among them in the
+churchyard, between services on Sundays; gathering grapes for them from
+the wild vines that overran the surrounding trees; reciting for their
+amusement all the epitaphs on the tombstones; or sauntering, with a
+whole bevy of them, along the banks of the adjacent millpond; while the
+more bashful country bumpkins hung sheepishly back, envying his superior
+elegance and address.
+
+From his half-itinerant life, also, he was a kind of travelling gazette,
+carrying the whole budget of local gossip from house to house, so that
+his appearance was always greeted with satisfaction. He was, moreover,
+esteemed by the women as a man of great erudition, for he had read
+several books quite through, and was a perfect master of Cotton Mather’s
+“History of New England Witchcraft,” in which, by the way, he most
+firmly and potently believed.
+
+He was, in fact, an odd mixture of small shrewdness and simple
+credulity. His appetite for the marvellous, and his powers of digesting
+it, were equally extraordinary; and both had been increased by his
+residence in this spell-bound region. No tale was too gross or monstrous
+for his capacious swallow. It was often his delight, after his school
+was dismissed in the afternoon, to stretch himself on the rich bed of
+clover bordering the little brook that whimpered by his schoolhouse, and
+there con over old Mather’s direful tales, until the gathering dusk of
+evening made the printed page a mere mist before his eyes. Then, as he
+wended his way by swamp and stream and awful woodland, to the farmhouse
+where he happened to be quartered, every sound of nature, at that
+witching hour, fluttered his excited imagination,--the moan of the
+whip-poor-will from the hillside, the boding cry of the tree toad, that
+harbinger of storm, the dreary hooting of the screech owl, or the
+sudden rustling in the thicket of birds frightened from their roost. The
+fireflies, too, which sparkled most vividly in the darkest places, now
+and then startled him, as one of uncommon brightness would stream across
+his path; and if, by chance, a huge blockhead of a beetle came winging
+his blundering flight against him, the poor varlet was ready to give up
+the ghost, with the idea that he was struck with a witch’s token. His
+only resource on such occasions, either to drown thought or drive away
+evil spirits, was to sing psalm tunes and the good people of Sleepy
+Hollow, as they sat by their doors of an evening, were often filled with
+awe at hearing his nasal melody, “in linked sweetness long drawn out,”
+ floating from the distant hill, or along the dusky road.
+
+Another of his sources of fearful pleasure was to pass long winter
+evenings with the old Dutch wives, as they sat spinning by the fire,
+with a row of apples roasting and spluttering along the hearth, and
+listen to their marvellous tales of ghosts and goblins, and haunted
+fields, and haunted brooks, and haunted bridges, and haunted houses,
+and particularly of the headless horseman, or Galloping Hessian of the
+Hollow, as they sometimes called him. He would delight them equally by
+his anecdotes of witchcraft, and of the direful omens and portentous
+sights and sounds in the air, which prevailed in the earlier times of
+Connecticut; and would frighten them woefully with speculations upon
+comets and shooting stars; and with the alarming fact that the world did
+absolutely turn round, and that they were half the time topsy-turvy!
+
+But if there was a pleasure in all this, while snugly cuddling in
+the chimney corner of a chamber that was all of a ruddy glow from the
+crackling wood fire, and where, of course, no spectre dared to show
+its face, it was dearly purchased by the terrors of his subsequent walk
+homewards. What fearful shapes and shadows beset his path, amidst the
+dim and ghastly glare of a snowy night! With what wistful look did he
+eye every trembling ray of light streaming across the waste fields from
+some distant window! How often was he appalled by some shrub covered
+with snow, which, like a sheeted spectre, beset his very path! How often
+did he shrink with curdling awe at the sound of his own steps on the
+frosty crust beneath his feet; and dread to look over his shoulder, lest
+he should behold some uncouth being tramping close behind him! And how
+often was he thrown into complete dismay by some rushing blast, howling
+among the trees, in the idea that it was the Galloping Hessian on one of
+his nightly scourings!
+
+All these, however, were mere terrors of the night, phantoms of the mind
+that walk in darkness; and though he had seen many spectres in his time,
+and been more than once beset by Satan in divers shapes, in his lonely
+perambulations, yet daylight put an end to all these evils; and he would
+have passed a pleasant life of it, in despite of the Devil and all his
+works, if his path had not been crossed by a being that causes more
+perplexity to mortal man than ghosts, goblins, and the whole race of
+witches put together, and that was--a woman.
+
+Among the musical disciples who assembled, one evening in each week,
+to receive his instructions in psalmody, was Katrina Van Tassel,
+the daughter and only child of a substantial Dutch farmer. She was a
+blooming lass of fresh eighteen; plump as a partridge; ripe and melting
+and rosy-cheeked as one of her father’s peaches, and universally famed,
+not merely for her beauty, but her vast expectations. She was withal a
+little of a coquette, as might be perceived even in her dress, which was
+a mixture of ancient and modern fashions, as most suited to set off
+her charms. She wore the ornaments of pure yellow gold, which her
+great-great-grandmother had brought over from Saardam; the tempting
+stomacher of the olden time, and withal a provokingly short petticoat,
+to display the prettiest foot and ankle in the country round.
+
+Ichabod Crane had a soft and foolish heart towards the sex; and it is
+not to be wondered at that so tempting a morsel soon found favor in his
+eyes, more especially after he had visited her in her paternal mansion.
+Old Baltus Van Tassel was a perfect picture of a thriving, contented,
+liberal-hearted farmer. He seldom, it is true, sent either his eyes or
+his thoughts beyond the boundaries of his own farm; but within those
+everything was snug, happy and well-conditioned. He was satisfied with
+his wealth, but not proud of it; and piqued himself upon the hearty
+abundance, rather than the style in which he lived. His stronghold was
+situated on the banks of the Hudson, in one of those green, sheltered,
+fertile nooks in which the Dutch farmers are so fond of nestling. A
+great elm tree spread its broad branches over it, at the foot of which
+bubbled up a spring of the softest and sweetest water, in a little well
+formed of a barrel; and then stole sparkling away through the grass, to
+a neighboring brook, that babbled along among alders and dwarf willows.
+Hard by the farmhouse was a vast barn, that might have served for a
+church; every window and crevice of which seemed bursting forth with the
+treasures of the farm; the flail was busily resounding within it from
+morning to night; swallows and martins skimmed twittering about the
+eaves; and rows of pigeons, some with one eye turned up, as if watching
+the weather, some with their heads under their wings or buried in their
+bosoms, and others swelling, and cooing, and bowing about their dames,
+were enjoying the sunshine on the roof. Sleek unwieldy porkers were
+grunting in the repose and abundance of their pens, from whence sallied
+forth, now and then, troops of sucking pigs, as if to snuff the air.
+A stately squadron of snowy geese were riding in an adjoining pond,
+convoying whole fleets of ducks; regiments of turkeys were gobbling
+through the farmyard, and Guinea fowls fretting about it, like
+ill-tempered housewives, with their peevish, discontented cry. Before
+the barn door strutted the gallant cock, that pattern of a husband, a
+warrior and a fine gentleman, clapping his burnished wings and crowing
+in the pride and gladness of his heart,--sometimes tearing up the earth
+with his feet, and then generously calling his ever-hungry family of
+wives and children to enjoy the rich morsel which he had discovered.
+
+The pedagogue’s mouth watered as he looked upon this sumptuous promise
+of luxurious winter fare. In his devouring mind’s eye, he pictured to
+himself every roasting-pig running about with a pudding in his belly,
+and an apple in his mouth; the pigeons were snugly put to bed in a
+comfortable pie, and tucked in with a coverlet of crust; the geese were
+swimming in their own gravy; and the ducks pairing cosily in dishes,
+like snug married couples, with a decent competency of onion sauce. In
+the porkers he saw carved out the future sleek side of bacon, and juicy
+relishing ham; not a turkey but he beheld daintily trussed up, with
+its gizzard under its wing, and, peradventure, a necklace of savory
+sausages; and even bright chanticleer himself lay sprawling on his back,
+in a side dish, with uplifted claws, as if craving that quarter which
+his chivalrous spirit disdained to ask while living.
+
+As the enraptured Ichabod fancied all this, and as he rolled his great
+green eyes over the fat meadow lands, the rich fields of wheat, of rye,
+of buckwheat, and Indian corn, and the orchards burdened with ruddy
+fruit, which surrounded the warm tenement of Van Tassel, his heart
+yearned after the damsel who was to inherit these domains, and his
+imagination expanded with the idea, how they might be readily turned
+into cash, and the money invested in immense tracts of wild land, and
+shingle palaces in the wilderness. Nay, his busy fancy already realized
+his hopes, and presented to him the blooming Katrina, with a whole
+family of children, mounted on the top of a wagon loaded with household
+trumpery, with pots and kettles dangling beneath; and he beheld himself
+bestriding a pacing mare, with a colt at her heels, setting out for
+Kentucky, Tennessee,--or the Lord knows where!
+
+When he entered the house, the conquest of his heart was complete. It
+was one of those spacious farmhouses, with high-ridged but lowly sloping
+roofs, built in the style handed down from the first Dutch settlers; the
+low projecting eaves forming a piazza along the front, capable of being
+closed up in bad weather. Under this were hung flails, harness, various
+utensils of husbandry, and nets for fishing in the neighboring
+river. Benches were built along the sides for summer use; and a great
+spinning-wheel at one end, and a churn at the other, showed the various
+uses to which this important porch might be devoted. From this piazza
+the wondering Ichabod entered the hall, which formed the centre of the
+mansion, and the place of usual residence. Here rows of resplendent
+pewter, ranged on a long dresser, dazzled his eyes. In one corner
+stood a huge bag of wool, ready to be spun; in another, a quantity of
+linsey-woolsey just from the loom; ears of Indian corn, and strings of
+dried apples and peaches, hung in gay festoons along the walls, mingled
+with the gaud of red peppers; and a door left ajar gave him a peep into
+the best parlor, where the claw-footed chairs and dark mahogany tables
+shone like mirrors; andirons, with their accompanying shovel and
+tongs, glistened from their covert of asparagus tops; mock-oranges and
+conch-shells decorated the mantelpiece; strings of various-colored birds
+eggs were suspended above it; a great ostrich egg was hung from
+the centre of the room, and a corner cupboard, knowingly left open,
+displayed immense treasures of old silver and well-mended china.
+
+From the moment Ichabod laid his eyes upon these regions of delight, the
+peace of his mind was at an end, and his only study was how to gain the
+affections of the peerless daughter of Van Tassel. In this enterprise,
+however, he had more real difficulties than generally fell to the lot of
+a knight-errant of yore, who seldom had anything but giants, enchanters,
+fiery dragons, and such like easily conquered adversaries, to contend
+with and had to make his way merely through gates of iron and brass,
+and walls of adamant to the castle keep, where the lady of his heart was
+confined; all which he achieved as easily as a man would carve his way
+to the centre of a Christmas pie; and then the lady gave him her hand as
+a matter of course. Ichabod, on the contrary, had to win his way to
+the heart of a country coquette, beset with a labyrinth of whims
+and caprices, which were forever presenting new difficulties and
+impediments; and he had to encounter a host of fearful adversaries of
+real flesh and blood, the numerous rustic admirers, who beset every
+portal to her heart, keeping a watchful and angry eye upon each other,
+but ready to fly out in the common cause against any new competitor.
+
+Among these, the most formidable was a burly, roaring, roystering blade,
+of the name of Abraham, or, according to the Dutch abbreviation, Brom
+Van Brunt, the hero of the country round, which rang with his feats of
+strength and hardihood. He was broad-shouldered and double-jointed,
+with short curly black hair, and a bluff but not unpleasant countenance,
+having a mingled air of fun and arrogance. From his Herculean frame
+and great powers of limb he had received the nickname of BROM BONES,
+by which he was universally known. He was famed for great knowledge and
+skill in horsemanship, being as dexterous on horseback as a Tartar.
+He was foremost at all races and cock fights; and, with the ascendancy
+which bodily strength always acquires in rustic life, was the umpire in
+all disputes, setting his hat on one side, and giving his decisions with
+an air and tone that admitted of no gainsay or appeal. He was always
+ready for either a fight or a frolic; but had more mischief than
+ill-will in his composition; and with all his overbearing roughness,
+there was a strong dash of waggish good humor at bottom. He had three or
+four boon companions, who regarded him as their model, and at the
+head of whom he scoured the country, attending every scene of feud or
+merriment for miles round. In cold weather he was distinguished by a
+fur cap, surmounted with a flaunting fox’s tail; and when the folks at a
+country gathering descried this well-known crest at a distance, whisking
+about among a squad of hard riders, they always stood by for a squall.
+Sometimes his crew would be heard dashing along past the farmhouses at
+midnight, with whoop and halloo, like a troop of Don Cossacks; and the
+old dames, startled out of their sleep, would listen for a moment till
+the hurry-scurry had clattered by, and then exclaim, “Ay, there goes
+Brom Bones and his gang!” The neighbors looked upon him with a mixture
+of awe, admiration, and good-will; and, when any madcap prank or rustic
+brawl occurred in the vicinity, always shook their heads, and warranted
+Brom Bones was at the bottom of it.
+
+This rantipole hero had for some time singled out the blooming Katrina
+for the object of his uncouth gallantries, and though his amorous
+toyings were something like the gentle caresses and endearments of a
+bear, yet it was whispered that she did not altogether discourage his
+hopes. Certain it is, his advances were signals for rival candidates to
+retire, who felt no inclination to cross a lion in his amours; insomuch,
+that when his horse was seen tied to Van Tassel’s paling, on a Sunday
+night, a sure sign that his master was courting, or, as it is termed,
+“sparking,” within, all other suitors passed by in despair, and carried
+the war into other quarters.
+
+Such was the formidable rival with whom Ichabod Crane had to contend,
+and, considering all things, a stouter man than he would have shrunk
+from the competition, and a wiser man would have despaired. He had,
+however, a happy mixture of pliability and perseverance in his nature;
+he was in form and spirit like a supple-jack--yielding, but tough;
+though he bent, he never broke; and though he bowed beneath the
+slightest pressure, yet, the moment it was away--jerk!--he was as erect,
+and carried his head as high as ever.
+
+To have taken the field openly against his rival would have been
+madness; for he was not a man to be thwarted in his amours, any more
+than that stormy lover, Achilles. Ichabod, therefore, made his advances
+in a quiet and gently insinuating manner. Under cover of his character
+of singing-master, he made frequent visits at the farmhouse; not that he
+had anything to apprehend from the meddlesome interference of parents,
+which is so often a stumbling-block in the path of lovers. Balt Van
+Tassel was an easy indulgent soul; he loved his daughter better even
+than his pipe, and, like a reasonable man and an excellent father, let
+her have her way in everything. His notable little wife, too, had enough
+to do to attend to her housekeeping and manage her poultry; for, as she
+sagely observed, ducks and geese are foolish things, and must be looked
+after, but girls can take care of themselves. Thus, while the busy dame
+bustled about the house, or plied her spinning-wheel at one end of the
+piazza, honest Balt would sit smoking his evening pipe at the other,
+watching the achievements of a little wooden warrior, who, armed with a
+sword in each hand, was most valiantly fighting the wind on the pinnacle
+of the barn. In the mean time, Ichabod would carry on his suit with the
+daughter by the side of the spring under the great elm, or sauntering
+along in the twilight, that hour so favorable to the lover’s eloquence.
+
+I profess not to know how women’s hearts are wooed and won. To me they
+have always been matters of riddle and admiration. Some seem to have but
+one vulnerable point, or door of access; while others have a thousand
+avenues, and may be captured in a thousand different ways. It is a
+great triumph of skill to gain the former, but a still greater proof of
+generalship to maintain possession of the latter, for man must battle
+for his fortress at every door and window. He who wins a thousand common
+hearts is therefore entitled to some renown; but he who keeps undisputed
+sway over the heart of a coquette is indeed a hero. Certain it is, this
+was not the case with the redoubtable Brom Bones; and from the moment
+Ichabod Crane made his advances, the interests of the former evidently
+declined: his horse was no longer seen tied to the palings on Sunday
+nights, and a deadly feud gradually arose between him and the preceptor
+of Sleepy Hollow.
+
+Brom, who had a degree of rough chivalry in his nature, would fain have
+carried matters to open warfare and have settled their pretensions
+to the lady, according to the mode of those most concise and simple
+reasoners, the knights-errant of yore,--by single combat; but Ichabod
+was too conscious of the superior might of his adversary to enter the
+lists against him; he had overheard a boast of Bones, that he would
+“double the schoolmaster up, and lay him on a shelf of his own
+schoolhouse;” and he was too wary to give him an opportunity. There was
+something extremely provoking in this obstinately pacific system; it
+left Brom no alternative but to draw upon the funds of rustic waggery in
+his disposition, and to play off boorish practical jokes upon his rival.
+Ichabod became the object of whimsical persecution to Bones and his gang
+of rough riders. They harried his hitherto peaceful domains; smoked
+out his singing school by stopping up the chimney; broke into the
+schoolhouse at night, in spite of its formidable fastenings of withe
+and window stakes, and turned everything topsy-turvy, so that the poor
+schoolmaster began to think all the witches in the country held
+their meetings there. But what was still more annoying, Brom took all
+opportunities of turning him into ridicule in presence of his mistress,
+and had a scoundrel dog whom he taught to whine in the most ludicrous
+manner, and introduced as a rival of Ichabod’s, to instruct her in
+psalmody.
+
+In this way matters went on for some time, without producing any
+material effect on the relative situations of the contending powers. On
+a fine autumnal afternoon, Ichabod, in pensive mood, sat enthroned on
+the lofty stool from whence he usually watched all the concerns of his
+little literary realm. In his hand he swayed a ferule, that sceptre of
+despotic power; the birch of justice reposed on three nails behind the
+throne, a constant terror to evil doers, while on the desk before
+him might be seen sundry contraband articles and prohibited weapons,
+detected upon the persons of idle urchins, such as half-munched apples,
+popguns, whirligigs, fly-cages, and whole legions of rampant little
+paper gamecocks. Apparently there had been some appalling act of justice
+recently inflicted, for his scholars were all busily intent upon their
+books, or slyly whispering behind them with one eye kept upon the
+master; and a kind of buzzing stillness reigned throughout the
+schoolroom. It was suddenly interrupted by the appearance of a negro in
+tow-cloth jacket and trowsers, a round-crowned fragment of a hat,
+like the cap of Mercury, and mounted on the back of a ragged, wild,
+half-broken colt, which he managed with a rope by way of halter. He came
+clattering up to the school door with an invitation to Ichabod to attend
+a merry-making or “quilting frolic,” to be held that evening at
+Mynheer Van Tassel’s; and having delivered his message with that air of
+importance, and effort at fine language, which a negro is apt to display
+on petty embassies of the kind, he dashed over the brook, and was seen
+scampering away up the hollow, full of the importance and hurry of his
+mission.
+
+All was now bustle and hubbub in the late quiet schoolroom. The scholars
+were hurried through their lessons without stopping at trifles; those
+who were nimble skipped over half with impunity, and those who were
+tardy had a smart application now and then in the rear, to quicken their
+speed or help them over a tall word. Books were flung aside without
+being put away on the shelves, inkstands were overturned, benches thrown
+down, and the whole school was turned loose an hour before the usual
+time, bursting forth like a legion of young imps, yelping and racketing
+about the green in joy at their early emancipation.
+
+The gallant Ichabod now spent at least an extra half hour at his toilet,
+brushing and furbishing up his best, and indeed only suit of rusty
+black, and arranging his locks by a bit of broken looking-glass that
+hung up in the schoolhouse. That he might make his appearance before his
+mistress in the true style of a cavalier, he borrowed a horse from the
+farmer with whom he was domiciliated, a choleric old Dutchman of the
+name of Hans Van Ripper, and, thus gallantly mounted, issued forth like
+a knight-errant in quest of adventures. But it is meet I should, in
+the true spirit of romantic story, give some account of the looks
+and equipments of my hero and his steed. The animal he bestrode was
+a broken-down plow-horse, that had outlived almost everything but its
+viciousness. He was gaunt and shagged, with a ewe neck, and a head like
+a hammer; his rusty mane and tail were tangled and knotted with burs;
+one eye had lost its pupil, and was glaring and spectral, but the other
+had the gleam of a genuine devil in it. Still he must have had fire and
+mettle in his day, if we may judge from the name he bore of Gunpowder.
+He had, in fact, been a favorite steed of his master’s, the choleric Van
+Ripper, who was a furious rider, and had infused, very probably, some of
+his own spirit into the animal; for, old and broken-down as he looked,
+there was more of the lurking devil in him than in any young filly in
+the country.
+
+Ichabod was a suitable figure for such a steed. He rode with short
+stirrups, which brought his knees nearly up to the pommel of the saddle;
+his sharp elbows stuck out like grasshoppers’; he carried his whip
+perpendicularly in his hand, like a sceptre, and as his horse jogged on,
+the motion of his arms was not unlike the flapping of a pair of wings. A
+small wool hat rested on the top of his nose, for so his scanty strip of
+forehead might be called, and the skirts of his black coat fluttered out
+almost to the horses tail. Such was the appearance of Ichabod and his
+steed as they shambled out of the gate of Hans Van Ripper, and it was
+altogether such an apparition as is seldom to be met with in broad
+daylight.
+
+It was, as I have said, a fine autumnal day; the sky was clear and
+serene, and nature wore that rich and golden livery which we always
+associate with the idea of abundance. The forests had put on their sober
+brown and yellow, while some trees of the tenderer kind had been nipped
+by the frosts into brilliant dyes of orange, purple, and scarlet.
+Streaming files of wild ducks began to make their appearance high in the
+air; the bark of the squirrel might be heard from the groves of beech
+and hickory-nuts, and the pensive whistle of the quail at intervals from
+the neighboring stubble field.
+
+The small birds were taking their farewell banquets. In the fullness
+of their revelry, they fluttered, chirping and frolicking from bush to
+bush, and tree to tree, capricious from the very profusion and variety
+around them. There was the honest cock robin, the favorite game of
+stripling sportsmen, with its loud querulous note; and the twittering
+blackbirds flying in sable clouds; and the golden-winged woodpecker with
+his crimson crest, his broad black gorget, and splendid plumage; and the
+cedar bird, with its red-tipt wings and yellow-tipt tail and its little
+monteiro cap of feathers; and the blue jay, that noisy coxcomb, in his
+gay light blue coat and white underclothes, screaming and chattering,
+nodding and bobbing and bowing, and pretending to be on good terms with
+every songster of the grove.
+
+As Ichabod jogged slowly on his way, his eye, ever open to every symptom
+of culinary abundance, ranged with delight over the treasures of jolly
+autumn. On all sides he beheld vast store of apples; some hanging in
+oppressive opulence on the trees; some gathered into baskets and barrels
+for the market; others heaped up in rich piles for the cider-press.
+Farther on he beheld great fields of Indian corn, with its golden ears
+peeping from their leafy coverts, and holding out the promise of cakes
+and hasty-pudding; and the yellow pumpkins lying beneath them, turning
+up their fair round bellies to the sun, and giving ample prospects of
+the most luxurious of pies; and anon he passed the fragrant buckwheat
+fields breathing the odor of the beehive, and as he beheld them, soft
+anticipations stole over his mind of dainty slapjacks, well buttered,
+and garnished with honey or treacle, by the delicate little dimpled hand
+of Katrina Van Tassel.
+
+Thus feeding his mind with many sweet thoughts and “sugared
+suppositions,” he journeyed along the sides of a range of hills which
+look out upon some of the goodliest scenes of the mighty Hudson. The sun
+gradually wheeled his broad disk down in the west. The wide bosom of the
+Tappan Zee lay motionless and glassy, excepting that here and there a
+gentle undulation waved and prolonged the blue shadow of the distant
+mountain. A few amber clouds floated in the sky, without a breath of air
+to move them. The horizon was of a fine golden tint, changing gradually
+into a pure apple green, and from that into the deep blue of the
+mid-heaven. A slanting ray lingered on the woody crests of the
+precipices that overhung some parts of the river, giving greater depth
+to the dark gray and purple of their rocky sides. A sloop was loitering
+in the distance, dropping slowly down with the tide, her sail hanging
+uselessly against the mast; and as the reflection of the sky gleamed
+along the still water, it seemed as if the vessel was suspended in the
+air.
+
+It was toward evening that Ichabod arrived at the castle of the Heer
+Van Tassel, which he found thronged with the pride and flower of the
+adjacent country. Old farmers, a spare leathern-faced race, in homespun
+coats and breeches, blue stockings, huge shoes, and magnificent pewter
+buckles. Their brisk, withered little dames, in close-crimped caps,
+long-waisted short gowns, homespun petticoats, with scissors and
+pincushions, and gay calico pockets hanging on the outside. Buxom
+lasses, almost as antiquated as their mothers, excepting where a straw
+hat, a fine ribbon, or perhaps a white frock, gave symptoms of city
+innovation. The sons, in short square-skirted coats, with rows of
+stupendous brass buttons, and their hair generally queued in the fashion
+of the times, especially if they could procure an eel-skin for the
+purpose, it being esteemed throughout the country as a potent nourisher
+and strengthener of the hair.
+
+Brom Bones, however, was the hero of the scene, having come to the
+gathering on his favorite steed Daredevil, a creature, like himself,
+full of mettle and mischief, and which no one but himself could manage.
+He was, in fact, noted for preferring vicious animals, given to all
+kinds of tricks which kept the rider in constant risk of his neck, for
+he held a tractable, well-broken horse as unworthy of a lad of spirit.
+
+Fain would I pause to dwell upon the world of charms that burst upon
+the enraptured gaze of my hero, as he entered the state parlor of Van
+Tassel’s mansion. Not those of the bevy of buxom lasses, with their
+luxurious display of red and white; but the ample charms of a genuine
+Dutch country tea-table, in the sumptuous time of autumn. Such heaped up
+platters of cakes of various and almost indescribable kinds, known only
+to experienced Dutch housewives! There was the doughty doughnut, the
+tender oly koek, and the crisp and crumbling cruller; sweet cakes and
+short cakes, ginger cakes and honey cakes, and the whole family of
+cakes. And then there were apple pies, and peach pies, and pumpkin pies;
+besides slices of ham and smoked beef; and moreover delectable dishes
+of preserved plums, and peaches, and pears, and quinces; not to mention
+broiled shad and roasted chickens; together with bowls of milk and
+cream, all mingled higgledy-piggledy, pretty much as I have enumerated
+them, with the motherly teapot sending up its clouds of vapor from the
+midst--Heaven bless the mark! I want breath and time to discuss this
+banquet as it deserves, and am too eager to get on with my story.
+Happily, Ichabod Crane was not in so great a hurry as his historian, but
+did ample justice to every dainty.
+
+He was a kind and thankful creature, whose heart dilated in proportion
+as his skin was filled with good cheer, and whose spirits rose with
+eating, as some men’s do with drink. He could not help, too, rolling his
+large eyes round him as he ate, and chuckling with the possibility that
+he might one day be lord of all this scene of almost unimaginable luxury
+and splendor. Then, he thought, how soon he’d turn his back upon the old
+schoolhouse; snap his fingers in the face of Hans Van Ripper, and every
+other niggardly patron, and kick any itinerant pedagogue out of doors
+that should dare to call him comrade!
+
+Old Baltus Van Tassel moved about among his guests with a face dilated
+with content and good humor, round and jolly as the harvest moon. His
+hospitable attentions were brief, but expressive, being confined to a
+shake of the hand, a slap on the shoulder, a loud laugh, and a pressing
+invitation to “fall to, and help themselves.”
+
+And now the sound of the music from the common room, or hall, summoned
+to the dance. The musician was an old gray-headed negro, who had
+been the itinerant orchestra of the neighborhood for more than half a
+century. His instrument was as old and battered as himself. The greater
+part of the time he scraped on two or three strings, accompanying every
+movement of the bow with a motion of the head; bowing almost to the
+ground, and stamping with his foot whenever a fresh couple were to
+start.
+
+Ichabod prided himself upon his dancing as much as upon his vocal
+powers. Not a limb, not a fibre about him was idle; and to have seen his
+loosely hung frame in full motion, and clattering about the room, you
+would have thought St. Vitus himself, that blessed patron of the dance,
+was figuring before you in person. He was the admiration of all the
+negroes; who, having gathered, of all ages and sizes, from the farm
+and the neighborhood, stood forming a pyramid of shining black faces at
+every door and window, gazing with delight at the scene, rolling their
+white eyeballs, and showing grinning rows of ivory from ear to ear. How
+could the flogger of urchins be otherwise than animated and joyous? The
+lady of his heart was his partner in the dance, and smiling graciously
+in reply to all his amorous oglings; while Brom Bones, sorely smitten
+with love and jealousy, sat brooding by himself in one corner.
+
+When the dance was at an end, Ichabod was attracted to a knot of the
+sager folks, who, with Old Van Tassel, sat smoking at one end of the
+piazza, gossiping over former times, and drawing out long stories about
+the war.
+
+This neighborhood, at the time of which I am speaking, was one of those
+highly favored places which abound with chronicle and great men. The
+British and American line had run near it during the war; it had,
+therefore, been the scene of marauding and infested with refugees,
+cowboys, and all kinds of border chivalry. Just sufficient time had
+elapsed to enable each storyteller to dress up his tale with a little
+becoming fiction, and, in the indistinctness of his recollection, to
+make himself the hero of every exploit.
+
+There was the story of Doffue Martling, a large blue-bearded Dutchman,
+who had nearly taken a British frigate with an old iron nine-pounder
+from a mud breastwork, only that his gun burst at the sixth discharge.
+And there was an old gentleman who shall be nameless, being too rich
+a mynheer to be lightly mentioned, who, in the battle of White Plains,
+being an excellent master of defence, parried a musket-ball with a small
+sword, insomuch that he absolutely felt it whiz round the blade, and
+glance off at the hilt; in proof of which he was ready at any time to
+show the sword, with the hilt a little bent. There were several more
+that had been equally great in the field, not one of whom but was
+persuaded that he had a considerable hand in bringing the war to a happy
+termination.
+
+But all these were nothing to the tales of ghosts and apparitions that
+succeeded. The neighborhood is rich in legendary treasures of the
+kind. Local tales and superstitions thrive best in these sheltered,
+long-settled retreats; but are trampled under foot by the shifting
+throng that forms the population of most of our country places. Besides,
+there is no encouragement for ghosts in most of our villages, for they
+have scarcely had time to finish their first nap and turn themselves in
+their graves, before their surviving friends have travelled away from
+the neighborhood; so that when they turn out at night to walk their
+rounds, they have no acquaintance left to call upon. This is perhaps the
+reason why we so seldom hear of ghosts except in our long-established
+Dutch communities.
+
+The immediate cause, however, of the prevalence of supernatural stories
+in these parts, was doubtless owing to the vicinity of Sleepy Hollow.
+There was a contagion in the very air that blew from that haunted
+region; it breathed forth an atmosphere of dreams and fancies infecting
+all the land. Several of the Sleepy Hollow people were present at
+Van Tassel’s, and, as usual, were doling out their wild and wonderful
+legends. Many dismal tales were told about funeral trains, and mourning
+cries and wailings heard and seen about the great tree where the
+unfortunate Major André was taken, and which stood in the neighborhood.
+Some mention was made also of the woman in white, that haunted the
+dark glen at Raven Rock, and was often heard to shriek on winter nights
+before a storm, having perished there in the snow. The chief part of the
+stories, however, turned upon the favorite spectre of Sleepy Hollow, the
+Headless Horseman, who had been heard several times of late, patrolling
+the country; and, it was said, tethered his horse nightly among the
+graves in the churchyard.
+
+The sequestered situation of this church seems always to have made it a
+favorite haunt of troubled spirits. It stands on a knoll, surrounded by
+locust-trees and lofty elms, from among which its decent, whitewashed
+walls shine modestly forth, like Christian purity beaming through the
+shades of retirement. A gentle slope descends from it to a silver sheet
+of water, bordered by high trees, between which, peeps may be caught at
+the blue hills of the Hudson. To look upon its grass-grown yard, where
+the sunbeams seem to sleep so quietly, one would think that there at
+least the dead might rest in peace. On one side of the church extends a
+wide woody dell, along which raves a large brook among broken rocks and
+trunks of fallen trees. Over a deep black part of the stream, not far
+from the church, was formerly thrown a wooden bridge; the road that led
+to it, and the bridge itself, were thickly shaded by overhanging trees,
+which cast a gloom about it, even in the daytime; but occasioned a
+fearful darkness at night. Such was one of the favorite haunts of
+the Headless Horseman, and the place where he was most frequently
+encountered. The tale was told of old Brouwer, a most heretical
+disbeliever in ghosts, how he met the Horseman returning from his foray
+into Sleepy Hollow, and was obliged to get up behind him; how they
+galloped over bush and brake, over hill and swamp, until they reached
+the bridge; when the Horseman suddenly turned into a skeleton, threw old
+Brouwer into the brook, and sprang away over the tree-tops with a clap
+of thunder.
+
+This story was immediately matched by a thrice marvellous adventure of
+Brom Bones, who made light of the Galloping Hessian as an arrant jockey.
+He affirmed that on returning one night from the neighboring village of
+Sing Sing, he had been overtaken by this midnight trooper; that he had
+offered to race with him for a bowl of punch, and should have won it
+too, for Daredevil beat the goblin horse all hollow, but just as they
+came to the church bridge, the Hessian bolted, and vanished in a flash
+of fire.
+
+All these tales, told in that drowsy undertone with which men talk in
+the dark, the countenances of the listeners only now and then receiving
+a casual gleam from the glare of a pipe, sank deep in the mind of
+Ichabod. He repaid them in kind with large extracts from his invaluable
+author, Cotton Mather, and added many marvellous events that had taken
+place in his native State of Connecticut, and fearful sights which he
+had seen in his nightly walks about Sleepy Hollow.
+
+The revel now gradually broke up. The old farmers gathered together
+their families in their wagons, and were heard for some time rattling
+along the hollow roads, and over the distant hills. Some of the
+damsels mounted on pillions behind their favorite swains, and their
+light-hearted laughter, mingling with the clatter of hoofs, echoed along
+the silent woodlands, sounding fainter and fainter, until they gradually
+died away,--and the late scene of noise and frolic was all silent and
+deserted. Ichabod only lingered behind, according to the custom of
+country lovers, to have a tête-à-tête with the heiress; fully convinced
+that he was now on the high road to success. What passed at this
+interview I will not pretend to say, for in fact I do not know.
+Something, however, I fear me, must have gone wrong, for he certainly
+sallied forth, after no very great interval, with an air quite desolate
+and chapfallen. Oh, these women! these women! Could that girl have been
+playing off any of her coquettish tricks? Was her encouragement of the
+poor pedagogue all a mere sham to secure her conquest of his rival?
+Heaven only knows, not I! Let it suffice to say, Ichabod stole forth
+with the air of one who had been sacking a henroost, rather than a fair
+lady’s heart. Without looking to the right or left to notice the scene
+of rural wealth, on which he had so often gloated, he went straight to
+the stable, and with several hearty cuffs and kicks roused his steed
+most uncourteously from the comfortable quarters in which he was soundly
+sleeping, dreaming of mountains of corn and oats, and whole valleys of
+timothy and clover.
+
+It was the very witching time of night that Ichabod, heavy-hearted and
+crestfallen, pursued his travels homewards, along the sides of the
+lofty hills which rise above Tarry Town, and which he had traversed so
+cheerily in the afternoon. The hour was as dismal as himself. Far below
+him the Tappan Zee spread its dusky and indistinct waste of waters, with
+here and there the tall mast of a sloop, riding quietly at anchor under
+the land. In the dead hush of midnight, he could even hear the barking
+of the watchdog from the opposite shore of the Hudson; but it was
+so vague and faint as only to give an idea of his distance from this
+faithful companion of man. Now and then, too, the long-drawn crowing
+of a cock, accidentally awakened, would sound far, far off, from some
+farmhouse away among the hills--but it was like a dreaming sound in his
+ear. No signs of life occurred near him, but occasionally the melancholy
+chirp of a cricket, or perhaps the guttural twang of a bullfrog from a
+neighboring marsh, as if sleeping uncomfortably and turning suddenly in
+his bed.
+
+All the stories of ghosts and goblins that he had heard in the afternoon
+now came crowding upon his recollection. The night grew darker and
+darker; the stars seemed to sink deeper in the sky, and driving clouds
+occasionally hid them from his sight. He had never felt so lonely and
+dismal. He was, moreover, approaching the very place where many of the
+scenes of the ghost stories had been laid. In the centre of the road
+stood an enormous tulip-tree, which towered like a giant above all the
+other trees of the neighborhood, and formed a kind of landmark. Its
+limbs were gnarled and fantastic, large enough to form trunks for
+ordinary trees, twisting down almost to the earth, and rising again into
+the air. It was connected with the tragical story of the unfortunate
+André, who had been taken prisoner hard by; and was universally known
+by the name of Major André’s tree. The common people regarded it with a
+mixture of respect and superstition, partly out of sympathy for the
+fate of its ill-starred namesake, and partly from the tales of strange
+sights, and doleful lamentations, told concerning it.
+
+As Ichabod approached this fearful tree, he began to whistle; he thought
+his whistle was answered; it was but a blast sweeping sharply through
+the dry branches. As he approached a little nearer, he thought he saw
+something white, hanging in the midst of the tree: he paused and ceased
+whistling but, on looking more narrowly, perceived that it was a place
+where the tree had been scathed by lightning, and the white wood laid
+bare. Suddenly he heard a groan--his teeth chattered, and his knees
+smote against the saddle: it was but the rubbing of one huge bough upon
+another, as they were swayed about by the breeze. He passed the tree in
+safety, but new perils lay before him.
+
+About two hundred yards from the tree, a small brook crossed the road,
+and ran into a marshy and thickly-wooded glen, known by the name of
+Wiley’s Swamp. A few rough logs, laid side by side, served for a bridge
+over this stream. On that side of the road where the brook entered the
+wood, a group of oaks and chestnuts, matted thick with wild grape-vines,
+threw a cavernous gloom over it. To pass this bridge was the severest
+trial. It was at this identical spot that the unfortunate André was
+captured, and under the covert of those chestnuts and vines were the
+sturdy yeomen concealed who surprised him. This has ever since been
+considered a haunted stream, and fearful are the feelings of the
+schoolboy who has to pass it alone after dark.
+
+As he approached the stream, his heart began to thump; he summoned up,
+however, all his resolution, gave his horse half a score of kicks in the
+ribs, and attempted to dash briskly across the bridge; but instead of
+starting forward, the perverse old animal made a lateral movement, and
+ran broadside against the fence. Ichabod, whose fears increased with the
+delay, jerked the reins on the other side, and kicked lustily with the
+contrary foot: it was all in vain; his steed started, it is true, but
+it was only to plunge to the opposite side of the road into a thicket of
+brambles and alder bushes. The schoolmaster now bestowed both whip and
+heel upon the starveling ribs of old Gunpowder, who dashed forward,
+snuffling and snorting, but came to a stand just by the bridge, with a
+suddenness that had nearly sent his rider sprawling over his head.
+Just at this moment a plashy tramp by the side of the bridge caught the
+sensitive ear of Ichabod. In the dark shadow of the grove, on the margin
+of the brook, he beheld something huge, misshapen and towering. It
+stirred not, but seemed gathered up in the gloom, like some gigantic
+monster ready to spring upon the traveller.
+
+The hair of the affrighted pedagogue rose upon his head with terror.
+What was to be done? To turn and fly was now too late; and besides,
+what chance was there of escaping ghost or goblin, if such it was, which
+could ride upon the wings of the wind? Summoning up, therefore, a
+show of courage, he demanded in stammering accents, “Who are you?”
+ He received no reply. He repeated his demand in a still more agitated
+voice. Still there was no answer. Once more he cudgelled the sides
+of the inflexible Gunpowder, and, shutting his eyes, broke forth with
+involuntary fervor into a psalm tune. Just then the shadowy object of
+alarm put itself in motion, and with a scramble and a bound stood at
+once in the middle of the road. Though the night was dark and dismal,
+yet the form of the unknown might now in some degree be ascertained. He
+appeared to be a horseman of large dimensions, and mounted on a black
+horse of powerful frame. He made no offer of molestation or sociability,
+but kept aloof on one side of the road, jogging along on the blind side
+of old Gunpowder, who had now got over his fright and waywardness.
+
+Ichabod, who had no relish for this strange midnight companion, and
+bethought himself of the adventure of Brom Bones with the Galloping
+Hessian, now quickened his steed in hopes of leaving him behind. The
+stranger, however, quickened his horse to an equal pace. Ichabod pulled
+up, and fell into a walk, thinking to lag behind,--the other did the
+same. His heart began to sink within him; he endeavored to resume his
+psalm tune, but his parched tongue clove to the roof of his mouth, and
+he could not utter a stave. There was something in the moody and
+dogged silence of this pertinacious companion that was mysterious and
+appalling. It was soon fearfully accounted for. On mounting a rising
+ground, which brought the figure of his fellow-traveller in relief
+against the sky, gigantic in height, and muffled in a cloak, Ichabod was
+horror-struck on perceiving that he was headless!--but his horror was
+still more increased on observing that the head, which should have
+rested on his shoulders, was carried before him on the pommel of his
+saddle! His terror rose to desperation; he rained a shower of kicks and
+blows upon Gunpowder, hoping by a sudden movement to give his companion
+the slip; but the spectre started full jump with him. Away, then, they
+dashed through thick and thin; stones flying and sparks flashing at
+every bound. Ichabod’s flimsy garments fluttered in the air, as
+he stretched his long lank body away over his horse’s head, in the
+eagerness of his flight.
+
+They had now reached the road which turns off to Sleepy Hollow; but
+Gunpowder, who seemed possessed with a demon, instead of keeping up it,
+made an opposite turn, and plunged headlong downhill to the left. This
+road leads through a sandy hollow shaded by trees for about a quarter
+of a mile, where it crosses the bridge famous in goblin story; and just
+beyond swells the green knoll on which stands the whitewashed church.
+
+As yet the panic of the steed had given his unskilful rider an apparent
+advantage in the chase, but just as he had got half way through the
+hollow, the girths of the saddle gave way, and he felt it slipping from
+under him. He seized it by the pommel, and endeavored to hold it firm,
+but in vain; and had just time to save himself by clasping old Gunpowder
+round the neck, when the saddle fell to the earth, and he heard it
+trampled under foot by his pursuer. For a moment the terror of Hans Van
+Ripper’s wrath passed across his mind,--for it was his Sunday saddle;
+but this was no time for petty fears; the goblin was hard on his
+haunches; and (unskilful rider that he was!) he had much ado to maintain
+his seat; sometimes slipping on one side, sometimes on another, and
+sometimes jolted on the high ridge of his horse’s backbone, with a
+violence that he verily feared would cleave him asunder.
+
+An opening in the trees now cheered him with the hopes that the church
+bridge was at hand. The wavering reflection of a silver star in the
+bosom of the brook told him that he was not mistaken. He saw the walls
+of the church dimly glaring under the trees beyond. He recollected the
+place where Brom Bones’s ghostly competitor had disappeared. “If I can
+but reach that bridge,” thought Ichabod, “I am safe.” Just then he heard
+the black steed panting and blowing close behind him; he even fancied
+that he felt his hot breath. Another convulsive kick in the ribs, and
+old Gunpowder sprang upon the bridge; he thundered over the resounding
+planks; he gained the opposite side; and now Ichabod cast a look behind
+to see if his pursuer should vanish, according to rule, in a flash of
+fire and brimstone. Just then he saw the goblin rising in his stirrups,
+and in the very act of hurling his head at him. Ichabod endeavored to
+dodge the horrible missile, but too late. It encountered his cranium
+with a tremendous crash,--he was tumbled headlong into the dust, and
+Gunpowder, the black steed, and the goblin rider, passed by like a
+whirlwind.
+
+The next morning the old horse was found without his saddle, and with
+the bridle under his feet, soberly cropping the grass at his master’s
+gate. Ichabod did not make his appearance at breakfast; dinner-hour
+came, but no Ichabod. The boys assembled at the schoolhouse, and
+strolled idly about the banks of the brook; but no schoolmaster. Hans
+Van Ripper now began to feel some uneasiness about the fate of poor
+Ichabod, and his saddle. An inquiry was set on foot, and after diligent
+investigation they came upon his traces. In one part of the road leading
+to the church was found the saddle trampled in the dirt; the tracks of
+horses’ hoofs deeply dented in the road, and evidently at furious speed,
+were traced to the bridge, beyond which, on the bank of a broad part of
+the brook, where the water ran deep and black, was found the hat of the
+unfortunate Ichabod, and close beside it a shattered pumpkin.
+
+The brook was searched, but the body of the schoolmaster was not to
+be discovered. Hans Van Ripper as executor of his estate, examined the
+bundle which contained all his worldly effects. They consisted of two
+shirts and a half; two stocks for the neck; a pair or two of worsted
+stockings; an old pair of corduroy small-clothes; a rusty razor; a book
+of psalm tunes full of dog’s-ears; and a broken pitch-pipe. As to the
+books and furniture of the schoolhouse, they belonged to the community,
+excepting Cotton Mather’s “History of Witchcraft,” a “New England
+Almanac,” and a book of dreams and fortune-telling; in which last was
+a sheet of foolscap much scribbled and blotted in several fruitless
+attempts to make a copy of verses in honor of the heiress of Van Tassel.
+These magic books and the poetic scrawl were forthwith consigned to the
+flames by Hans Van Ripper; who, from that time forward, determined to
+send his children no more to school, observing that he never knew
+any good come of this same reading and writing. Whatever money the
+schoolmaster possessed, and he had received his quarter’s pay but a
+day or two before, he must have had about his person at the time of his
+disappearance.
+
+The mysterious event caused much speculation at the church on the
+following Sunday. Knots of gazers and gossips were collected in the
+churchyard, at the bridge, and at the spot where the hat and pumpkin
+had been found. The stories of Brouwer, of Bones, and a whole budget of
+others were called to mind; and when they had diligently considered them
+all, and compared them with the symptoms of the present case, they shook
+their heads, and came to the conclusion that Ichabod had been carried
+off by the Galloping Hessian. As he was a bachelor, and in nobody’s
+debt, nobody troubled his head any more about him; the school was
+removed to a different quarter of the hollow, and another pedagogue
+reigned in his stead.
+
+It is true, an old farmer, who had been down to New York on a visit
+several years after, and from whom this account of the ghostly adventure
+was received, brought home the intelligence that Ichabod Crane was still
+alive; that he had left the neighborhood partly through fear of the
+goblin and Hans Van Ripper, and partly in mortification at having been
+suddenly dismissed by the heiress; that he had changed his quarters to a
+distant part of the country; had kept school and studied law at the same
+time; had been admitted to the bar; turned politician; electioneered;
+written for the newspapers; and finally had been made a justice of
+the Ten Pound Court. Brom Bones, too, who, shortly after his rival’s
+disappearance conducted the blooming Katrina in triumph to the altar,
+was observed to look exceedingly knowing whenever the story of Ichabod
+was related, and always burst into a hearty laugh at the mention of the
+pumpkin; which led some to suspect that he knew more about the matter
+than he chose to tell.
+
+The old country wives, however, who are the best judges of these
+matters, maintain to this day that Ichabod was spirited away by
+supernatural means; and it is a favorite story often told about the
+neighborhood round the winter evening fire. The bridge became more than
+ever an object of superstitious awe; and that may be the reason why the
+road has been altered of late years, so as to approach the church by
+the border of the millpond. The schoolhouse being deserted soon fell to
+decay, and was reported to be haunted by the ghost of the unfortunate
+pedagogue and the plowboy, loitering homeward of a still summer evening,
+has often fancied his voice at a distance, chanting a melancholy psalm
+tune among the tranquil solitudes of Sleepy Hollow.
+
+
+
+POSTSCRIPT.
+
+FOUND IN THE HANDWRITING OF MR. KNICKERBOCKER.
+
+The preceding tale is given almost in the precise words in which I
+heard it related at a Corporation meeting at the ancient city of
+Manhattoes, at which were present many of its sagest and most
+illustrious burghers. The narrator was a pleasant, shabby, gentlemanly
+old fellow, in pepper-and-salt clothes, with a sadly humourous face,
+and one whom I strongly suspected of being poor--he made such efforts
+to be entertaining. When his story was concluded, there was much
+laughter and approbation, particularly from two or three deputy
+aldermen, who had been asleep the greater part of the time. There was,
+however, one tall, dry-looking old gentleman, with beetling eyebrows,
+who maintained a grave and rather severe face throughout, now and then
+folding his arms, inclining his head, and looking down upon the floor,
+as if turning a doubt over in his mind. He was one of your wary men,
+who never laugh but upon good grounds--when they have reason and law on
+their side. When the mirth of the rest of the company had subsided, and
+silence was restored, he leaned one arm on the elbow of his chair, and
+sticking the other akimbo, demanded, with a slight, but exceedingly
+sage motion of the head, and contraction of the brow, what was the
+moral of the story, and what it went to prove?
+
+The story-teller, who was just putting a glass of wine to his lips, as
+a refreshment after his toils, paused for a moment, looked at his
+inquirer with an air of infinite deference, and, lowering the glass
+slowly to the table, observed that the story was intended most
+logically to prove--
+
+“That there is no situation in life but has its advantages and
+pleasures--provided we will but take a joke as we find it:
+
+“That, therefore, he that runs races with goblin troopers is likely to
+have rough riding of it.
+
+“Ergo, for a country schoolmaster to be refused the hand of a Dutch
+heiress is a certain step to high preferment in the state.”
+
+The cautious old gentleman knit his brows tenfold closer after this
+explanation, being sorely puzzled by the ratiocination of the
+syllogism, while, methought, the one in pepper-and-salt eyed him with
+something of a triumphant leer. At length he observed that all this was
+very well, but still he thought the story a little on the
+extravagant--there were one or two points on which he had his doubts.
+
+“Faith, sir,” replied the story-teller, “as to that matter, I don’t
+believe one-half of it myself.”  D. K.
+
+THE END.
+
+
+
+
+*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE LEGEND OF SLEEPY HOLLOW ***
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books/The_Prophet_by_Kahlil_Gibran(66KB).txt

@@ -0,0 +1,3099 @@
+*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 58585 ***
+
+
+
+
+THE PROPHET
+
+By Kahlil Gibran
+
+New York: Alfred A. Knopf
+
+1923
+
+_The Twelve Illustrations In This Volume
+Are Reproduced From Original Drawings By
+The Author_
+
+
+
+
+“His power came from some great reservoir
+of spiritual life else it could not have
+been so universal and so potent, but the
+majesty and beauty of the language with
+which he clothed it were all his own?”
+
+--Claude Bragdon
+
+
+THE BOOKS OF KAHLIL GIBRAN
+
+The Madman. 1918 Twenty Drawings. 1919
+The Forerunner. 1920 The Prophet. 1923
+Sand and Foam. 1926 Jesus the Son of
+Man. 1928 The Forth Gods. 1931 The
+Wanderer. 1932 The Garden of the Prophet
+1933 Prose Poems. 1934 Nymphs of the
+Valley. 1948
+
+
+
+
+CONTENTS
+
+          The Coming of the Ship
+          On Love
+          On Marriage
+          On Children
+          On Giving
+          On Eating and Drinking
+          On Work
+          On Joy and Sorrow
+          On Houses
+          On Clothes
+          On Buying and Selling
+          On Crime and Punishment
+          On Laws
+          On Freedom
+          On Reason and Passion
+          On Pain
+          On Self-Knowledge
+          On Teaching
+          On Friendship
+          On Talking
+          On Time
+          On Good and Evil
+          On Prayer
+          On Pleasure
+          On Beauty
+          On Religion
+          On Death
+          The Farewell
+
+
+
+
+THE PROPHET
+
+Almustafa, the chosen and the
+beloved, who was a dawn unto his own
+day, had waited twelve years in the city
+of Orphalese for his ship that was to
+return and bear him back to the isle of
+his birth.
+
+And in the twelfth year, on the seventh
+day of Ielool, the month of reaping, he
+climbed the hill without the city walls
+and looked seaward; and he beheld his
+ship coming with the mist.
+
+Then the gates of his heart were flung
+open, and his joy flew far over the sea.
+And he closed his eyes and prayed in the
+silences of his soul.
+
+*****
+
+But as he descended the hill, a sadness
+came upon him, and he thought in his
+heart:
+
+How shall I go in peace and without
+sorrow? Nay, not without a wound in the
+spirit shall I leave this city.
+
+Long
+were the days of pain I have spent
+within its walls, and long were the
+nights of aloneness; and who can depart
+from his pain and his aloneness without
+regret?
+
+Too many fragments of the spirit have I
+scattered in these streets, and too many
+are the children of my longing that walk
+naked among these hills, and I cannot
+withdraw from them without a burden and
+an ache.
+
+It is not a garment I cast off this
+day, but a skin that I tear with my own
+hands.
+
+Nor is it a thought I leave behind me,
+but a heart made sweet with hunger and
+with thirst.
+
+*****
+
+Yet I cannot tarry longer.
+
+The sea that calls all things unto her
+calls me, and I must embark.
+
+For to stay, though the hours burn in
+the night, is to freeze and crystallize
+and be bound in a mould.
+
+Fain would I take with me all that is
+here. But how shall I?
+
+A voice cannot carry the tongue and
+the lips that gave it wings. Alone
+must it seek the ether.
+
+And alone and without his nest shall the
+eagle fly across the sun.
+
+*****
+
+Now when he reached the foot of the
+hill, he turned again towards the sea,
+and he saw his ship approaching the
+harbour, and upon her prow the mariners,
+the men of his own land.
+
+And his soul cried out to them, and he
+said:
+
+Sons of my ancient mother, you riders of
+the tides,
+
+How often have you sailed in my dreams.
+And now you come in my awakening, which
+is my deeper dream.
+
+Ready am I to go, and my eagerness with
+sails full set awaits the wind.
+
+Only another breath will I breathe in
+this still air, only another loving look
+cast backward,
+
+And then I shall stand among you, a
+seafarer among seafarers.
+
+And you,
+vast sea, sleepless mother,
+
+Who alone are peace and freedom to the
+river and the stream,
+
+Only another winding will this stream
+make, only another murmur in this glade,
+
+And then shall I come to you, a
+boundless drop to a boundless ocean.
+
+*****
+
+And as he walked he saw from afar men
+and women leaving their fields and their
+vineyards and hastening towards the city
+gates.
+
+And he heard their voices calling his
+name, and shouting from field to field
+telling one another of the coming of his
+ship.
+
+And he said to himself:
+
+Shall the day of parting be the day of
+gathering?
+
+And shall it be said that my eve was in
+truth my dawn?
+
+And what shall I give unto him who has
+left his plough in midfurrow, or to
+him who has stopped the wheel of his
+winepress?
+
+Shall my heart become a
+tree heavy-laden with fruit that I may
+gather and give unto them?
+
+And shall my desires flow like a
+fountain that I may fill their cups?
+
+Am I a harp that the hand of the mighty
+may touch me, or a flute that his breath
+may pass through me?
+
+A seeker of silences am I, and what
+treasure have I found in silences that I
+may dispense with confidence?
+
+If this is my day of harvest, in what
+fields have I sowed the seed, and in
+what unremembered seasons?
+
+If this indeed be the hour in which I
+lift up my lantern, it is not my flame
+that shall burn therein.
+
+Empty and dark shall I raise my lantern,
+
+And the guardian of the night shall fill
+it with oil and he shall light it also.
+
+*****
+
+These things he said in words. But much
+in his heart remained unsaid. For he
+himself could not speak his deeper
+secret.
+
+*****
+
+[Illustration: 0020]
+
+And when he entered into the city all
+the people came to meet him, and they
+were crying out to him as with one
+voice.
+
+And the elders of the city stood forth
+and said:
+
+Go not yet away from us.
+
+A noontide have you been in our
+twilight, and your youth has given us
+dreams to dream.
+
+No stranger are you among us, nor
+a guest, but our son and our dearly
+beloved.
+
+Suffer not yet our eyes to hunger for
+your face.
+
+*****
+
+And the priests and the priestesses said
+unto him:
+
+Let not the waves of the sea separate us
+now, and the years you have spent in our
+midst become a memory.
+
+You have walked among us a spirit,
+and your shadow has been a light
+upon our faces.
+
+Much have we loved you. But speechless
+was our love, and with veils has it been
+veiled.
+
+Yet now it cries aloud unto you, and
+would stand revealed before you.
+
+And ever has it been that love knows
+not its own depth until the hour of
+separation.
+
+*****
+
+And others came also and entreated him.
+But he answered them not. He only bent
+his head; and those who stood near saw
+his tears falling upon his breast.
+
+And he and the people proceeded towards
+the great square before the temple.
+
+And there came out of the sanctuary a
+woman whose name was Almitra. And she
+was a seeress.
+
+And he looked upon her with exceeding
+tenderness, for it was she who had first
+sought and believed in him when he had
+been but a day in their city.
+
+And she hailed him, saying:
+
+Prophet of God, in quest of the
+uttermost, long have you searched the
+distances for your ship.
+
+And now your ship has come, and you must
+needs go.
+
+Deep is your longing for the land of
+your memories and the dwelling place
+of your greater desires; and our love
+would not bind you nor our needs hold
+you.
+
+Yet this we ask ere you leave us, that
+you speak to us and give us of your
+truth.
+
+And we will give it unto our children,
+and they unto their children, and it
+shall not perish.
+
+In your aloneness you have watched with
+our days, and in your wakefulness you
+have listened to the weeping and the
+laughter of our sleep.
+
+Now therefore disclose us to ourselves,
+and tell us all that has been shown
+you of that which is between birth and
+death.
+
+*****
+
+And he answered,
+
+People of Orphalese, of what can I
+speak save of that which is even now
+moving within your souls?
+
+***** *****
+
+Then said Almitra, Speak to us of
+_Love_.
+
+And he raised his head and looked upon
+the people, and there fell a stillness
+upon them. And with a great voice he
+said:
+
+When love beckons to you, follow him,
+
+Though his ways are hard and steep.
+
+And when his wings enfold you yield to
+him,
+
+Though the sword hidden among his
+pinions may wound you.
+
+And when he speaks to you believe in
+him,
+
+Though his voice may shatter your dreams
+as the north wind lays waste the garden.
+
+For even as love crowns you so shall
+he crucify you. Even as he is for your
+growth so is he for your pruning.
+
+Even as he ascends to your height and
+caresses your tenderest branches
+that quiver in the sun,
+
+So shall he descend to your roots and
+shake them in their clinging to the
+earth.
+
+*****
+
+Like sheaves of corn he gathers you unto
+himself.
+
+He threshes you to make you naked.
+
+He sifts you to free you from your
+husks.
+
+He grinds you to whiteness.
+
+He kneads you until you are pliant;
+
+And then he assigns you to his sacred
+fire, that you may become sacred bread
+for God’s sacred feast.
+
+*****
+
+All these things shall love do unto you
+that you may know the secrets of your
+heart, and in that knowledge become a
+fragment of Life’s heart.
+
+But if in your fear you would seek only
+love’s peace and love’s pleasure,
+
+Then it is better for you that you
+cover your nakedness and pass out of
+love’s threshing-floor,
+
+Into the seasonless world where you
+shall laugh, but not all of your
+laughter, and weep, but not all of your
+tears.
+
+*****
+
+Love gives naught but itself and takes
+naught but from itself.
+
+Love possesses not nor would it be
+possessed;
+
+For love is sufficient unto love.
+
+When you love you should not say, “God
+is in my heart,” but rather, “I am in
+the heart of God.”
+
+And think not you can direct the course
+of love, for love, if it finds you
+worthy, directs your course.
+
+Love has no other desire but to fulfil
+itself.
+
+But if you love and must needs have
+desires, let these be your desires:
+
+To melt and be like a running brook that
+sings its melody to the night.
+
+To know the pain of too much tenderness.
+
+To be wounded by your own understanding
+of love;
+
+And to bleed willingly and joyfully.
+
+To wake at dawn with a winged heart and
+give thanks for another day of loving;
+
+To rest at the noon hour and meditate
+love’s ecstacy;
+
+To return home at eventide with
+gratitude;
+
+And then to sleep with a prayer for
+the beloved in your heart and a song of
+praise upon your lips.
+
+[Illustration: 0029]
+
+***** *****
+
+Then Almitra spoke again and said,
+And what of _Marriage_ master?
+
+And he answered saying:
+
+You were born together, and together you
+shall be forevermore.
+
+You shall be together when the white
+wings of death scatter your days.
+
+Aye, you shall be together even in the
+silent memory of God.
+
+But let there be spaces in your
+togetherness,
+
+And let the winds of the heavens dance
+between you.
+
+*****
+
+Love one another, but make not a bond of
+love:
+
+Let it rather be a moving sea between
+the shores of your souls.
+
+Fill each other’s cup but drink not from
+one cup.
+
+Give one another of your bread but eat
+not from the same loaf.
+
+
+Sing and dance together and be joyous, but let
+each one of you be alone,
+
+Even as the strings of a lute are alone
+though they quiver with the same music.
+
+*****
+
+Give your hearts, but not into each
+other’s keeping.
+
+For only the hand of Life can contain
+your hearts.
+
+And stand together yet not too near
+together:
+
+For the pillars of the temple stand
+apart,
+
+And the oak tree and the cypress grow
+not in each other’s shadow.
+
+[Illustration: 0032]
+
+***** *****
+
+And a woman who held a babe
+against her bosom said, Speak to us of
+_Children_.
+
+And he said:
+
+Your children are not your children.
+
+They are the sons and daughters of
+Life’s longing for itself.
+
+They come through you but not from you,
+
+And though they are with you yet they
+belong not to you.
+
+*****
+
+You may give them your love but not your
+thoughts,
+
+For they have their own thoughts.
+
+You may house their bodies but not their
+souls,
+
+For their souls dwell in the house of
+tomorrow, which you cannot visit, not
+even in your dreams.
+
+You may strive to be like them, but seek
+not to make them like you.
+
+For life goes not backward nor tarries with
+yesterday.
+
+You are the bows from which your
+children as living arrows are sent
+forth.
+
+The archer sees the mark upon the path
+of the infinite, and He bends you with
+His might that His arrows may go swift
+and far.
+
+Let your bending in the Archer’s hand be
+for gladness;
+
+For even as he loves the arrow that
+flies, so He loves also the bow that is
+stable.
+
+***** *****
+
+Then said a rich man, Speak to us of
+_Giving_.
+
+And he answered:
+
+You give but little when you give of
+your possessions.
+
+It is when you give of yourself that you
+truly give.
+
+For what are your possessions but things
+you keep and guard for fear you may need
+them tomorrow?
+
+And tomorrow, what shall tomorrow bring
+to the overprudent dog burying bones
+in the trackless sand as he follows the
+pilgrims to the holy city?
+
+And what is fear of need but need
+itself?
+
+Is not dread of thirst when your well is
+full, the thirst that is unquenchable?
+
+There are those who give little of the
+much which they have--and they give
+it for recognition and their hidden
+desire makes their gifts unwholesome.
+
+And there are those who have little and
+give it all.
+
+These are the believers in life and
+the bounty of life, and their coffer is
+never empty.
+
+There are those who give with joy, and
+that joy is their reward.
+
+And there are those who give with pain,
+and that pain is their baptism.
+
+And there are those who give and know
+not pain in giving, nor do they seek
+joy, nor give with mindfulness of
+virtue;
+
+They give as in yonder valley the myrtle
+breathes its fragrance into space.
+
+Through the hands of such as these God
+speaks, and from behind their eyes He
+smiles upon the earth.
+
+[Illustration: 0039]
+
+It is well to give when asked, but it
+is better to give unasked, through
+understanding;
+
+And to the open-handed the search for
+one who shall receive is joy greater
+than giving.
+
+And is there aught you would withhold?
+
+All you have shall some day be given;
+
+Therefore give now, that the season
+of giving may be yours and not your
+inheritors’.
+
+You often say, “I would give, but only
+to the deserving.”
+
+The trees in your orchard say not so,
+nor the flocks in your pasture.
+
+They give that they may live, for to
+withhold is to perish.
+
+Surely he who is worthy to receive his
+days and his nights, is worthy of all
+else from you.
+
+And he who has deserved to drink from
+the ocean of life deserves to fill his
+cup from your little stream.
+
+And what desert greater shall there be,
+than that which lies in the courage
+and the confidence, nay the charity, of
+receiving?
+
+And who are you that men should rend
+their bosom and unveil their pride,
+that you may see their worth naked and
+their pride unabashed?
+
+See first that you yourself deserve to
+be a giver, and an instrument of giving.
+
+For in truth it is life that gives unto
+life--while you, who deem yourself a
+giver, are but a witness.
+
+And you receivers--and you are
+all receivers--assume no weight of
+gratitude, lest you lay a yoke upon
+yourself and upon him who gives.
+
+Rather rise together with the giver on
+his gifts as on wings;
+
+For to be overmindful of your debt, is
+to doubt his generosity who has the
+freehearted earth for mother, and God
+for father.
+
+[Illustration: 0042]
+
+***** *****
+
+Then an old man, a keeper of an
+inn, said, Speak to us of _Eating and
+Drinking_.
+
+And he said:
+
+Would that you could live on the
+fragrance of the earth, and like an air
+plant be sustained by the light.
+
+But since you must kill to eat, and rob
+the newly born of its mother’s milk to
+quench your thirst, let it then be an
+act of worship,
+
+And let your board stand an altar on
+which the pure and the innocent of
+forest and plain are sacrificed for that
+which is purer and still more innocent
+in man.
+
+*****
+
+When you kill a beast say to him in your
+heart,
+
+“By the same power that slays you, I too
+am slain; and I too shall be consumed.
+
+For the law that delivered you into
+my hand shall deliver me into a mightier
+hand.
+
+Your blood and my blood is naught but
+the sap that feeds the tree of heaven.”
+
+*****
+
+And when you crush an apple with your
+teeth, say to it in your heart,
+
+“Your seeds shall live in my body,
+
+And the buds of your tomorrow shall
+blossom in my heart,
+
+And your fragrance shall be my breath,
+And together we shall rejoice through
+all the seasons.”
+
+*****
+
+And in the autumn, when you gather
+the grapes of your vineyards for the
+winepress, say in your heart,
+
+“I too am a vineyard, and my fruit shall
+be gathered for the winepress,
+
+And like new wine I shall be kept in
+eternal vessels.”
+
+And in winter, when you draw the wine,
+let there be in your heart a song
+for each cup;
+
+And let there be in the song a
+remembrance for the autumn days, and for
+the vineyard, and for the winepress.
+
+*****
+*****
+
+Then a ploughman said, Speak
+to us of _Work_.
+
+And he answered, saying:
+
+You work that you may keep pace with the
+earth and the soul of the earth.
+
+For to be idle is to become a stranger
+unto the seasons, and to step out of
+life’s procession, that marches in
+majesty and proud submission towards the
+infinite.
+
+When you work you are a flute through
+whose heart the whispering of the hours
+turns to music.
+
+Which of you would be a reed, dumb and
+silent, when all else sings together in
+unison?
+
+Always you have been told that work is a
+curse and labour a misfortune.
+
+But I say to you that when you work you
+fulfil a part of earth’s furthest dream,
+assigned to you when that dream was
+born,
+
+And in keeping yourself with labour you
+are in truth loving life,
+
+And to love life through labour is to be
+intimate with life’s inmost secret.
+
+*****
+
+But if you in your pain call birth an
+affliction and the support of the flesh
+a curse written upon your brow, then I
+answer that naught but the sweat of
+your brow shall wash away that which is
+written.
+
+You have been told also that life is
+darkness, and in your weariness you echo
+what was said by the weary.
+
+And I say that life is indeed darkness
+‘save when there is urge,
+
+And all urge is blind save when there is
+knowledge,
+
+And all knowledge is vain save when
+there is work,
+
+And all work is empty save when there is
+love;
+
+And when you work with love you bind
+yourself to yourself, and to one
+another, and to God.
+
+*****
+
+And what is it to work with love?
+
+It is to weave the cloth with threads
+drawn from your heart, even as if your
+beloved were to wear that cloth.
+
+It is to build a house with affection,
+even as if your beloved were to dwell in
+that house.
+
+It is to sow seeds with tenderness and
+reap the harvest with joy, even as if
+your beloved were to eat the fruit.
+
+It is to charge all things you fashion
+with a breath of your own spirit,
+
+And to know that all the blessed dead
+are standing about you and watching.
+
+Often have I heard you say, as if
+speaking in sleep, “He who works in
+marble, and finds the shape of his own
+soul in the stone, is nobler than he who
+ploughs the soil.
+
+And he who seizes the rainbow to lay it on a cloth in the
+likeness of man, is more than he who
+makes the sandals for our feet.”
+
+But I say, not in sleep but in the
+overwakefulness of noontide, that the
+wind speaks not more sweetly to the
+giant oaks than to the least of all the
+blades of grass;
+
+And he alone is great who turns the
+voice of the wind into a song made
+sweeter by his own loving.
+
+*****
+
+Work is love made visible.
+
+And if you cannot work with love but
+only with distaste, it is better that
+you should leave your work and sit at
+the gate of the temple and take alms of
+those who work with joy.
+
+For if you bake bread with indifference,
+you bake a bitter bread that feeds but
+half man’s hunger.
+
+And if you grudge the crushing of the
+grapes, your grudge distils a poison in
+the wine.
+
+And if you sing though as
+angels, and love not the singing, you
+muffle man’s ears to the voices of the
+day and the voices of the night.
+
+***** *****
+
+Then a woman said, Speak to us of
+_Joy and Sorrow_.
+
+And he answered:
+
+Your joy is your sorrow unmasked.
+
+And the selfsame well from which your
+laughter rises was oftentimes filled
+with your tears.
+
+And how else can it be?
+
+The deeper that sorrow carves into your
+being, the more joy you can contain.
+
+Is not the cup that holds your wine the
+very cup that was burned in the potter’s
+oven?
+
+And is not the lute that soothes your
+spirit, the very wood that was hollowed
+with knives?
+
+When you are joyous, look deep into your
+heart and you shall find it is only
+that which has given you sorrow that is
+giving you joy.
+
+When you are sorrowful look again in
+your heart, and you shall see that
+in truth you are weeping for that which
+has been your delight.
+
+*****
+
+Some of you say, “Joy is greater than
+sorrow,” and others say, “Nay, sorrow is
+the greater.”
+
+But I say unto you, they are
+inseparable.
+
+Together they come, and when one sits
+alone with you at your board, remember
+that the other is asleep upon your bed.
+
+Verily you are suspended like scales
+between your sorrow and your joy.
+
+Only when you are empty are you at
+standstill and balanced.
+
+When the treasure-keeper lifts you to
+weigh his gold and his silver, needs
+must your joy or your sorrow rise or
+fall.
+
+***** *****
+
+Then a mason came forth and said,
+Speak to us of _Houses_.
+
+And he answered and said:
+
+Build of your imaginings a bower in the
+wilderness ere you build a house within
+the city walls.
+
+For even as you have home-comings in
+your twilight, so has the wanderer in
+you, the ever distant and alone.
+
+Your house is your larger body.
+
+It grows in the sun and sleeps in the
+stillness of the night; and it is not
+dreamless. Does not your house dream?
+and dreaming, leave the city for grove
+or hilltop?
+
+Would that I could gather your houses
+into my hand, and like a sower scatter
+them in forest and meadow.
+
+Would the valleys were your streets, and
+the green paths your alleys, that you
+might seek one another through
+vineyards, and come with the fragrance
+of the earth in your garments.
+
+But these things are not yet to be.
+
+In their fear your forefathers gathered
+you too near together. And that fear
+shall endure a little longer. A little
+longer shall your city walls separate
+your hearths from your fields.
+
+*****
+
+And tell me, people of Orphalese, what
+have you in these houses? And what is it
+you guard with fastened doors?
+
+Have you peace, the quiet urge that
+reveals your power?
+
+Have you remembrances, the glimmering
+arches that span the summits of the
+mind?
+
+Have you beauty, that leads the heart
+from things fashioned of wood and stone
+to the holy mountain?
+
+Tell me, have you these in your houses?
+
+Or have you only comfort, and the lust
+for comfort, that stealthy thing that
+enters the house a guest, and then
+becomes a host, and then a master?
+
+*****
+
+Ay, and it becomes a tamer, and with
+hook and scourge makes puppets of your
+larger desires.
+
+Though its hands are silken, its heart
+is of iron.
+
+It lulls you to sleep only to stand by
+your bed and jeer at the dignity of the
+flesh.
+
+It makes mock of your sound senses, and
+lays them in thistledown like fragile
+vessels.
+
+Verily the lust for comfort murders
+the passion of the soul, and then walks
+grinning in the funeral.
+
+But you, children of space, you restless
+in rest, you shall not be trapped nor
+tamed.
+
+Your house shall be not an anchor but a
+mast.
+
+It shall not be a glistening film that
+covers a wound, but an eyelid that
+guards the eye.
+
+You shall not fold your wings that you
+may pass through doors, nor bend your
+heads that they strike not against a
+ceiling, nor fear to breathe lest walls
+should crack and fall down.
+
+You shall not dwell in tombs made by the
+dead for the living.
+
+And though of magnificence and
+splendour, your house shall not hold
+your secret nor shelter your longing.
+
+For that which is boundless in you
+abides in the mansion of the sky, whose
+door is the morning mist, and whose
+windows are the songs and the silences
+of night.
+
+***** *****
+
+And the weaver said, Speak to us of
+_Clothes_.
+
+And he answered:
+
+Your clothes conceal much of your
+beauty, yet they hide not the
+unbeautiful.
+
+And though you seek in garments the
+freedom of privacy you may find in them
+a harness and a chain.
+
+Would that you could meet the sun and
+the wind with more of your skin and less
+of your raiment,
+
+For the breath of life is in the
+sunlight and the hand of life is in the
+wind.
+
+Some of you say, “It is the north wind
+who has woven the clothes we wear.”
+
+And I say, Ay, it was the north wind,
+
+But shame was his loom, and the
+softening of the sinews was his thread.
+
+And when his work was done he laughed in
+the forest.
+
+Forget not that modesty
+is for a shield against the eye of the
+unclean.
+
+And when the unclean shall be no more,
+what were modesty but a fetter and a
+fouling of the mind?
+
+And forget not that the earth delights
+to feel your bare feet and the winds
+long to play with your hair.
+
+***** *****
+
+And a merchant said, Speak to us of
+_Buying and Selling_.
+
+And he answered and said:
+
+To you the earth yields her fruit, and
+you shall not want if you but know how
+to fill your hands.
+
+It is in exchanging the gifts of the
+earth that you shall find abundance and
+be satisfied.
+
+Yet unless the exchange be in love and
+kindly justice, it will but lead some to
+greed and others to hunger.
+
+When in the market place you toilers of
+the sea and fields and vineyards meet
+the weavers and the potters and the
+gatherers of spices,--
+
+Invoke then the master spirit of the
+earth, to come into your midst and
+sanctify the scales and the reckoning
+that weighs value against value.
+
+And suffer not the barren-handed to take
+part in your transactions, who would
+sell their words for your labour.
+
+To such men you should say,
+
+“Come with us to the field, or go with
+our brothers to the sea and cast your
+net;
+
+For the land and the sea shall be
+bountiful to you even as to us.”
+
+*****
+
+And if there come the singers and the
+dancers and the flute players,--buy of
+their gifts also.
+
+For they too are gatherers of fruit and
+frankincense, and that which they bring,
+though fashioned of dreams, is raiment
+and food for your soul.
+
+And before you leave the market place,
+see that no one has gone his way with
+empty hands.
+
+For the master spirit of the earth shall
+not sleep peacefully upon the wind
+till the needs of the least of you are
+satisfied.
+
+***** *****
+
+Then one of the judges of the city
+stood forth and said, Speak to us of
+_Crime and Punishment_.
+
+And he answered, saying:
+
+It is when your spirit goes wandering
+upon the wind,
+
+That you, alone and unguarded, commit
+a wrong unto others and therefore unto
+yourself.
+
+And for that wrong committed must you
+knock and wait a while unheeded at the
+gate of the blessed.
+
+Like the ocean is your god-self;
+
+It remains for ever undefiled.
+
+And like the ether it lifts but the
+winged.
+
+Even like the sun is your god-self;
+
+It knows not the ways of the mole nor
+seeks it the holes of the serpent.
+
+But your god-self dwells not alone
+in your being.
+
+Much in you is still man, and much in
+you is not yet man,
+
+But a shapeless pigmy that walks asleep
+in the mist searching for its own
+awakening.
+
+And of the man in you would I now speak.
+
+For it is he and not your god-self nor
+the pigmy in the mist, that knows crime
+and the punishment of crime.
+
+*****
+
+Oftentimes have I heard you speak of one
+who commits a wrong as though he were
+not one of you, but a stranger unto you
+and an intruder upon your world.
+
+But I say that even as the holy and the
+righteous cannot rise beyond the highest
+which is in each one of you,
+
+So the wicked and the weak cannot fall
+lower than the lowest which is in you
+also.
+
+And as a single leaf turns not yellow
+but with the silent knowledge of the
+whole tree,
+
+So the wrong-doer cannot
+do wrong without the hidden will of you
+all.
+
+Like a procession you walk together
+towards your god-self.
+
+[Illustration: 0064]
+
+You are the way and the wayfarers.
+
+And when one of you falls down he falls
+for those behind him, a caution against
+the stumbling stone.
+
+Ay, and he falls for those ahead of him,
+who though faster and surer of foot, yet
+removed not the stumbling stone.
+
+And this also, though the word lie heavy
+upon your hearts:
+
+The murdered is not unaccountable for
+his own murder,
+
+And the robbed is not blameless in being
+robbed.
+
+The righteous is not innocent of the
+deeds of the wicked,
+
+And the white-handed is not clean in the
+doings of the felon.
+
+Yea, the guilty is oftentimes the victim
+of the injured,
+
+And still more often the condemned is
+the burden bearer for the guiltless
+and unblamed.
+
+You cannot separate the just from the
+unjust and the good from the wicked;
+
+For they stand together before the face
+of the sun even as the black thread and
+the white are woven together.
+
+And when the black thread breaks, the
+weaver shall look into the whole cloth,
+and he shall examine the loom also.
+
+*****
+
+If any of you would bring to judgment
+the unfaithful wife,
+
+Let him also weigh the heart of her
+husband in scales, and measure his soul
+with measurements.
+
+And let him who would lash the offender
+look unto the spirit of the offended.
+
+And if any of you would punish in the
+name of righteousness and lay the ax
+unto the evil tree, let him see to its
+roots;
+
+And verily he will find the roots of the
+good and the bad, the fruitful and the
+fruitless, all entwined together in
+the silent heart of the earth.
+
+And you judges who would be just,
+
+What judgment pronounce you upon him
+who though honest in the flesh yet is a
+thief in spirit?
+
+What penalty lay you upon him who slays
+in the flesh yet is himself slain in the
+spirit?
+
+And how prosecute you him who in action
+is a deceiver and an oppressor,
+
+Yet who also is aggrieved and outraged?
+
+*****
+
+And how shall you punish those whose
+remorse is already greater than their
+misdeeds?
+
+Is not remorse the justice which is
+administered by that very law which you
+would fain serve?
+
+Yet you cannot lay remorse upon the
+innocent nor lift it from the heart of
+the guilty.
+
+Unbidden shall it call in the night,
+that men may wake and gaze upon
+themselves.
+
+And you who would
+understand justice, how shall you unless
+you look upon all deeds in the fullness
+of light?
+
+Only then shall you know that the erect
+and the fallen are but one man standing
+in twilight between the night of his
+pigmy-self and the day of his god-self,
+And that the corner-stone of the temple
+is not higher than the lowest stone in
+its foundation.
+
+***** *****
+
+Then a lawyer said, But what of our
+_Laws_, master?
+
+And he answered:
+
+You delight in laying down laws,
+
+Yet you delight more in breaking them.
+
+Like children playing by the ocean who
+build sand-towers with constancy and
+then destroy them with laughter.
+
+But while you build your sand-towers the
+ocean brings more sand to the shore,
+
+And when you destroy them the ocean
+laughs with you.
+
+Verily the ocean laughs always with the
+innocent.
+
+But what of those to whom life is not
+an ocean, and man-made laws are not
+sand-towers,
+
+But to whom life is a rock, and the law
+a chisel with which they would carve it
+in their own likeness?
+
+What of the cripple who hates dancers?
+
+What of the ox who loves his yoke and
+deems the elk and deer of the forest
+stray and vagrant things?
+
+What of the old serpent who cannot shed
+his skin, and calls all others naked and
+shameless?
+
+And of him who comes early to the
+wedding-feast, and when over-fed and
+tired goes his way saying that all
+feasts are violation and all feasters
+lawbreakers?
+
+*****
+
+What shall I say of these save that
+they too stand in the sunlight, but with
+their backs to the sun?
+
+They see only their shadows, and their
+shadows are their laws.
+
+And what is the sun to them but a caster
+of shadows?
+
+And what is it to acknowledge the
+laws but to stoop down and trace their
+shadows upon the earth?
+
+But you who walk facing the sun, what
+images drawn on the earth can hold
+you?
+
+You who travel with the wind, what
+weather-vane shall direct your course?
+
+What man’s law shall bind you if you
+break your yoke but upon no man’s prison
+door?
+
+What laws shall you fear if you dance
+but stumble against no man’s iron
+chains?
+
+And who is he that shall bring you to
+judgment if you tear off your garment
+yet leave it in no man’s path?
+
+*****
+
+People of Orphalese, you can muffle the
+drum, and you can loosen the strings
+of the lyre, but who shall command the
+skylark not to sing?
+
+***** *****
+
+And an orator said, Speak to us of
+_Freedom_.
+
+And he answered:
+
+At the city gate and by your fireside
+I have seen you prostrate yourself and
+worship your own freedom,
+
+Even as slaves humble themselves before
+a tyrant and praise him though he slays
+them.
+
+Ay, in the grove of the temple and in
+the shadow of the citadel I have seen
+the freest among you wear their freedom
+as a yoke and a handcuff.
+
+And my heart bled within me; for you
+can only be free when even the desire
+of seeking freedom becomes a harness
+to you, and when you cease to speak of
+freedom as a goal and a fulfilment.
+
+You shall be free indeed when your
+days are not without a care nor your
+nights without a want and a grief,
+
+But rather when these things girdle your
+life and yet you rise above them naked
+and unbound.
+
+*****
+
+And how shall you rise beyond your days
+and nights unless you break the
+chains which you at the dawn of your
+understanding have fastened around your
+noon hour?
+
+In truth that which you call freedom is
+the strongest of these chains, though
+its links glitter in the sun and dazzle
+your eyes.
+
+And what is it but fragments of your
+own self you would discard that you may
+become free?
+
+If it is an unjust law you would
+abolish, that law was written with your
+own hand upon your own forehead.
+
+You cannot erase it by burning your law
+books nor by washing the foreheads of
+your judges, though you pour the sea
+upon them.
+
+And if it is a despot you would
+dethrone, see first that his throne
+erected within you is destroyed.
+
+For how can a tyrant rule the free and
+the proud, but for a tyranny in their
+own freedom and a shame in their own
+pride?
+
+And if it is a care you would cast off,
+that cart has been chosen by you rather
+than imposed upon you.
+
+And if it is a fear you would dispel,
+the seat of that fear is in your heart
+and not in the hand of the feared.
+
+*****
+
+Verily all things move within your being
+in constant half embrace, the desired
+and the dreaded, the repugnant and the
+cherished, the pursued and that which
+you would escape.
+
+These things move within you as lights
+and shadows in pairs that cling.
+
+And when the shadow fades and is no
+more, the light that lingers becomes a
+shadow to another light.
+
+And thus your freedom when it loses its
+fetters becomes itself the fetter of a
+greater freedom.
+
+***** *****
+
+And the priestess spoke again
+and said: Speak to us of _Reason and
+Passion_.
+
+And he answered, saying:
+
+Your soul is oftentimes a battlefield,
+upon which your reason and your judgment
+wage war against your passion and your
+appetite.
+
+Would that I could be the peacemaker in
+your soul, that I might turn the discord
+and the rivalry of your elements into
+oneness and melody.
+
+But how shall I, unless you yourselves
+be also the peacemakers, nay, the lovers
+of all your elements?
+
+Your reason and your passion are the
+rudder and the sails of your seafaring
+soul.
+
+If either your sails or your rudder be
+broken, you can but toss and drift,
+or else be held at a standstill in
+mid-seas.
+
+For reason, ruling alone, is a force confining; and passion,
+unattended, is a flame that burns to its
+own destruction.
+
+Therefore let your soul exalt your
+reason to the height of passion, that it
+may sing;
+
+And let it direct your passion with
+reason, that your passion may live
+through its own daily resurrection,
+and like the phoenix rise above its own
+ashes.
+
+*****
+
+I would have you consider your judgment
+and your appetite even as you would two
+loved guests in your house.
+
+Surely you would not honour one guest
+above the other; for he who is more
+mindful of one loses the love and the
+faith of both
+
+Among the hills, when you sit in the
+cool shade of the white poplars, sharing
+the peace and serenity of distant fields
+and meadows--then let your heart say in
+silence, “God rests in reason.”
+
+And when the storm comes, and the
+mighty wind shakes the forest,
+and thunder and lightning proclaim the
+majesty of the sky,--then let your heart
+say in awe, “God moves in passion.”
+
+And since you are a breath in God’s
+sphere, and a leaf in God’s forest, you
+too should rest in reason and move in
+passion.
+
+***** *****
+
+And a woman spoke, saying, Tell us
+of _Pain_.
+
+And he said:
+
+Your pain is the breaking of the shell
+that encloses your understanding.
+
+Even as the stone of the fruit must
+break, that its heart may stand in the
+sun, so must you know pain.
+
+And could you keep your heart in wonder
+at the daily miracles of your life, your
+pain would not seem less wondrous than
+your joy;
+
+And you would accept the seasons of your
+heart, even as you have always accepted
+the seasons that pass over your fields.
+
+And you would watch with serenity
+through the winters of your grief.
+
+Much of your pain is self-chosen.
+
+It is the bitter potion by which the
+physician within you heals your sick
+self.
+
+Therefore trust the physician, and drink
+his remedy in silence and tranquillity:
+For his hand, though heavy and hard, is
+guided by the tender hand of the Unseen,
+And the cup he brings, though it burn
+your lips, has been fashioned of the
+clay which the Potter has moistened with
+His own sacred tears.
+
+***** *****
+
+And a man said, Speak to us of
+_Self-Knowledge_.
+
+And he answered, saying:
+
+Your hearts know in silence the secrets
+of the days and the nights.
+
+But your ears thirst for the sound of
+your heart’s knowledge.
+
+You would know in words that which you
+have always known in thought.
+
+You would touch with your fingers the
+naked body of your dreams.
+
+And it is well you should.
+
+The hidden well-spring of your soul must
+needs rise and run murmuring to the sea;
+
+And the treasure of your infinite depths
+would be revealed to your eyes.
+
+But let there be no scales to weigh your
+unknown treasure;
+
+And seek not the depths of your
+knowledge with staff or sounding
+line.
+
+For self is a sea boundless and
+measureless.
+
+*****
+
+Say not, “I have found the truth,” but
+rather, “I have found a truth.”
+
+Say not, “I have found the path of the
+soul.” Say rather, “I have met the soul
+walking upon my path.”
+
+For the soul walks upon all paths.
+
+The soul walks not upon a line, neither
+does it grow like a reed.
+
+The soul unfolds itself, like a lotus of
+countless petals.
+
+[Illustration: 0083]
+
+***** *****
+
+Then said a teacher, Speak to us of
+_Teaching_.
+
+And he said:
+
+“No man can reveal to you aught but that
+which already lies half asleep in the
+dawning of your knowledge.
+
+The teacher who walks in the shadow of
+the temple, among his followers, gives
+not of his wisdom but rather of his
+faith and his lovingness.
+
+If he is indeed wise he does not bid
+you enter the house of his wisdom, but
+rather leads you to the threshold of
+your own mind.
+
+The astronomer may speak to you of his
+understanding of space, but he cannot
+give you his understanding.
+
+The musician may sing to you of the
+rhythm which is in all space, but he
+cannot give you the ear which arrests
+the rhythm nor the voice that echoes it.
+
+And he who is versed in the science
+of numbers can tell of the regions
+of weight and measure, but he cannot
+conduct you thither.
+
+For the vision of one man lends not its
+wings to another man.
+
+And even as each one of you stands alone
+in God’s knowledge, so must each one of
+you be alone in his knowledge of God and
+in his understanding of the earth.
+
+***** *****
+
+And a youth said, Speak to us of
+_Friendship_.
+
+And he answered, saying:
+
+Your friend is your needs answered.
+
+He is your field which you sow with love
+and reap with thanksgiving.
+
+And he is your board and your fireside.
+
+For you come to him with your hunger,
+and you seek him for peace.
+
+When your friend speaks his mind you
+fear not the “nay” in your own mind, nor
+do you withhold the “ay.”
+
+And when he is silent your heart ceases
+not to listen to his heart;
+
+For without words, in friendship, all
+thoughts, all desires, all expectations
+are born and shared, with joy that is
+unacclaimed.
+
+When you part from your friend, you
+grieve not;
+
+For that which you love most in him
+may be clearer in his absence, as the
+mountain to the climber is clearer
+from the plain.
+
+And let there be no purpose in friendship save the deepening
+of the spirit.
+
+For love that seeks aught but the
+disclosure of its own mystery is not
+love but a net cast forth: and only the
+unprofitable is caught.
+
+*****
+
+And let your best be for your friend.
+
+If he must know the ebb of your tide,
+let him know its flood also.
+
+For what is your friend that you should
+seek him with hours to kill?
+
+Seek him always with hours to live.
+
+For it is his to fill your need, but not
+your emptiness.
+
+And in the sweetness of friendship
+let there be laughter, and sharing of
+pleasures.
+
+For in the dew of little things
+the heart finds its morning and is
+refreshed.
+
+***** *****
+
+And then a scholar said, Speak of _Talking_.
+
+And he answered, saying:
+
+You talk when you cease to be at peace
+with your thoughts;
+
+And when you can no longer dwell in the
+solitude of your heart you live in your
+lips, and sound is a diversion and a
+pastime.
+
+And in much of your talking, thinking is
+half murdered.
+
+For thought is a bird of space, that in
+a cage of words may indeed unfold its
+wings but cannot fly.
+
+There are those among you who seek the
+talkative through fear of being alone.
+
+The silence of aloneness reveals to
+their eyes their naked selves and they
+would escape.
+
+And there are those who talk, and
+without knowledge or forethought reveal
+a truth which they themselves do not
+understand.
+
+And there are those who have the truth
+within them, but they tell it not in
+words.
+
+In the bosom of such as these the spirit
+dwells in rhythmic silence.
+
+*****
+
+When you meet your friend on the
+roadside or in the market place, let the
+spirit in you move your lips and direct
+your tongue.
+
+Let the voice within your voice speak to
+the ear of his ear;
+
+For his soul will keep the truth of
+your heart as the taste of the wine is
+remembered
+
+When the colour is forgotten and the
+vessel is no more.
+
+***** *****
+
+And an astronomer said, Master, what of _Time_?
+
+And he answered:
+
+You would measure time the measureless
+and the immeasurable.
+
+You would adjust your conduct and
+even direct the course of your spirit
+according to hours and seasons.
+
+Of time you would make a stream upon
+whose bank you would sit and watch its
+flowing.
+
+Yet the timeless in you is aware of
+life’s timelessness,
+
+And knows that yesterday is but today’s
+memory and tomorrow is today’s dream.
+
+And that that which sings and
+contemplates in you is still dwelling
+within the bounds of that first moment
+which scattered the stars into space.
+
+Who among you does not feel that his
+power to love is boundless?
+
+And yet who does not feel that very
+love, though boundless, encompassed
+within the centre of his being, and
+moving not from love thought to love
+thought, nor from love deeds to other
+love deeds?
+
+And is not time even as love is,
+undivided and paceless?
+
+*****
+
+But if in your thought you must measure
+time into seasons, let each season
+encircle all the other seasons,
+
+And let today embrace the past with
+remembrance and the future with longing.
+
+***** *****
+
+And one of the elders of the city
+said, Speak to us of _Good and Evil_.
+
+And he answered:
+
+Of the good in you I can speak, but not
+of the evil.
+
+For what is evil but good tortured by
+its own hunger and thirst?
+
+Verily when good is hungry it seeks food
+even in dark caves, and when it thirsts
+it drinks even of dead waters.
+
+You are good when you are one with
+yourself.
+
+Yet when you are not one with yourself
+you are not evil.
+
+For a divided house is not a den of
+thieves; it is only a divided house.
+
+And a ship without rudder may wander
+aimlessly among perilous isles yet sink
+not to the bottom.
+
+You are good when
+you strive to give of yourself.
+
+Yet you are not evil when you seek gain
+for yourself.
+
+For when you strive for gain you are
+but a root that clings to the earth and
+sucks at her breast.
+
+Surely the fruit cannot say to the root,
+“Be like me, ripe and full and ever
+giving of your abundance.”
+
+For to the fruit giving is a need, as
+receiving is a need to the root.
+
+*****
+
+You are good when you are fully awake in
+your speech,
+
+Yet you are not evil when you sleep
+while your tongue staggers without
+purpose.
+
+And even stumbling speech may strengthen
+a weak tongue.
+
+You are good when you walk to your goal
+firmly and with bold steps.
+
+Yet you are not evil when you go thither
+limping.
+
+Even those who limp go not backward.
+
+But you who are strong and swift, see
+that you do not limp before the lame,
+deeming it kindness.
+
+*****
+
+You are good in countless ways, and you
+are not evil when you are not good,
+
+You are only loitering and sluggard.
+
+Pity that the stags cannot teach
+swiftness to the turtles.
+
+In your longing for your giant self lies
+your goodness: and that longing is in
+all of you.
+
+But in some of you that longing is a
+torrent rushing with might to the sea,
+carrying the secrets of the hillsides
+and the songs of the forest.
+
+And in others it is a flat stream that
+loses itself in angles and bends and
+lingers before it reaches the shore.
+
+But let not him who longs much say to
+him who longs little, “Wherefore are
+you slow and halting?”
+
+For the truly good ask not the naked,
+“Where is your garment?” nor the
+houseless, “What has befallen your
+house?”
+
+***** *****
+
+Then a priestess said, Speak to us
+of _Prayer_.
+
+And he answered, saying:
+
+You pray in your distress and in your
+need; would that you might pray also
+in the fullness of your joy and in your
+days of abundance.
+
+For what is prayer but the expansion of
+yourself into the living ether?
+
+And if it is for your comfort to pour
+your darkness into space, it is also for
+your delight to pour forth the dawning
+of your heart.
+
+And if you cannot but weep when your
+soul summons you to prayer, she should
+spur you again and yet again, though
+weeping, until you shall come laughing.
+
+When you pray you rise to meet in the
+air those who are praying at that very
+hour, and whom save in prayer you
+may not meet.
+
+Therefore let your visit to that temple
+invisible be for naught but ecstasy and
+sweet communion.
+
+For if you should enter the temple for
+no other purpose than asking you shall
+not receive:
+
+And if you should enter into it to
+humble yourself you shall not be lifted:
+
+Or even if you should enter into it to
+beg for the good of others you shall not
+be heard.
+
+It is enough that you enter the temple
+invisible.
+
+*****
+
+I cannot teach you how to pray in words.
+
+God listens not to your words save when
+He Himself utters them through your
+lips.
+
+And I cannot teach you the prayer of the
+seas and the forests and the mountains.
+
+But you who are born of the
+mountains and the forests and the seas
+can find their prayer in your heart,
+
+And if you but listen in the stillness
+of the night you shall hear them saying
+in silence,
+
+“Our God, who art our winged self, it is
+thy will in us that willeth.
+
+It is thy desire in us that desireth.
+
+It is thy urge in us that would turn our
+nights, which are thine, into days which
+are thine also.
+
+We cannot ask thee for aught, for thou
+knowest our needs before they are born
+in us:
+
+Thou art our need; and in giving us more
+of thyself thou givest us all.”
+
+[Illustration: 0100]
+
+***** *****
+
+Then a hermit, who visited the city
+once a year, came forth and said, Speak
+to us of _Pleasure_.
+
+And he answered, saying:
+
+Pleasure is a freedom-song,
+
+But it is not freedom.
+
+It is the blossoming of your desires,
+
+But it is not their fruit.
+
+It is a depth calling unto a height,
+
+But it is not the deep nor the high.
+
+It is the caged taking wing,
+
+But it is not space encompassed.
+
+Ay, in very truth, pleasure is a
+freedom-song.
+
+And I fain would have you sing it with
+fullness of heart; yet I would not have
+you lose your hearts in the singing.
+
+Some of your youth seek pleasure as if
+it were all, and they are judged and
+rebuked.
+
+I would not judge nor
+rebuke them. I would have them seek.
+
+For they shall find pleasure, but not
+her alone;
+
+Seven are her sisters, and the least of
+them is more beautiful than pleasure.
+
+Have you not heard of the man who was
+digging in the earth for roots and found
+a treasure?
+
+*****
+
+And some of your elders remember
+pleasures with regret like wrongs
+committed in drunkenness.
+
+But regret is the beclouding of the mind
+and not its chastisement.
+
+They should remember their pleasures
+with gratitude, as they would the
+harvest of a summer.
+
+Yet if it comforts them to regret, let
+them be comforted.
+
+And there are among you those who
+are neither young to seek nor old to
+remember;
+
+And in their fear of seeking and
+remembering they shun all pleasures,
+lest they neglect the spirit or offend
+against it.
+
+But even in their foregoing is their
+pleasure.
+
+And thus they too find a treasure though
+they dig for roots with quivering hands.
+
+But tell me, who is he that can offend
+the spirit?
+
+Shall the nightingale offend the
+stillness of the night, or the firefly
+the stars?
+
+And shall your flame or your smoke
+burden the wind?
+
+Think you the spirit is a still pool
+which you can trouble with a staff?
+
+*****
+
+Oftentimes in denying yourself pleasure
+you do but store the desire in the
+recesses of your being.
+
+Who knows but that which seems omitted
+today, waits for tomorrow?
+
+Even your body knows its heritage
+and its rightful need and will not be
+deceived.
+
+And your body is the harp of your soul,
+
+And it is yours to bring forth sweet
+music from it or confused sounds.
+
+*****
+
+And now you ask in your heart, “How
+shall we distinguish that which is
+good in pleasure from that which is not
+good?”
+
+Go to your fields and your gardens, and
+you shall learn that it is the pleasure
+of the bee to gather honey of the
+flower,
+
+But it is also the pleasure of the
+flower to yield its honey to the bee.
+
+For to the bee a flower is a fountain of
+life,
+
+And to the flower a bee is a messenger
+of love,
+
+And to both, bee and flower, the giving
+and the receiving of pleasure is a need
+and an ecstasy.
+
+People of Orphalese, be in your
+pleasures like the flowers and the bees.
+
+***** *****
+
+And a poet said, Speak to us of
+_Beauty_.
+
+And he answered:
+
+Where shall you seek beauty, and how
+shall you find her unless she herself be
+your way and your guide?
+
+And how shall you speak of her except
+she be the weaver of your speech?
+
+The aggrieved and the injured say,
+“Beauty is kind and gentle.
+
+Like a young mother half-shy of her own
+glory she walks among us.”
+
+And the passionate say, “Nay, beauty is
+a thing of might and dread.
+
+Like the tempest she shakes the earth
+beneath us and the sky above us.”
+
+The tired and the weary say, “Beauty is
+of soft whisperings. She speaks in our
+spirit.
+
+Her voice yields to our
+silences like a faint light that quivers
+in fear of the shadow.”
+
+But the restless say, “We have heard her
+shouting among the mountains,
+
+And with her cries came the sound of
+hoofs, and the beating of wings and the
+roaring of lions.”
+
+At night the watchmen of the city say,
+“Beauty shall rise with the dawn from
+the east.”
+
+And at noontide the toilers and the
+wayfarers say, “We have seen her leaning
+over the earth from the windows of the
+sunset.”
+
+*****
+
+In winter say the snow-bound, “She shall
+come with the spring leaping upon the
+hills.”
+
+And in the summer heat the reapers
+say, “We have seen her dancing with the
+autumn leaves, and we saw a drift of
+snow in her hair.”
+
+All these things have you said of beauty,
+
+Yet in truth you spoke not of her but of
+needs unsatisfied,
+
+And beauty is not a need but an ecstasy.
+
+It is not a mouth thirsting nor an empty
+hand stretched forth,
+
+But rather a heart enflamed and a soul
+enchanted.
+
+It is not the image you would see nor
+the song you would hear,
+
+But rather an image you see though you
+close your eyes and a song you hear
+though you shut your ears.
+
+It is not the sap within the furrowed
+bark, nor a wing attached to a claw,
+
+But rather a garden for ever in bloom
+and a flock of angels for ever in
+flight.
+
+*****
+
+People of Orphalese, beauty is life when
+life unveils her holy face.
+
+But you are life and you are the veil.
+
+Beauty is eternity gazing at itself in a mirror.
+
+But you are eternity and you are the
+mirror.
+
+***** *****
+
+And an old priest said, Speak to us
+of _Religion_.
+
+And he said:
+
+Have I spoken this day of aught else?
+
+Is not religion all deeds and all
+reflection,
+
+And that which is neither deed nor
+reflection, but a wonder and a surprise
+ever springing in the soul, even while
+the hands hew the stone or tend the
+loom?
+
+Who can separate his faith from
+his actions, or his belief from his
+occupations?
+
+Who can spread his hours before him,
+saying, “This for God and this for
+myself; This for my soul, and this other
+for my body?”
+
+All your hours are wings that beat
+through space from self to self.
+
+He who wears his morality but as his best
+garment were better naked.
+
+The wind and the sun will tear no holes
+in his skin.
+
+And he who defines his conduct by ethics
+imprisons his song-bird in a cage.
+
+The freest song comes not through bars
+and wires.
+
+And he to whom worshipping is a window,
+to open but also to shut, has not yet
+visited the house of his soul whose
+windows are from dawn to dawn.
+
+*****
+
+Your daily life is your temple and your
+religion.
+
+Whenever you enter into it take with you
+your all.
+
+Take the plough and the forge and the
+mallet and the lute,
+
+The things you have fashioned in
+necessity or for delight.
+
+For in revery you cannot rise above your
+achievements nor fall lower than your
+failures.
+
+And take with you all men:
+
+For in adoration you cannot fly higher than
+their hopes nor humble yourself lower
+than their despair.
+
+*****
+
+And if you would know God be not
+therefore a solver of riddles.
+
+Rather look about you and you shall see
+Him playing with your children.
+
+And look into space; you shall see Him
+walking in the cloud, outstretching His
+arms in the lightning and descending in
+rain.
+
+You shall see Him smiling in flowers,
+then rising and waving His hands in
+trees.
+
+***** *****
+
+Then Almitra spoke, saying, We would ask now of _Death_.
+
+And he said:
+
+You would know the secret of death.
+
+But how shall you find it unless you
+seek it in the heart of life?
+
+The owl whose night-bound eyes are blind
+unto the day cannot unveil the mystery
+of light.
+
+If you would indeed behold the spirit
+of death, open your heart wide unto the
+body of life.
+
+For life and death are one, even as the
+river and the sea are one.
+
+In the depth of your hopes and desires
+lies your silent knowledge of the
+beyond;
+
+And like seeds dreaming beneath the snow
+your heart dreams of spring.
+
+Trust the dreams, for in them is hidden
+the gate to eternity.
+
+Your fear of death is but the trembling of the
+shepherd when he stands before the king
+whose hand is to be laid upon him in
+honour.
+
+Is the shepherd not joyful beneath his
+trembling, that he shall wear the mark
+of the king?
+
+Yet is he not more mindful of his
+trembling?
+
+*****
+
+For what is it to die but to stand naked
+in the wind and to melt into the sun?
+
+And what is it to cease breathing, but
+to free the breath from its restless
+tides, that it may rise and expand and
+seek God unencumbered?
+
+Only when you drink from the river of
+silence shall you indeed sing.
+
+And when you have reached the mountain
+top, then you shall begin to climb.
+
+And when the earth shall claim your
+limbs, then shall you truly dance.
+
+
+
+
+And now it was evening.
+
+And Almitra the seeress said, Blessed be
+this day and this place and your spirit
+that has spoken.
+
+And he answered, Was it I who spoke? Was
+I not also a listener?
+
+*****
+
+Then he descended the steps of the
+Temple and all the people followed him.
+And he reached his ship and stood upon
+the deck.
+
+And facing the people again, he raised
+his voice and said:
+
+People of Orphalese, the wind bids me
+leave you.
+
+Less hasty am I than the wind, yet I
+must go.
+
+We wanderers, ever seeking the lonelier
+way, begin no day where we have ended
+another day; and no sunrise finds us
+where sunset left us.
+
+Even while the earth sleeps we travel.
+
+We are the seeds of the tenacious
+plant, and it is in our ripeness and our
+fullness of heart that we are given to
+the wind and are scattered.
+
+*****
+
+Brief were my days among you, and
+briefer still the words I have spoken.
+
+But should my voice fade in your ears,
+and my love vanish in your memory, then
+I will come again,
+
+And with a richer heart and lips more
+yielding to the spirit will I speak.
+
+Yea, I shall return with the tide,
+
+And though death may hide me, and the
+greater silence enfold me, yet again
+will I seek your understanding.
+
+And not in vain will I seek.
+
+If aught I have said is truth, that
+truth shall reveal itself in a clearer
+voice, and in words more kin to your
+thoughts.
+
+I go with the wind, people of
+Orphalese, but not down into emptiness;
+
+And if this day is not a fulfilment
+of your needs and my love, then let it
+be a promise till another day.
+
+Man’s needs change, but not his love,
+nor his desire that his love should
+satisfy his needs.
+
+Know therefore, that from the greater
+silence I shall return.
+
+The mist that drifts away at dawn,
+leaving but dew in the fields, shall
+rise and gather into a cloud and then
+fall down in rain.
+
+And not unlike the mist have I been.
+
+In the stillness of the night I have
+walked in your streets, and my spirit
+has entered your houses,
+
+And your heart-beats were in my heart,
+and your breath was upon my face, and I
+knew you all.
+
+Ay, I knew your joy and your pain,
+and in your sleep your dreams were my
+dreams.
+
+And oftentimes I was among you a lake
+among the mountains.
+
+I mirrored the summits in you and the
+bending slopes, and even the
+passing flocks of your thoughts and your
+desires.
+
+And to my silence came the laughter
+of your children in streams, and the
+longing of your youths in rivers.
+
+And when they reached my depth the
+streams and the rivers ceased not yet to
+sing.
+
+[Illustration: 0119]
+
+But sweeter still than laughter and
+greater than longing came to me.
+
+It was the boundless in you;
+
+The vast man in whom you are all but
+cells and sinews;
+
+He in whose chant all your singing is
+but a soundless throbbing.
+
+It is in the vast man that you are vast,
+
+And in beholding him that I beheld you
+and loved you.
+
+For what distances can love reach that
+are not in that vast sphere?
+
+What visions, what expectations and what
+presumptions can outsoar that flight?
+
+Like a giant oak tree covered with apple
+blossoms is the vast man in you.
+
+His might binds you to the earth, his
+fragrance lifts you into space, and in
+his durability you are deathless.
+
+*****
+
+You have been told that, even like a
+chain, you are as weak as your weakest
+link.
+
+This is but half the truth. You are also
+as strong as your strongest link.
+
+To measure you by your smallest deed
+is to reckon the power of ocean by the
+frailty of its foam.
+
+To judge you by your failures is to
+cast blame upon the seasons for their
+inconstancy.
+
+Ay, you are like an ocean,
+
+And though heavy-grounded ships await
+the tide upon your shores, yet, even
+like an ocean, you cannot hasten your
+tides.
+
+And like the seasons you are also,
+
+And though in your winter you deny your
+spring,
+
+Yet spring, reposing within you, smiles
+in her drowsiness and is not offended.
+
+Think not I say these things in
+order that you may say the one to the
+other, “He praised us well. He saw but
+the good in us.”
+
+I only speak to you in words of that
+which you yourselves know in thought.
+
+And what is word knowledge but a shadow
+of wordless knowledge?
+
+Your thoughts and my words are waves
+from a sealed memory that keeps records
+of our yesterdays,
+
+And of the ancient days when the earth
+knew not us nor herself,
+
+And of nights when earth was up-wrought
+with confusion.
+
+*****
+
+Wise men have come to you to give you
+of their wisdom. I came to take of your
+wisdom:
+
+And behold I have found that which is
+greater than wisdom.
+
+It is a flame spirit in you ever
+gathering more of itself,
+
+While you, heedless of its expansion,
+bewail the withering of your days.
+
+It is life in quest of life in
+bodies that fear the grave.
+
+*****
+
+There are no graves here.
+
+These mountains and plains are a cradle
+and a stepping-stone.
+
+Whenever you pass by the field where
+you have laid your ancestors look well
+thereupon, and you shall see yourselves
+and your children dancing hand in hand.
+
+Verily you often make merry without
+knowing.
+
+Others have come to you to whom for
+golden promises made unto your faith
+you have given but riches and power and
+glory.
+
+Less than a promise have I given, and
+yet more generous have you been to me.
+
+You have given me my deeper thirsting
+after life.
+
+Surely there is no greater gift to a man
+than that which turns all his aims
+into parching lips and all life into a
+fountain.
+
+[Illustration: 0125]
+
+And in this lies my honour and my reward,--
+
+That whenever I come to the fountain
+to drink I find the living water itself
+thirsty;
+
+And it drinks me while I drink it.
+
+*****
+
+Some of you have deemed me proud and
+over-shy to receive gifts.
+
+Too proud indeed am I to receive wages,
+but not gifts.
+
+And though I have eaten berries among
+the hills when you would have had me sit
+at your board,
+
+And slept in the portico of the temple
+when you would gladly have sheltered me,
+
+Yet was it not your loving mindfulness
+of my days and my nights that made food
+sweet to my mouth and girdled my sleep
+with visions?
+
+For this I bless you most:
+
+You give much and know not that you give
+at all.
+
+Verily the kindness that gazes upon itself in a mirror turns to
+stone,
+
+And a good deed that calls itself by
+tender names becomes the parent to a
+curse.
+
+*****
+
+And some of you have called me aloof,
+and drunk with my own aloneness,
+
+And you have said, “He holds council
+with the trees of the forest, but not
+with men.
+
+He sits alone on hill-tops and looks
+down upon our city.”
+
+True it is that I have climbed the hills
+and walked in remote places.
+
+How could I have seen you save from a
+great height or a great distance?
+
+How can one be indeed near unless he be
+far?
+
+And others among you called unto me, not
+in words, and they said,
+
+“Stranger, stranger, lover of
+unreachable heights, why dwell you among
+the summits where eagles build
+their nests?
+
+Why seek you the unattainable?
+
+What storms would you trap in your net,
+
+And what vaporous birds do you hunt in
+the sky?
+
+Come and be one of us.
+
+Descend and appease your hunger with our
+bread and quench your thirst with our
+wine.”
+
+In the solitude of their souls they said
+these things;
+
+But were their solitude deeper they
+would have known that I sought but the
+secret of your joy and your pain,
+
+And I hunted only your larger selves
+that walk the sky.
+
+*****
+
+But the hunter was also the hunted;
+
+For many of my arrows left my bow only
+to seek my own breast.
+
+And the flier was also the creeper;
+
+For when my wings were spread in the
+sun their shadow upon the earth was a
+turtle.
+
+And I the believer was also the doubter;
+
+For often have I put my finger
+in my own wound that I might have the
+greater belief in you and the greater
+knowledge of you.
+
+*****
+
+And it is with this belief and this
+knowledge that I say,
+
+You are not enclosed within your bodies,
+nor confined to houses or fields.
+
+That which is you dwells above the
+mountain and roves with the wind.
+
+It is not a thing that crawls into
+the sun for warmth or digs holes into
+darkness for safety,
+
+But a thing free, a spirit that envelops
+the earth and moves in the ether.
+
+If these be vague words, then seek not
+to clear them.
+
+Vague and nebulous is the beginning of
+all things, but not their end,
+
+And I fain would have you remember me as
+a beginning.
+
+Life, and all that lives, is conceived
+in the mist and not in the crystal.
+
+And who knows but a crystal is mist in decay?
+
+*****
+
+This would I have you remember in
+remembering me:
+
+That which seems most feeble and
+bewildered in you is the strongest and
+most determined.
+
+Is it not your breath that has erected
+and hardened the structure of your
+bones?
+
+And is it not a dream which none of you
+remember having dreamt, that builded
+your city and fashioned all there is in
+it?
+
+Could you but see the tides of that
+breath you would cease to see all else,
+
+And if you could hear the whispering of
+the dream you would hear no other sound.
+
+But you do not see, nor do you hear, and
+it is well.
+
+The veil that clouds your eyes shall be
+lifted by the hands that wove it,
+
+And the clay that fills your ears shall
+be pierced by those fingers that kneaded
+it.
+
+And you shall see.
+
+And you shall hear.
+
+Yet you shall not deplore having known
+blindness, nor regret having been deaf.
+
+For in that day you shall know the
+hidden purposes in all things,
+
+And you shall bless darkness as you
+would bless light.
+
+After saying these things he looked
+about him, and he saw the pilot of his
+ship standing by the helm and gazing
+now at the full sails and now at the
+distance.
+
+And he said:
+
+Patient, over patient, is the captain of
+my ship.
+
+The wind blows, and restless are the
+sails;
+
+Even the rudder begs direction;
+
+Yet quietly my captain awaits my
+silence.
+
+And these my mariners, who have heard
+the choir of the greater sea, they too
+have heard me patiently.
+
+Now they shall wait no longer.
+
+I am ready.
+
+The stream has reached the sea, and
+once more the great mother holds her son
+against her breast.
+
+*****
+
+Fare you well, people of Orphalese.
+
+This day has ended.
+
+It is closing upon us even as the
+water-lily upon its own tomorrow.
+
+What was given us here we shall keep,
+
+And if it suffices not, then again must
+we come together and together stretch
+our hands unto the giver.
+
+Forget not that I shall come back to
+you.
+
+A little while, and my longing shall
+gather dust and foam for another body.
+
+A little while, a moment of rest upon
+the wind, and another woman shall bear
+me.
+
+Farewell to you and the youth I have
+spent with you.
+
+It was but yesterday we met in a
+dream.
+
+You have sung to me in my
+aloneness, and I of your longings have
+built a tower in the sky.
+
+But now our sleep has fled and our dream
+is over, and it is no longer dawn.
+
+The noontide is upon us and our half
+waking has turned to fuller day, and we
+must part.
+
+If in the twilight of memory we should
+meet once more, we shall speak again
+together and you shall sing to me a
+deeper song.
+
+And if our hands should meet in another
+dream we shall build another tower in
+the sky.
+
+*****
+
+So saying he made a signal to the
+seamen, and straightway they weighed
+anchor and cast the ship loose from its
+moorings, and they moved eastward.
+
+And a cry came from the people as from a
+single heart, and it rose into the dusk
+and was carried out over the sea like a
+great trumpeting.
+
+Only Almitra was silent, gazing after
+the ship until it had vanished into
+the mist.
+
+And when all the people were dispersed
+she still stood alone upon the sea-wall,
+remembering in her heart his saying,
+
+“A little while, a moment of rest upon
+the wind, and another woman shall bear
+me.”
+
+[Illustration: 0134]
+
+
+*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 58585 ***

books/The_Yellow_Wallpaper_by_Charlotte_Perkins_Gilman(33KB).txt

@@ -0,0 +1,849 @@
+*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 1952 ***
+
+
+
+
+The Yellow Wallpaper
+
+By Charlotte Perkins Gilman
+
+
+It is very seldom that mere ordinary people like John and myself secure
+ancestral halls for the summer.
+
+A colonial mansion, a hereditary estate, I would say a haunted house,
+and reach the height of romantic felicity—but that would be asking too
+much of fate!
+
+Still I will proudly declare that there is something queer about it.
+
+Else, why should it be let so cheaply? And why have stood so long
+untenanted?
+
+John laughs at me, of course, but one expects that in marriage.
+
+John is practical in the extreme. He has no patience with faith, an
+intense horror of superstition, and he scoffs openly at any talk of
+things not to be felt and seen and put down in figures.
+
+John is a physician, and perhaps—(I would not say it to a living soul,
+of course, but this is dead paper and a great relief to my
+mind)—perhaps that is one reason I do not get well faster.
+
+You see, he does not believe I am sick!
+
+And what can one do?
+
+If a physician of high standing, and one’s own husband, assures friends
+and relatives that there is really nothing the matter with one but
+temporary nervous depression—a slight hysterical tendency—what is one
+to do?
+
+My brother is also a physician, and also of high standing, and he says
+the same thing.
+
+So I take phosphates or phosphites—whichever it is, and tonics, and
+journeys, and air, and exercise, and am absolutely forbidden to “work”
+until I am well again.
+
+Personally, I disagree with their ideas.
+
+Personally, I believe that congenial work, with excitement and change,
+would do me good.
+
+But what is one to do?
+
+I did write for a while in spite of them; but it does exhaust me a good
+deal—having to be so sly about it, or else meet with heavy opposition.
+
+I sometimes fancy that in my condition if I had less opposition and
+more society and stimulus—but John says the very worst thing I can do
+is to think about my condition, and I confess it always makes me feel
+bad.
+
+So I will let it alone and talk about the house.
+
+The most beautiful place! It is quite alone, standing well back from
+the road, quite three miles from the village. It makes me think of
+English places that you read about, for there are hedges and walls and
+gates that lock, and lots of separate little houses for the gardeners
+and people.
+
+There is a delicious garden! I never saw such a garden—large and shady,
+full of box-bordered paths, and lined with long grape-covered arbors
+with seats under them.
+
+There were greenhouses, too, but they are all broken now.
+
+There was some legal trouble, I believe, something about the heirs and
+co-heirs; anyhow, the place has been empty for years.
+
+That spoils my ghostliness, I am afraid; but I don’t care—there is
+something strange about the house—I can feel it.
+
+I even said so to John one moonlight evening, but he said what I felt
+was a draught, and shut the window.
+
+I get unreasonably angry with John sometimes. I’m sure I never used to
+be so sensitive. I think it is due to this nervous condition.
+
+But John says if I feel so I shall neglect proper self-control; so I
+take pains to control myself,—before him, at least,—and that makes me
+very tired.
+
+I don’t like our room a bit. I wanted one downstairs that opened on the
+piazza and had roses all over the window, and such pretty old-fashioned
+chintz hangings! but John would not hear of it.
+
+He said there was only one window and not room for two beds, and no
+near room for him if he took another.
+
+He is very careful and loving, and hardly lets me stir without special
+direction.
+
+I have a schedule prescription for each hour in the day; he takes all
+care from me, and so I feel basely ungrateful not to value it more.
+
+He said we came here solely on my account, that I was to have perfect
+rest and all the air I could get. “Your exercise depends on your
+strength, my dear,” said he, “and your food somewhat on your appetite;
+but air you can absorb all the time.” So we took the nursery, at the
+top of the house.
+
+It is a big, airy room, the whole floor nearly, with windows that look
+all ways, and air and sunshine galore. It was nursery first and then
+playground and gymnasium, I should judge; for the windows are barred
+for little children, and there are rings and things in the walls.
+
+The paint and paper look as if a boys’ school had used it. It is
+stripped off—the paper—in great patches all around the head of my bed,
+about as far as I can reach, and in a great place on the other side of
+the room low down. I never saw a worse paper in my life.
+
+One of those sprawling flamboyant patterns committing every artistic
+sin.
+
+It is dull enough to confuse the eye in following, pronounced enough to
+constantly irritate, and provoke study, and when you follow the lame,
+uncertain curves for a little distance they suddenly commit
+suicide—plunge off at outrageous angles, destroy themselves in
+unheard-of contradictions.
+
+The color is repellant, almost revolting; a smouldering, unclean
+yellow, strangely faded by the slow-turning sunlight.
+
+It is a dull yet lurid orange in some places, a sickly sulphur tint in
+others.
+
+No wonder the children hated it! I should hate it myself if I had to
+live in this room long.
+
+There comes John, and I must put this away,—he hates to have me write a
+word.
+
+We have been here two weeks, and I haven’t felt like writing before,
+since that first day.
+
+I am sitting by the window now, up in this atrocious nursery, and there
+is nothing to hinder my writing as much as I please, save lack of
+strength.
+
+John is away all day, and even some nights when his cases are serious.
+
+I am glad my case is not serious!
+
+But these nervous troubles are dreadfully depressing.
+
+John does not know how much I really suffer. He knows there is no
+reason to suffer, and that satisfies him.
+
+Of course it is only nervousness. It does weigh on me so not to do my
+duty in any way!
+
+I meant to be such a help to John, such a real rest and comfort, and
+here I am a comparative burden already!
+
+Nobody would believe what an effort it is to do what little I am
+able—to dress and entertain, and order things.
+
+It is fortunate Mary is so good with the baby. Such a dear baby!
+
+And yet I cannot be with him, it makes me so nervous.
+
+I suppose John never was nervous in his life. He laughs at me so about
+this wallpaper!
+
+At first he meant to repaper the room, but afterwards he said that I
+was letting it get the better of me, and that nothing was worse for a
+nervous patient than to give way to such fancies.
+
+He said that after the wallpaper was changed it would be the heavy
+bedstead, and then the barred windows, and then that gate at the head
+of the stairs, and so on.
+
+“You know the place is doing you good,” he said, “and really, dear, I
+don’t care to renovate the house just for a three months’ rental.”
+
+“Then do let us go downstairs,” I said, “there are such pretty rooms
+there.”
+
+Then he took me in his arms and called me a blessed little goose, and
+said he would go down cellar if I wished, and have it whitewashed into
+the bargain.
+
+But he is right enough about the beds and windows and things.
+
+It is as airy and comfortable a room as any one need wish, and, of
+course, I would not be so silly as to make him uncomfortable just for a
+whim.
+
+I’m really getting quite fond of the big room, all but that horrid
+paper.
+
+Out of one window I can see the garden, those mysterious deep-shaded
+arbors, the riotous old-fashioned flowers, and bushes and gnarly trees.
+
+Out of another I get a lovely view of the bay and a little private
+wharf belonging to the estate. There is a beautiful shaded lane that
+runs down there from the house. I always fancy I see people walking in
+these numerous paths and arbors, but John has cautioned me not to give
+way to fancy in the least. He says that with my imaginative power and
+habit of story-making a nervous weakness like mine is sure to lead to
+all manner of excited fancies, and that I ought to use my will and good
+sense to check the tendency. So I try.
+
+I think sometimes that if I were only well enough to write a little it
+would relieve the press of ideas and rest me.
+
+But I find I get pretty tired when I try.
+
+It is so discouraging not to have any advice and companionship about my
+work. When I get really well John says we will ask Cousin Henry and
+Julia down for a long visit; but he says he would as soon put
+fire-works in my pillow-case as to let me have those stimulating people
+about now.
+
+I wish I could get well faster.
+
+But I must not think about that. This paper looks to me as if it knew
+what a vicious influence it had!
+
+There is a recurrent spot where the pattern lolls like a broken neck
+and two bulbous eyes stare at you upside-down.
+
+I get positively angry with the impertinence of it and the
+everlastingness. Up and down and sideways they crawl, and those absurd,
+unblinking eyes are everywhere. There is one place where two breadths
+didn’t match, and the eyes go all up and down the line, one a little
+higher than the other.
+
+I never saw so much expression in an inanimate thing before, and we all
+know how much expression they have! I used to lie awake as a child and
+get more entertainment and terror out of blank walls and plain
+furniture than most children could find in a toy-store.
+
+I remember what a kindly wink the knobs of our big old bureau used to
+have, and there was one chair that always seemed like a strong friend.
+
+I used to feel that if any of the other things looked too fierce I
+could always hop into that chair and be safe.
+
+The furniture in this room is no worse than inharmonious, however, for
+we had to bring it all from downstairs. I suppose when this was used as
+a playroom they had to take the nursery things out, and no wonder! I
+never saw such ravages as the children have made here.
+
+The wallpaper, as I said before, is torn off in spots, and it sticketh
+closer than a brother—they must have had perseverance as well as
+hatred.
+
+Then the floor is scratched and gouged and splintered, the plaster
+itself is dug out here and there, and this great heavy bed, which is
+all we found in the room, looks as if it had been through the wars.
+
+But I don’t mind it a bit—only the paper.
+
+There comes John’s sister. Such a dear girl as she is, and so careful
+of me! I must not let her find me writing.
+
+She is a perfect, and enthusiastic housekeeper, and hopes for no better
+profession. I verily believe she thinks it is the writing which made me
+sick!
+
+But I can write when she is out, and see her a long way off from these
+windows.
+
+There is one that commands the road, a lovely, shaded, winding road,
+and one that just looks off over the country. A lovely country, too,
+full of great elms and velvet meadows.
+
+This wallpaper has a kind of sub-pattern in a different shade, a
+particularly irritating one, for you can only see it in certain lights,
+and not clearly then.
+
+But in the places where it isn’t faded, and where the sun is just so, I
+can see a strange, provoking, formless sort of figure, that seems to
+sulk about behind that silly and conspicuous front design.
+
+There’s sister on the stairs!
+
+Well, the Fourth of July is over! The people are gone and I am tired
+out. John thought it might do me good to see a little company, so we
+just had mother and Nellie and the children down for a week.
+
+Of course I didn’t do a thing. Jennie sees to everything now.
+
+But it tired me all the same.
+
+John says if I don’t pick up faster he shall send me to Weir Mitchell
+in the fall.
+
+But I don’t want to go there at all. I had a friend who was in his
+hands once, and she says he is just like John and my brother, only more
+so!
+
+Besides, it is such an undertaking to go so far.
+
+I don’t feel as if it was worth while to turn my hand over for
+anything, and I’m getting dreadfully fretful and querulous.
+
+I cry at nothing, and cry most of the time.
+
+Of course I don’t when John is here, or anybody else, but when I am
+alone.
+
+And I am alone a good deal just now. John is kept in town very often by
+serious cases, and Jennie is good and lets me alone when I want her to.
+
+So I walk a little in the garden or down that lovely lane, sit on the
+porch under the roses, and lie down up here a good deal.
+
+I’m getting really fond of the room in spite of the wallpaper. Perhaps
+because of the wallpaper.
+
+It dwells in my mind so!
+
+I lie here on this great immovable bed—it is nailed down, I believe—and
+follow that pattern about by the hour. It is as good as gymnastics, I
+assure you. I start, we’ll say, at the bottom, down in the corner over
+there where it has not been touched, and I determine for the thousandth
+time that I will follow that pointless pattern to some sort of a
+conclusion.
+
+I know a little of the principle of design, and I know this thing was
+not arranged on any laws of radiation, or alternation, or repetition,
+or symmetry, or anything else that I ever heard of.
+
+It is repeated, of course, by the breadths, but not otherwise.
+
+Looked at in one way each breadth stands alone, the bloated curves and
+flourishes—a kind of “debased Romanesque” with delirium tremens—go
+waddling up and down in isolated columns of fatuity.
+
+But, on the other hand, they connect diagonally, and the sprawling
+outlines run off in great slanting waves of optic horror, like a lot of
+wallowing seaweeds in full chase.
+
+The whole thing goes horizontally, too, at least it seems so, and I
+exhaust myself in trying to distinguish the order of its going in that
+direction.
+
+They have used a horizontal breadth for a frieze, and that adds
+wonderfully to the confusion.
+
+There is one end of the room where it is almost intact, and there, when
+the cross-lights fade and the low sun shines directly upon it, I can
+almost fancy radiation after all,—the interminable grotesques seem to
+form around a common centre and rush off in headlong plunges of equal
+distraction.
+
+It makes me tired to follow it. I will take a nap, I guess.
+
+I don’t know why I should write this.
+
+I don’t want to.
+
+I don’t feel able.
+
+And I know John would think it absurd. But I must say what I feel and
+think in some way—it is such a relief!
+
+But the effort is getting to be greater than the relief.
+
+Half the time now I am awfully lazy, and lie down ever so much.
+
+John says I mustn’t lose my strength, and has me take cod-liver oil and
+lots of tonics and things, to say nothing of ale and wine and rare
+meat.
+
+Dear John! He loves me very dearly, and hates to have me sick. I tried
+to have a real earnest reasonable talk with him the other day, and tell
+him how I wish he would let me go and make a visit to Cousin Henry and
+Julia.
+
+But he said I wasn’t able to go, nor able to stand it after I got
+there; and I did not make out a very good case for myself, for I was
+crying before I had finished.
+
+It is getting to be a great effort for me to think straight. Just this
+nervous weakness, I suppose.
+
+And dear John gathered me up in his arms, and just carried me upstairs
+and laid me on the bed, and sat by me and read to me till it tired my
+head.
+
+He said I was his darling and his comfort and all he had, and that I
+must take care of myself for his sake, and keep well.
+
+He says no one but myself can help me out of it, that I must use my
+will and self-control and not let any silly fancies run away with me.
+
+There’s one comfort, the baby is well and happy, and does not have to
+occupy this nursery with the horrid wallpaper.
+
+If we had not used it that blessed child would have! What a fortunate
+escape! Why, I wouldn’t have a child of mine, an impressionable little
+thing, live in such a room for worlds.
+
+I never thought of it before, but it is lucky that John kept me here
+after all. I can stand it so much easier than a baby, you see.
+
+Of course I never mention it to them any more,—I am too wise,—but I
+keep watch of it all the same.
+
+There are things in that paper that nobody knows but me, or ever will.
+
+Behind that outside pattern the dim shapes get clearer every day.
+
+It is always the same shape, only very numerous.
+
+And it is like a woman stooping down and creeping about behind that
+pattern. I don’t like it a bit. I wonder—I begin to think—I wish John
+would take me away from here!
+
+It is so hard to talk with John about my case, because he is so wise,
+and because he loves me so.
+
+But I tried it last night.
+
+It was moonlight. The moon shines in all around, just as the sun does.
+
+I hate to see it sometimes, it creeps so slowly, and always comes in by
+one window or another.
+
+John was asleep and I hated to waken him, so I kept still and watched
+the moonlight on that undulating wallpaper till I felt creepy.
+
+The faint figure behind seemed to shake the pattern, just as if she
+wanted to get out.
+
+I got up softly and went to feel and see if the paper did move, and
+when I came back John was awake.
+
+“What is it, little girl?” he said. “Don’t go walking about like
+that—you’ll get cold.”
+
+I thought it was a good time to talk, so I told him that I really was
+not gaining here, and that I wished he would take me away.
+
+“Why darling!” said he, “our lease will be up in three weeks, and I
+can’t see how to leave before.
+
+“The repairs are not done at home, and I cannot possibly leave town
+just now. Of course if you were in any danger I could and would, but
+you really are better, dear, whether you can see it or not. I am a
+doctor, dear, and I know. You are gaining flesh and color, your
+appetite is better. I feel really much easier about you.”
+
+“I don’t weigh a bit more,” said I, “nor as much; and my appetite may
+be better in the evening, when you are here, but it is worse in the
+morning when you are away.”
+
+“Bless her little heart!” said he with a big hug; “she shall be as sick
+as she pleases! But now let’s improve the shining hours by going to
+sleep, and talk about it in the morning!”
+
+“And you won’t go away?” I asked gloomily.
+
+“Why, how can I, dear? It is only three weeks more and then we will
+take a nice little trip of a few days while Jennie is getting the house
+ready. Really, dear, you are better!”
+
+“Better in body perhaps”—I began, and stopped short, for he sat up
+straight and looked at me with such a stern, reproachful look that I
+could not say another word.
+
+“My darling,” said he, “I beg of you, for my sake and for our child’s
+sake, as well as for your own, that you will never for one instant let
+that idea enter your mind! There is nothing so dangerous, so
+fascinating, to a temperament like yours. It is a false and foolish
+fancy. Can you not trust me as a physician when I tell you so?”
+
+So of course I said no more on that score, and we went to sleep before
+long. He thought I was asleep first, but I wasn’t,—I lay there for
+hours trying to decide whether that front pattern and the back pattern
+really did move together or separately.
+
+On a pattern like this, by daylight, there is a lack of sequence, a
+defiance of law, that is a constant irritant to a normal mind.
+
+The color is hideous enough, and unreliable enough, and infuriating
+enough, but the pattern is torturing.
+
+You think you have mastered it, but just as you get well under way in
+following, it turns a back somersault and there you are. It slaps you
+in the face, knocks you down, and tramples upon you. It is like a bad
+dream.
+
+The outside pattern is a florid arabesque, reminding one of a fungus.
+If you can imagine a toadstool in joints, an interminable string of
+toadstools, budding and sprouting in endless convolutions,—why, that is
+something like it.
+
+That is, sometimes!
+
+There is one marked peculiarity about this paper, a thing nobody seems
+to notice but myself, and that is that it changes as the light changes.
+
+When the sun shoots in through the east window—I always watch for that
+first long, straight ray—it changes so quickly that I never can quite
+believe it.
+
+That is why I watch it always.
+
+By moonlight—the moon shines in all night when there is a moon—I
+wouldn’t know it was the same paper.
+
+At night in any kind of light, in twilight, candlelight, lamplight, and
+worst of all by moonlight, it becomes bars! The outside pattern I mean,
+and the woman behind it is as plain as can be.
+
+I didn’t realize for a long time what the thing was that showed
+behind,—that dim sub-pattern,—but now I am quite sure it is a woman.
+
+By daylight she is subdued, quiet. I fancy it is the pattern that keeps
+her so still. It is so puzzling. It keeps me quiet by the hour.
+
+I lie down ever so much now. John says it is good for me, and to sleep
+all I can.
+
+Indeed, he started the habit by making me lie down for an hour after
+each meal.
+
+It is a very bad habit, I am convinced, for, you see, I don’t sleep.
+
+And that cultivates deceit, for I don’t tell them I’m awake,—oh, no!
+
+The fact is, I am getting a little afraid of John.
+
+He seems very queer sometimes, and even Jennie has an inexplicable
+look.
+
+It strikes me occasionally, just as a scientific hypothesis, that
+perhaps it is the paper!
+
+I have watched John when he did not know I was looking, and come into
+the room suddenly on the most innocent excuses, and I’ve caught him
+several times looking at the paper! And Jennie too. I caught Jennie
+with her hand on it once.
+
+She didn’t know I was in the room, and when I asked her in a quiet, a
+very quiet voice, with the most restrained manner possible, what she
+was doing with the paper she turned around as if she had been caught
+stealing, and looked quite angry—asked me why I should frighten her so!
+
+Then she said that the paper stained everything it touched, that she
+had found yellow smooches on all my clothes and John’s, and she wished
+we would be more careful!
+
+Did not that sound innocent? But I know she was studying that pattern,
+and I am determined that nobody shall find it out but myself!
+
+Life is very much more exciting now than it used to be. You see I have
+something more to expect, to look forward to, to watch. I really do eat
+better, and am more quiet than I was.
+
+John is so pleased to see me improve! He laughed a little the other
+day, and said I seemed to be flourishing in spite of my wallpaper.
+
+I turned it off with a laugh. I had no intention of telling him it was
+because of the wallpaper—he would make fun of me. He might even want to
+take me away.
+
+I don’t want to leave now until I have found it out. There is a week
+more, and I think that will be enough.
+
+I’m feeling ever so much better! I don’t sleep much at night, for it is
+so interesting to watch developments; but I sleep a good deal in the
+daytime.
+
+In the daytime it is tiresome and perplexing.
+
+There are always new shoots on the fungus, and new shades of yellow all
+over it. I cannot keep count of them, though I have tried
+conscientiously.
+
+It is the strangest yellow, that wallpaper! It makes me think of all
+the yellow things I ever saw—not beautiful ones like buttercups, but
+old foul, bad yellow things.
+
+But there is something else about that paper—the smell! I noticed it
+the moment we came into the room, but with so much air and sun it was
+not bad. Now we have had a week of fog and rain, and whether the
+windows are open or not, the smell is here.
+
+It creeps all over the house.
+
+I find it hovering in the dining-room, skulking in the parlor, hiding
+in the hall, lying in wait for me on the stairs.
+
+It gets into my hair.
+
+Even when I go to ride, if I turn my head suddenly and surprise
+it—there is that smell!
+
+Such a peculiar odor, too! I have spent hours in trying to analyze it,
+to find what it smelled like.
+
+It is not bad—at first, and very gentle, but quite the subtlest, most
+enduring odor I ever met.
+
+In this damp weather it is awful. I wake up in the night and find it
+hanging over me.
+
+It used to disturb me at first. I thought seriously of burning the
+house—to reach the smell.
+
+But now I am used to it. The only thing I can think of that it is like
+is the color of the paper! A yellow smell.
+
+There is a very funny mark on this wall, low down, near the mopboard. A
+streak that runs round the room. It goes behind every piece of
+furniture, except the bed, a long, straight, even smooch, as if it had
+been rubbed over and over.
+
+I wonder how it was done and who did it, and what they did it for.
+Round and round and round—round and round and round—it makes me dizzy!
+
+I really have discovered something at last.
+
+Through watching so much at night, when it changes so, I have finally
+found out.
+
+The front pattern does move—and no wonder! The woman behind shakes it!
+
+Sometimes I think there are a great many women behind, and sometimes
+only one, and she crawls around fast, and her crawling shakes it all
+over.
+
+Then in the very bright spots she keeps still, and in the very shady
+spots she just takes hold of the bars and shakes them hard.
+
+And she is all the time trying to climb through. But nobody could climb
+through that pattern—it strangles so; I think that is why it has so
+many heads.
+
+They get through, and then the pattern strangles them off and turns
+them upside-down, and makes their eyes white!
+
+If those heads were covered or taken off it would not be half so bad.
+
+I think that woman gets out in the daytime!
+
+And I’ll tell you why—privately—I’ve seen her!
+
+I can see her out of every one of my windows!
+
+It is the same woman, I know, for she is always creeping, and most
+women do not creep by daylight.
+
+I see her on that long shaded lane, creeping up and down. I see her in
+those dark grape arbors, creeping all around the garden.
+
+I see her on that long road under the trees, creeping along, and when a
+carriage comes she hides under the blackberry vines.
+
+I don’t blame her a bit. It must be very humiliating to be caught
+creeping by daylight!
+
+I always lock the door when I creep by daylight. I can’t do it at
+night, for I know John would suspect something at once.
+
+And John is so queer now, that I don’t want to irritate him. I wish he
+would take another room! Besides, I don’t want anybody to get that
+woman out at night but myself.
+
+I often wonder if I could see her out of all the windows at once.
+
+But, turn as fast as I can, I can only see out of one at one time.
+
+And though I always see her she may be able to creep faster than I can
+turn!
+
+I have watched her sometimes away off in the open country, creeping as
+fast as a cloud shadow in a high wind.
+
+If only that top pattern could be gotten off from the under one! I mean
+to try it, little by little.
+
+I have found out another funny thing, but I shan’t tell it this time!
+It does not do to trust people too much.
+
+There are only two more days to get this paper off, and I believe John
+is beginning to notice. I don’t like the look in his eyes.
+
+And I heard him ask Jennie a lot of professional questions about me.
+She had a very good report to give.
+
+She said I slept a good deal in the daytime.
+
+John knows I don’t sleep very well at night, for all I’m so quiet!
+
+He asked me all sorts of questions, too, and pretended to be very
+loving and kind.
+
+As if I couldn’t see through him!
+
+Still, I don’t wonder he acts so, sleeping under this paper for three
+months.
+
+It only interests me, but I feel sure John and Jennie are secretly
+affected by it.
+
+Hurrah! This is the last day, but it is enough. John is to stay in town
+over night, and won’t be out until this evening.
+
+Jennie wanted to sleep with me—the sly thing! but I told her I should
+undoubtedly rest better for a night all alone.
+
+That was clever, for really I wasn’t alone a bit! As soon as it was
+moonlight, and that poor thing began to crawl and shake the pattern, I
+got up and ran to help her.
+
+I pulled and she shook, I shook and she pulled, and before morning we
+had peeled off yards of that paper.
+
+A strip about as high as my head and half around the room.
+
+And then when the sun came and that awful pattern began to laugh at me
+I declared I would finish it to-day!
+
+We go away to-morrow, and they are moving all my furniture down again
+to leave things as they were before.
+
+Jennie looked at the wall in amazement, but I told her merrily that I
+did it out of pure spite at the vicious thing.
+
+She laughed and said she wouldn’t mind doing it herself, but I must not
+get tired.
+
+How she betrayed herself that time!
+
+But I am here, and no person touches this paper but me—not alive!
+
+She tried to get me out of the room—it was too patent! But I said it
+was so quiet and empty and clean now that I believed I would lie down
+again and sleep all I could; and not to wake me even for dinner—I would
+call when I woke.
+
+So now she is gone, and the servants are gone, and the things are gone,
+and there is nothing left but that great bedstead nailed down, with the
+canvas mattress we found on it.
+
+We shall sleep downstairs to-night, and take the boat home to-morrow.
+
+I quite enjoy the room, now it is bare again.
+
+How those children did tear about here!
+
+This bedstead is fairly gnawed!
+
+But I must get to work.
+
+I have locked the door and thrown the key down into the front path.
+
+I don’t want to go out, and I don’t want to have anybody come in, till
+John comes.
+
+I want to astonish him.
+
+I’ve got a rope up here that even Jennie did not find. If that woman
+does get out, and tries to get away, I can tie her!
+
+But I forgot I could not reach far without anything to stand on!
+
+This bed will not move!
+
+I tried to lift and push it until I was lame, and then I got so angry I
+bit off a little piece at one corner—but it hurt my teeth.
+
+Then I peeled off all the paper I could reach standing on the floor. It
+sticks horribly and the pattern just enjoys it! All those strangled
+heads and bulbous eyes and waddling fungus growths just shriek with
+derision!
+
+I am getting angry enough to do something desperate. To jump out of the
+window would be admirable exercise, but the bars are too strong even to
+try.
+
+Besides I wouldn’t do it. Of course not. I know well enough that a step
+like that is improper and might be misconstrued.
+
+I don’t like to look out of the windows even—there are so many of those
+creeping women, and they creep so fast.
+
+I wonder if they all come out of that wallpaper as I did?
+
+But I am securely fastened now by my well-hidden rope—you don’t get me
+out in the road there!
+
+I suppose I shall have to get back behind the pattern when it comes
+night, and that is hard!
+
+It is so pleasant to be out in this great room and creep around as I
+please!
+
+I don’t want to go outside. I won’t, even if Jennie asks me to.
+
+For outside you have to creep on the ground, and everything is green
+instead of yellow.
+
+But here I can creep smoothly on the floor, and my shoulder just fits
+in that long smooch around the wall, so I cannot lose my way.
+
+Why, there’s John at the door!
+
+It is no use, young man, you can’t open it!
+
+How he does call and pound!
+
+Now he’s crying for an axe.
+
+It would be a shame to break down that beautiful door!
+
+“John dear!” said I in the gentlest voice, “the key is down by the
+front steps, under a plantain leaf!”
+
+That silenced him for a few moments.
+
+Then he said—very quietly indeed, “Open the door, my darling!”
+
+“I can’t,” said I. “The key is down by the front door under a plantain
+leaf!”
+
+And then I said it again, several times, very gently and slowly, and
+said it so often that he had to go and see, and he got it, of course,
+and came in. He stopped short by the door.
+
+“What is the matter?” he cried. “For God’s sake, what are you doing!”
+
+I kept on creeping just the same, but I looked at him over my shoulder.
+
+“I’ve got out at last,” said I, “in spite of you and Jane! And I’ve
+pulled off most of the paper, so you can’t put me back!”
+
+Now why should that man have fainted? But he did, and right across my
+path by the wall, so that I had to creep over him every time!
+
+
+*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 1952 ***

books/The_miniature_menace_by_Frank_Belknap_Long(73KB).txt

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+The Project Gutenberg eBook of The miniature menace, by Frank Belknap
+Long
+
+This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere in the United States and
+most other parts of the world at no cost and with almost no restrictions
+whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or re-use it under the terms
+of the Project Gutenberg License included with this eBook or online at
+www.gutenberg.org. If you are not located in the United States, you
+will have to check the laws of the country where you are located before
+using this eBook.
+
+Title: The miniature menace
+
+Author: Frank Belknap Long
+
+Release Date: March 29, 2023 [eBook #70403]
+
+Language: English
+
+Produced by: Greg Weeks, Mary Meehan and the Online Distributed
+             Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net
+
+*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE MINIATURE MENACE ***
+
+
+
+
+
+
+                         The Miniature Menace
+
+                          A THRILLING NOVELET
+
+                         By Frank Belknap Long
+
+               _Condemned without trial for his refusal
+              to open fire on an alien space-craft, Ralph
+              Langford had to be free to investigate the
+               strange menace from beyond the stars! For
+             if the alien were an enemy, then it would be
+          the most terrible enemy men had ever encountered._
+
+           [Transcriber's Note: This etext was produced from
+      Future combined with Science Fiction Stories May-June 1950.
+         Extensive research did not uncover any evidence that
+         the U.S. copyright on this publication was renewed.]
+
+
+
+
+The sky was harsh with the flare of rocket jets when Captain Ralph
+Langford emerged from his deep space cruiser on the Mars City landing
+field. There was a girl standing alone at the far end of the field,
+and for a moment Langford thought it might be Joan, irrational as the
+thought was. Of course, Joan couldn't be here; he was to see her at the
+hospital. He started across the field, blinking in the glare, his eyes
+shining with a warm gratefulness to be home again; as he approached
+the solitary figure, he could see it was not Joan, though there was
+a resemblance. He was so engrossed that he didn't notice the tall,
+eagle-eyed young Patrol officer who came striding toward him, until he
+heard the man's voice.
+
+"You're under arrest, sir!" the youth said, his hand whipping to his
+visor. "Commander Gurney's orders."
+
+Langford looked up suddenly, then stiffened in belligerent protest.
+"Hold on, Lieutenant! You can't arrest me and march me off to jail like
+a common criminal. Commission regulations! How long have you worn those
+stripes, youngster?"
+
+The youth's eyes were respectful, sympathetic; he did not appear to
+be offended. "I'm sorry, sir," he said firmly. "Commander Gurney went
+before the Commission and had you certified as irresponsible."
+
+Langford flushed angrily. "So that's it," he grunted.
+
+The Patrol officer hesitated. He had prepared what he intended to say,
+but the fame of the big man facing him had reached sunward to Mercury,
+and outward to Pluto's frozen tundras.
+
+Langford's fist lashed out suddenly, catching the youth flush on the
+jaw, and crumpling him to his knees. The girl, who had been a silent
+witness up to now, gasped, then turned and ran like a frightened
+rabbit. Langford did not stop to apologize. Rumor had it that deep
+space officers bore charmed lives, but Langford knew as he broke into
+a run that his life hung by a thread that might at any moment turn
+crimson.
+
+[Illustration: Langford's fist lashed out suddenly, catching the
+youngster flush on the jaw....]
+
+No part of the field was unguarded. If the guards had orders to
+withhold their fire he saw a desperate chance of outwitting them;
+but if they had orders to blast, his fate was already sealed. As he
+ran he had a vision of himself sinking down in a welter of blood and
+blackness, his ears deafened by the hollow chant of concussion weapons.
+He saw himself lying spread out on the landing field, the taste of
+death in his mouth, the air above him filled with a harsh, eerie
+crackling.
+
+He ran faster, ran like a man bemazed, his eyes filled with dancing
+motes that kept cascading down both sides of his oxygen mask. He was
+a hundred feet from the ship when he became aware that a dozen armed
+guards had emerged from shadows at the edge of the field and were
+converging upon him.
+
+Angry curses whipped through the night and the field seemed to tilt
+as the guards came racing toward him. Far off in the darkness a siren
+wailed.
+
+Langford suddenly realized that he was becoming light-headed from too
+much oxygen intake; his head was filled with a dull roaring, and seemed
+to be expanding. It was filled with flashing lights as well as sound,
+and was leaving his shoulders as he ran.
+
+He had a sudden impulse to laugh and shout, to whoop at how ridiculous
+it was. His head had left his shoulders and was spinning about in the
+air. But before he could grasp the tube which was flooding his brain
+with hilarity, armed guards were all about him, raising their weapons
+to cover him and shouting at him to raise his arms.
+
+Unfortunately he couldn't seem to move his arms. When he made the
+effort he went plunging and skidding over the ramp with running figures
+on both sides of him. He was skating, cutting capers on ice. Fantastic
+and incredible capers. Then the ice was inside his skull, swelling up
+thick; his heels were together when the lights in his head went out.
+
+       *       *       *       *       *
+
+When the lights came on again Langford found himself stumbling forward
+into a blank-walled room with a steady pressure at his back. At first
+he thought the room was a cell, but when his vision adjusted itself to
+the glare he saw that he was facing a seated man whose head seemed to
+be dancing in the air.
+
+"Here he is, Commander!" a harsh voice said. "He blacked out, but that
+didn't stop him from putting up a terrific fight!"
+
+Langford had no recollection of putting up a fight, but the guard's jaw
+was bruised and swollen, which seemed to indicate that a struggle had
+taken place. A massive desk swam into view and the head of the seated
+man settled down on his shoulders.
+
+Langford blinked. Facing him in the cold light was the supreme
+commander of the Solar Patrol, a thin, hollow-cheeked man of fifty
+whose eyes behind narrowed lids glittered as cold as glass.
+
+Commander Gurney's immobility was not unlike the roll of thunder in a
+vacuum. There was sound and fury to it, and yet not a muscle of his
+face moved as he dismissed the guard with a curt nod, and waited for
+the massive door behind Langford to clang shut.
+
+The instant silence settled down over the room Commander Gurney came
+to life. "You're under arrest, Langford," he said, quietly. "If you've
+anything to say in your own defense you'd better start talking. I can
+spare you--" the patrol commander glanced at his wrist watch--"Exactly
+twenty minutes."
+
+"Good enough!" Langford grunted. All the muscles of his gaunt face
+seemed to pull together as he seated himself. For an instant he
+remained motionless, his eyes troubled and angry, as if he could not
+quite accept the fact that he had been deprived of his command by the
+irate man opposite him.
+
+The two men who sat facing each other in the cold light were sharply
+divergent types. Langford was a man of enormous strength and a temper
+that was just a little dangerous when it got out of control. He had
+never once failed in his duty and the inner discipline which he had
+imposed on himself showed in his features, which were as tight as a
+drum. But beneath his rough exterior Langford concealed the sensitive
+imagination of a poet, and an immense kindliness which sometimes
+overflowed in strange ways, embarrassing him more than he cared to
+admit.
+
+Commander Gurney had never experienced such embarrassment; he had
+imposed his will on the Solar Patrol by becoming an absolute slave to
+efficiency at considerable detriment to his health. There was something
+rapacious and hornetlike about him, something ceaselessly alert. Now he
+sat regarding Langford with a stinging contempt in his stare, poised
+for the attack, his harsh features mirroring his thoughts like an
+encephalograph. "Well?" he prodded.
+
+Langford wet his dry lips. Reaching inside his resplendent uniform, he
+removed a small, shining object which he set down at the edge of his
+superior's desk. "They shot this out at us when I ordered them to stand
+by for boarding," he said. "It was contained in a small, translucent
+capsule which I picked up with a magnetic trawl. It's just a model in
+miniature, but take a good look at it, sir; would you care to make the
+acquaintance of a creature like that in the flesh?"
+
+Commander Gurney's eyes widened and his mouth twitched slightly. "In
+the name of all that's unholy, Langford, what _is_ it?" he muttered.
+
+Langford shook his head. "I wish I knew, sir. It looks quite a bit like
+a praying mantis. A little, metallic praying mantis six inches tall.
+But it doesn't behave like one!"
+
+       *       *       *       *       *
+
+The statuette on Gurney's desk seemed chillingly lifelike in the cold
+light. It had been fashioned with flawless craftsmanship; its upraised
+forelimbs were leaf green, its abdomen salmon pink, and its gauzy wings
+shone with a dull, metallic luster as Langford turned it carefully
+about.
+
+Gurney couldn't help noticing, with a little shudder, that its
+mouth-parts consisted of a cutting mandible, and a long, coiled
+membrane like the ligula of a honeybee. Huge, compound eyes occupied
+the upper half of the metal insect's face.
+
+Gurney's hand had gone out, and was about to close on the little
+statue; but something in Langford's stare made him change his mind. As
+his hand whipped back he fastened his gaze on Langford's face with the
+ire of a peevish child denied access to a jampot.
+
+"What in blazes has that to do with your failure to obey orders?"
+he demanded, with explosive vehemence. "That ship must have used an
+interstellar space-warp drive to appear out of nowhere in the middle of
+the Asteroid Belt. And you deliberately let it slip away from you!"
+
+Langford shut his eyes before replying. He saw again the myriad stars
+of space, the dull red disk of Mars and the far-off gleam of the great
+outer planets. He saw the luminous hull of the alien ship looming up
+out of the void. An instant before, the viewpane had been filled with a
+sprinkling of very distant stars with a faint nebulosity behind them.
+The ship had appeared with the suddenness of an image forming on a
+screen, out of the dark matrix of empty space.
+
+Langford leaned forward, a desperate urgency in his stare. "Mere
+alienage doesn't justify the crime of murder, sir!" he said. "Attacking
+an alien race without weighing the outcome would have been an act of
+criminal folly, charged with great danger to ourselves."
+
+Commander Gurney shook his head in angry disagreement. "Just how would
+you define murder, Langford?" he demanded. "If a highly intelligent
+buzzsaw came at you would you bare your throat?"
+
+Langford ignored the question. "Violence breeds violence, sir," he
+said, with patient insistence. "Suppose the shoe were on the other
+foot. Suppose the inhabitants of another planet attacked you without
+giving you a chance to prove your friendliness?"
+
+Langford's eyes held a dogged conviction. "Remember, sir--to issue a
+warning is an act of forbearance. No reasonable man could mistake a
+warning for an aggressive act. If their weapons are superior to ours,
+or they are superior to us in other, truly terrifying ways, they proved
+their friendliness by warning us. Would you have had me attack their
+ship without studying that warning?"
+
+Gurney's eyes had returned to the statue. He seemed fascinated by the
+glitter of its folded wings. He had a sudden vision of the metal insect
+spreading its wings and taking off with a low, horrible droning.
+
+Suddenly there was a dull throbbing in the Patrol commander's temples.
+A frightful dread took possession of him, so that he could hardly
+breathe; in his mind's gaze he saw a vast, stationary plain that seemed
+to hang suspended in midair above a fiery sea. Sweeping straight toward
+him, dark against the glow, were hundreds of flying mantis shapes with
+their arms upraised in the glow.
+
+Gurney shuddered and gripped the arms of his chair. He transfixed
+Langford with an accusing stare. "Man, if you'd engaged them in open
+combat we'd at least know where we stand! We could have put the
+entire patrol on the alert. Now they've given us the slip and may
+show up anywhere, armed with weapons that could wipe out civilization
+overnight."
+
+"I chose what I believed to be the lesser of two evils, sir," Langford
+said, stepping closer to the desk. His eyes rested briefly on the metal
+insect; then they returned to Gurney's face.
+
+"There were two metal insects in that capsule, sir. I'm going to show
+you exactly what happened to the one I experimented with."
+
+       *       *       *       *       *
+
+Langford's forefinger whipped out as he spoke, striking the little
+statue sharply on its folded wing membranes. For an instant nothing
+happened; then, with appalling suddenness, the metal insect came to
+life. It spread its wings and ascended straight up into the air.
+
+Gurney leapt to his feet with a startled cry. As he did so the flying
+insect's wings blurred and another pair of wings came into view behind
+them. The wings were shadowy at first, but they quickly solidified,
+taking on a glittering sheen. Preying arms sprouted from them. Then,
+even more quickly, a big-eyed head and a writhing, salmon-pink abdomen.
+
+The instant the second shape became a complete insect it whipped away
+from its parent image with a furious buzzing. As Gurney stared up in
+horror the original insect gave off eight more buzzing replicas of
+itself. They darted swiftly up toward the ceiling and circled furiously
+about, their wings gleaming in the cold light.
+
+Suddenly there was a blinding flash of light. The flying replicas
+vanished and the original insect thudded to the floor. For an instant
+the little horror squirmed; then lay motionless.
+
+"It's playing possum!" Langford said.
+
+Langford advanced as he spoke and raised his foot. The instant he
+started to bring his heel down the metal insect shivered convulsively,
+lifted its huge eyes and stared up at him.
+
+Then an incredible thing happened. There was no need for him to crush
+the insect; methodically and with cold deliberation it began to
+_dismember itself_, tearing off its wings with its own sharp claws, and
+ripping its abdomen to shreds. After a moment, it lay still.
+
+Langford turned and stared soberly at Gurney. "If _we_ wanted to warn
+_them_ we could send them a little mechanical man, complete in every
+detail armed with miniature weapons. They've simply sent us a replica
+of themselves, a model in miniature. It's so unbelievably complex that
+we could learn nothing by subjecting it to mechanical tests. But we
+don't have to know what makes it tick.
+
+"They've warned us that they can multiply by fission, so rapidly that
+they could overrun the Earth in a few hours; they've also warned
+us that if they find themselves facing impossible odds, they won't
+hesitate to destroy themselves."
+
+Commander Gurney had returned to his desk and stood facing Langford,
+his face as grim as death. "I quite agree," he said. "That was--an
+ugly warning. Langford, letting that ship get away was worse than
+treasonable. Your twenty minutes are up!"
+
+He was reaching for the communication disk on the far side of his desk
+when Langford reached inside his uniform for the second time. When the
+big man withdrew his hand he was clasping an automatic pistol.
+
+Gurney took a swift step backward, his eyes widening in alarm. "So the
+guards forgot to search you!"
+
+"I'm afraid they did, sir!" Langford said, quietly. "Sit down. I'm
+going to ask a small favor. A port clearance permit, signed and sealed
+by you; if you give me your word you won't move until I've cleared the
+port I won't tie you up."
+
+Gurney sat down and stared at the young space officer in scornful
+mockery. "Suppose I refuse to promise anything. Would you blast me down
+in cold blood?"
+
+Langford hesitated. His jaw tightened and a candid defiance came into
+his stare. "No!" he said.
+
+"Then if you're not prepared to murder me you haven't got what it takes
+to exact a promise!" Gurney said.
+
+Langford shook his head. "That's sheer sophistry," he pointed out.
+"I've just laid my cards on the table. If you take advantage of my good
+faith you'll be hitting below the belt. You see, sir, there's something
+I've _got_ to do; if I fail I'll come back and give myself up."
+
+For a moment not a muscle of Gurney's face moved. Then he shrugged
+and glanced at his wrist watch. "I'll sit perfectly still for exactly
+fifteen minutes, Langford," he said. "That should give you sufficient
+time to clear the port."
+
+His eyes narrowed to steely slits. "_But heaven help you when I move!_"
+
+"Fair enough!" Langford said.
+
+Ten minutes later the Patrol captain was climbing into a small jet
+plane at the edge of the spaceport. Far to the east the skyline of Mars
+City rose above the horizon like a glittering copper penny swimming in
+a nebulous haze. A penny flipped in desperation that had miraculously
+come heads.
+
+Part of the wonder he felt was due to his knowledge that he would soon
+be flying straight through the penny toward a tall white building he
+would have braved the sun to scale.
+
+
+
+
+                                   2
+
+
+A grave-faced physician met Langford at the end of the corridor and
+beckoned him into a small white-walled room. The physician was not
+talkative; he didn't need to be. The girl who sat under the bright
+lamps with her eyes swathed in bandages told Langford all he cared to
+know.
+
+Her lips were smiling and she held out her arms as her husband came
+into the room. Langford went up to her, and kissed her tenderly on the
+cheek, his big, awkward hands caressing her hair that lay in a tumbled
+dark mass on her shoulders.
+
+She had tried to keep back the tears, but they came now, so that her
+body quivered with the intensity of her emotion. "I'm going to see,
+darling!" she whispered; "I know I'm going to see again. I wouldn't let
+them remove the bandages until you came."
+
+"Sure you are!" Langford said, gruffly. "And you'll have better sight
+than ever before! Both kinds of sight, just as you had before!"
+
+"I was afraid you might be hurt, darling!" Joan Langford whispered,
+running her forefinger down his wet cheek as she held his head close.
+"I used the other sight that makes me so different, and terrifies
+people much more than it should!"
+
+"You should not have done that!" Langford said, scowling; "I was in no
+real danger!"
+
+"You were being hunted like a criminal!"
+
+She turned her head toward Dr. Crendon as she spoke. The physician
+looked away, feeling her gaze on him through the bandages.
+
+"The law of compensation, child," he said, gently. "Mutants are
+clairvoyant; their vision is piercingly sharp where vision matters
+most. When nature confers a priceless gift she sometimes withdraws a
+lesser one; no one knows why, not even the biologists." He smiled,
+"There I go, personifying the impersonal again. Perhaps ordinary sight
+will someday be vestigial in all of us."
+
+Langford glanced up. The physician was pressing his finger to his lips
+and gesturing toward the door. Langford got quickly to his feet. A
+chill wind seemed to blow into the room, driving all the warmth from
+his mind.
+
+Just outside the door Dr. Crendon turned and spoke in a cautious
+whisper. "I haven't given up hope!" he said. "But the chances are not
+too good, we don't know why, but mutants have defective vision from
+birth even when their eyes are normal."
+
+Langford nodded, "I know that, doctor!"
+
+The physician's voice became gentler. "We know so little about mutants.
+Fifty thousand of them in the world, perhaps--born too early or too
+late! An inward vision that can pierce the barriers of sense and see to
+the heart of things. And an outward vision that's defective, faltering,
+almost a blind man's vision. Clairvoyance and failing sight--it just
+doesn't make sense."
+
+"Joan makes sense," Langford said. "If she were stone blind I'd still
+worship her."
+
+Dr. Crendon held his hands straight out before him and looked down
+at them. "I did my best," he said, simply. "There were slight
+peculiarities of structure in the choroid but I'm sure that the new
+cornea will adjust. It's the retina itself, the innermost nervous tunic
+of the eye, that I'm worried about."
+
+He paused, then went on quickly: "A mutant's retina is hypersensitive.
+It responds to light in a peculiar way and has a tendency to distort
+images. But that distortion vanishes when the mind becomes really
+active."
+
+Langford looked at him. "Just what are you trying to tell me?"
+
+"I'm not sure I know!" There were little puckers between Crendon's
+eyes. "Put it this way. If she doesn't brood too much, if she leads
+an active life and has complete confidence in her inner vision, her
+sight may improve. I think the failure of a mutant's sight may be
+partly due to--well, a kind of fear. Mutants feel cut off from 'normal'
+humanity--whatever that may be--and are tempted to use their inner
+vision as a means of escape. And when they do that the outer vision
+dims to the vanishing point."
+
+"Then you think--"
+
+"Make her feel that she can be of assistance to you in every moment of
+your waking life. Give her some important task to perform. Keep her
+with you, lad, as much as you can. She's missed you these many months.
+Make her realize you can't get along without her."
+
+       *       *       *       *       *
+
+Langford's eyes held a dawning wonder; he seemed like a man from whom
+an immense weight had been lifted. "I was just about to tell you that I
+need her inward vision," he said. "Not only the eyes you've done your
+best to restore, but her powers of clairvoyance."
+
+"You mean that?"
+
+"Why should I lie to you, doctor?"
+
+For the second time Crendon smiled. "No reason, I suppose. But I
+thought you might be deceiving yourself by pretending you needed her
+when you didn't. You've been under something of a strain."
+
+It was Langford's turn to smile. "You don't know the half of it."
+
+"Oh, yes I do! She saw you crossing the skyport with scanner beams
+trained on you; she saw you playing hide and seek with annihilation. I
+had to give her a sedative injection to quiet her."
+
+Langford did not move. Something in Crendon's face told him he was not
+expected to say anything.
+
+"So that makes me an accessory!" Crendon said, the smile still on his
+lips. "Her vision went blank when I decided she'd seen enough for her
+own peace of mind."
+
+He nodded. "I didn't know whether you managed to escape or not; it kept
+me on the tetherhooks until you showed up in my office twenty minutes
+ago. I've always liked you, Langford; I flatter myself I know an honest
+man when I see one."
+
+His hand went out and tightened on Langford's palm. "Come on, now!
+We've got to remove those bandages before she reads my thoughts, and
+knows how scared I get when I operate. Mutants know what humbugs we all
+are, Langford; they can see all the flaws in us, and if they can still
+trust us and believe in us despite that, they must be the forerunners
+of a new humanity in more ways than we dream!"
+
+If Joan Langford had eavesdropped, using her strange sight, she gave
+no sign when her husband returned to her side. The conversation in
+the corridor had taken him from her for the barest instant, but that
+instant had seemed like an eternity to Langford and the inner vision of
+his wife.
+
+For how could 'time' be measured in minutes or hours by a woman wearing
+a blindfold, shut away in the dark, and waiting a verdict that could
+cause the future to slough away into chill gulfs? And how could 'time'
+have any meaning when the stars faded out of the sky and a sunset gun
+boomed farewell to the joys of the physical world? And to one who loved
+and hoped--could 'time' be measured by the moving hands of a clock?
+
+Quickly Langford's fingers interlocked with those of his wife. "This is
+it, darling!" he said.
+
+Crendon's fingers fumbled a little as he turned Joan's head gently from
+the light and began to unwind the bandages.
+
+"Don't open your eyes until I've removed the gauze pads," he warned.
+"And don't look directly at the light. At first you may not see at all;
+you must be prepared for that."
+
+       *       *       *       *       *
+
+Crendon hated himself for his sternness, but experience had taught
+him that it was best to arouse a faint antagonism in his patients; it
+prevented them from regarding him as a miracle worker. He wanted them
+to face reality with courage, for healing depended on many things and
+was often a matter of blind, fanatical trust.
+
+"Now then!" he said.
+
+As he spoke he raised the last fold of the bandage, and carefully
+removed the small, moist pads beneath, one from each eye. He
+straightened, his back to the light.
+
+Langford looked away quickly. As though from a great distance he heard
+Crendon say: "Now you may open your eyes. Remember, you may not see at
+all for five full minutes!"
+
+Mentally he added: _Or ever! I shouldn't be discouraged. A man does
+what he can. Ten years of it, ten years of trying to save human
+sight. And every day I learn something. And every day I envy men who
+endure merely the loneliness of space. Why pretend? I have never felt
+compassion for humanity in the abstract. It is only when I look into
+eyes that I have failed to heal and realize that I can do nothing at
+all._
+
+"Dr. Crendon, I can see! Everything--clearly."
+
+And so it was that Dr. Crendon--moody, skeptical Dr. Crendon--received
+the greatest shock of his life. He had anticipated an agonized
+outcry--or a joyous one. But Joan had spoken hardly above a whisper,
+in a tone of quiet assurance, as if she had known all along that she
+would see.
+
+And suddenly Crendon realized that she _had_ known! For mutants could
+see into the most probable future! Not too clearly, but clearly enough!
+How could he have been so blind?
+
+As Crendon turned he saw that Langford had fallen to his knees beside
+his wife and was sobbing convulsively, his head cradled in her arms.
+He tiptoed softly out of the room. He felt curiously hollow inside,
+as though all capacity for emotion had been burned out of him by the
+corroding acid of his own skepticism.
+
+
+
+
+                                   3
+
+
+Five minutes later Langford was replacing the bandages on Joan's
+eyes. He felt like a man who was playing a game with a deadly, unseen
+antagonist in a room full of crouching shadows. No--not a room. As he
+bent above his wife, his hand on her tumbled hair, the space about him
+seemed to fall away into darkness. And now he was gazing straight down
+the interplanetary deeps at a green world swimming in a nebulous haze.
+The haze dissolved, drifted away, and he saw the green hills of his
+native land.
+
+He saw the earth, and crouching shadows covered the face of the land.
+
+The crouching shadows of enormous insects. He could not escape from
+them because they were everywhere; when he broke into a run the mantis
+shapes followed him. They towered above him, sinister, horrible. He
+felt like a man caught in an invisible trap, the sky hemming him in,
+the ground beneath his feet a dissolving quagmire.
+
+He shook the illusion off, for he did not want Joan to see the shadows
+as he saw them. What was it Crendon had said? She must be made to feel
+that you need her. Well, he did; he knew now that more than his own
+honor was at stake. If the alien ship could not be located his fears
+would not remain subjective. The fate of humanity hung in the balance.
+
+His imagination had been stimulated abnormally by the events of the
+past few days; now it was leaping ahead of developments. For all he
+knew to the contrary the alien ship had foundered in the void or
+crashed on one of the inner planets in a red swirl of destruction.
+
+Interstellar exploration was not without its risks and those risks
+would mount steadily to an alien intelligence as unfamiliar landmarks
+loomed up out of the void.
+
+"You do not need the bandages," Langford said, a deep solicitude in his
+voice. "If you simply shut your eyes you would see the ship clearly. My
+thoughts would guide you to it."
+
+"My vision is sharper when my eyes are bandaged," Joan replied. "You
+must trust me, darling; I know. When my eyes are sealed there is no
+emotional block and my inner vision has free play. I am prevented from
+using my eyes by an actual physical impediment. So I strain all of my
+faculties to see as far as I can in the dark. Call it a psychological
+quirk if you wish; I only know that it helps."
+
+"If it helps that's all that matters," Langford assured her. "Forget I
+put my oar in."
+
+"Don't think about the ship for a minute," Joan said. "Make your mind
+a blank. Then visualize yourself standing before the viewport staring
+out, just as you stood when you first saw the alien ship. Visualize
+the ship coming toward you through the void. If you can visualize it
+clearly I'll be able to locate it, no matter where it is now."
+
+Joan paused, as though she didn't quite know how to make the complexity
+of the problem clear to her husband. "I can't explain the power," she
+said; "I know so little about 'time', far less than the physicists
+think they know. Mutants, they tell us, can visualize 'time' as a
+stationary dimension, freezing all event objects in 'the past' and in
+the 'probable future'. They can travel along 'time' in either direction
+at will."
+
+"But you do not think of it as an actual journey?" Langford asked;
+"you merely shut your eyes and see?"
+
+Joan shook her head. "It isn't quite as simple as that. Clairvoyance is
+never simple; it's accompanied by an intense inward illumination. It's
+a little like staring at something through a long vista of converging
+prisms. Objects get in the way and there's doubt, uncertainty.
+Sometimes it's sheer torment.
+
+"Sometimes I can't see at all. And even when I can see there's a
+curious, almost terrifying sense of _wrongness_ about it."
+
+"You mean you feel guilty?"
+
+Joan smiled slightly. "Did Alice feel guilty when she went through
+the looking glass? Perhaps she did! But I didn't mean that kind of
+wrongness, not a moral wrongness. It's as though the strange tensions
+will get you if you don't watch out. Rush in upon you and project
+you forcibly into another place. As though you were a jet of steam
+imprisoned in a bottle that's much too tight and forced in the wrong
+direction by a power you can't begin to understand.
+
+"You keep fearing you'll get caught in the neck of the bottle and wake
+up screaming."
+
+"Good Lord!" Langford muttered.
+
+"I've never got caught," Joan said. "Now make your mind a blank,
+darling. _We're going to find that ship!_"
+
+       *       *       *       *       *
+
+A moment later Langford stood holding his wife's hand, a sharp
+apprehension in his stare. Joan seemed slightly agitated. She sat
+gripping the arms of her chair, her bandaged eyes turned from the light.
+
+Suddenly her lips moved. "Ralph, I can see the ship! It's coming
+straight toward the viewport. You didn't tell me it was so beautiful,
+so--so huge!"
+
+"I was waiting for _you_ to tell _me_!" Langford said, quickly.
+
+"Well, I'm telling you, darling! I'm glad you didn't completely
+visualize it. Now I'm sure I'm not just reading your mind. It must be
+three hundred feet long; it's hard to tell where the illumination
+comes from."
+
+Joan straightened suddenly. "It's no longer just a ship," she said.
+"I'm still outside, but I've moved closer to it. And I can sense a
+rustling deep inside the hull, a vague stir of activity that's not
+entirely physical."
+
+While Langford held his breath Joan pressed her palms to her temples.
+"The rustling is becoming clear. There are swift, abrupt movements,
+accompanied by thoughts. But I'm not sure whether the thoughts come
+from one mind or many minds. The thoughts are swift, piercing.
+_Darting_ thoughts. That's the only way I can describe them."
+
+Her voice rose slightly. "I can sense a living presence deep inside the
+ship. More than one, I think. There's a kind of swarming."
+
+"A swarming?"
+
+"I'm not sure about that," Joan said, quickly. "I don't think they're
+moving about much. The thoughts seem to come from one direction. I can
+just make out a shape now; it's tall, and very slender."
+
+"Winged?" Langford whispered.
+
+"No, no, don't prompt me!" Joan was excited. "The important thing is
+that I can see it. I may never see it clearly. Gauzy--yes, it _is_
+winged. It has gauzy, shining wings, folded on its chest. Two clawlike
+appendages, raised in a praying attitude. Perhaps I saw that in your
+mind; you mustn't interrupt again."
+
+"I won't!" Langford promised.
+
+"The creature is horribly agitated!" Joan said. "It looks upon your
+ship as a menace. Its brain is humming with fear; it is preparing to
+contact you, warn you. It's getting ready to warn you in a strange way.
+It has prepared something for just such an emergency. Something small,
+glistening. I can't make it out, but it's putting the object into a
+luminous shell!"
+
+"That's right!" Langford said, forgetting his promise. "They shot the
+shell into the void; we picked it up with a magnetic trawl."
+
+There was a brief silence as Joan thought that out. Then her lips
+twisted in a strained smile. "If you say another word--"
+
+"Sorry!"
+
+"It's bad; it hinders." She raised her arms in a gesture of grim
+urgency. "Now the ship is moving swiftly away from your ship. I can
+dimly sense vast distances rushing past. And there's a feeling of
+loneliness, of utter desolation. No despair, exactly; it's as though I
+were sensing the utter desolation of deep space through a mind filled
+with a bitter nostalgia!
+
+"If the feeling wasn't so intense, so strange and bewildering, I'd say
+it was a '_Carry me back to old Virginia_' feeling! Does that make
+sense to you? It's like--someone thrumming a guitar a billion miles
+from home, whistling to keep up his courage, remembering something very
+precious and beautiful lost forever. I can't explain it in any other
+way."
+
+She was silent for a moment. Then she said: "Now a planet is taking
+shape in the darkness. It's pale green and crossed by a long, wavering
+streamer of light. I can make out continents and seas."
+
+Joan stiffened. "Ralph! There's only one planet in the Solar System
+that catches the sunlight through great swarms of meteors in the plane
+of its ecliptic. The lights of the Zodiac! It must be the Earth!"
+
+       *       *       *       *       *
+
+Langford dared not speak for fear of breaking the spell. Joan was
+trembling now, as though thoughts from the past were impinging with a
+tormenting intensity on her inner vision.
+
+"The ship's out of control!" came suddenly. "It's plunging down through
+the lower atmosphere toward a vast expanse of jungle. A tropical rain
+forest. A mist is rising over the trees and a burst of flame is coming
+from the ship. It's zigzagging as it descends."
+
+Emotion seemed to quiver through her. For a moment she remained
+silent, her lips slightly parted.
+
+Then more words came in a rush. "The ship lies on an island in a
+forking river. Above it the foliage is charred, blackened. There are
+three rivers and just below the island the water is white with foam.
+There's a tremendous cataract about five miles below the island. It's
+the largest cataract I've ever seen."
+
+There was an eagerness on Langford's face, but he remained silent.
+
+"There's a man swimming in the river above the cataract," Joan went on.
+"A brown-skinned man with straggly hair, his shoulders gleaming in the
+sunlight. I'm going to try to read his mind."
+
+Langford did not move. For a moment there was no sound in the room save
+Joan's harsh breathing. Then, suddenly, she straightened and ripped the
+bandage from her eyes.
+
+"Brazil!" she exclaimed, exultantly. "Darling, I've located the ship
+for you. That island is in the interior of Brazil, in the deep jungle,
+close to the headwaters of the Amazon!"
+
+Langford stood very still, scarcely daring to breathe. In his mind's
+gaze he saw a slender space cruiser lying unguarded in a suburban
+hanger close to the dark waters of the great Northwestern Canal.
+Commander Gurney's own private cruiser, the _White Hawk_!
+
+How much of his mental audacity was inspired by sheer desperation
+Langford could not guess. But he suddenly saw himself climbing out of
+a thrumming jet plane in deep shadows and running straight toward the
+cruiser with Joan at his side.
+
+He saw the cruiser ascending, saw himself at the controls, with the red
+disk of Mars dwindling beyond the viewport. He saw the myriad stars of
+space and the rapidly expanding disk of the Earth pierced by wavering
+banners of light.
+
+And then it dawned on him that in some strange way Joan had seen the
+vision first and was sharing it with him. He knew then that he could
+not fail.
+
+
+
+
+                                   4
+
+
+Beneath the descending cruiser the roof of the forest gleamed in russet
+and emerald splendor above a labyrinth of wooded archipelagoes.
+
+It still seemed a little like a dream to Langford, but he knew that it
+wasn't. The vision that he had experienced three days before, standing
+beside his wife in a white-walled room, had taken on the bright, firm
+texture of reality.
+
+He stood before the controls, with a thrumming deck under him, and
+studied the shifting landscape through the _White Hawk's_ viewport. He
+had never before flown directly over the Amazon Basin, and a river of
+shining wonder seemed to flow into his mind as he stared.
+
+It was Joan who broke the spell. She tugged gently at his arm, her face
+anxious. "I don't see any sign of the three rivers!" she exclaimed. "Do
+you?"
+
+Langford swung about. "We haven't passed the great cataract of
+Itamaraca yet," he said. "It rushes straight along for five or six
+miles. Then it becomes the most impressive waterfall in South America.
+A few miles below the falls the river spreads out into a lake."
+
+Langford turned back to the viewport. "When we see the lake we can look
+for another branching and the island. The island is right in the middle
+of the three rivers you saw in your vision. But it's just a dot on the
+electrograph. Are you sure it has a distinctive shape?"
+
+"It has a high, rocky shoreline," Joan assured him. "The central
+tributary cuts it in half and the other rivers flow around it. It's
+heavily forested, but the rent in the foliage where the ship came down
+is so wide you should be able to see it from ten thousand feet. The
+treetops are charred over a half mile radius."
+
+Langford smiled and squeezed her arm. "I bet you'd be happy mapping the
+Amazon in a bark canoe like a twentieth century explorer," he said.
+
+He grinned wryly. "A big rock island, mysterious as a cave of vampire
+bats, bisects the largest tributary west of the Tocantins, and it's
+just a dot on an electrograph to us. We've explored every crevice of
+every world in the System, but sometimes I envy our ancestors; they had
+elaborate pictorial maps to guide them."
+
+After a moment the ship leveled off, and the Great Cataract swept into
+view. It was a shining whiteness between two towering walls of foliage
+festooned with hanging vines, and flame-tongued flowers upon which the
+red sunlight seemed to dance.
+
+It foamed and cascaded over jagged rocks, swept around little clumps of
+submerged vegetation, and tore at sloping mud banks glimmering in the
+sunlight.
+
+Then the cataract became a receding blur and the wide river split up.
+
+Langford heard Joan cry out.
+
+       *       *       *       *       *
+
+The island which loomed below was about eight miles in circumference
+and so heavily forested that it resembled a single shrub of wilderness
+proportions growing from a cyclopean stone flowerpot.
+
+Its high banks were almost vertical, its summit a charred mass of
+foliage cleft by an enormous rent which funneled the sunlight downward
+to a circular patch of bare, scorched earth.
+
+Something glittered on the forest floor, far below the blackened
+foliage. But whether it was the alien ship, or merely the glint of
+sunlight on the river which flowed completely through the island
+Langford could not determine from his aerial vantage point.
+
+A divided island was really two islands, but Langford was in no mood
+for geological hair-splitting. Erosion had failed to efface the
+original, hoary uniqueness of that towering mass of jungle, and for
+all practical purposes it was one island still, its high banks and
+far-flung aerial traceries hemming it in, and sealing its teeming life
+in eternal solitude.
+
+Langford turned and looked at Joan with eyes that were meshed in
+little wrinkles of confidence. "I'm going to gun her down through that
+gap!" he said. "We could crash through anywhere, but the best way to
+locate a wreck is to hew close to the cinder line!"
+
+He bent grimly over the controls, in his mind a vision of a great host
+of alien creatures rushing toward him through the forest, swarming over
+the ship, refusing to let him emerge.
+
+He feared their weapons, which he had never seen. He remembered the
+little statue with its suicidal impulses, and its ability to shed
+force-shell replicas of itself.
+
+The ship thrummed as it swept downward, the lights in the control room
+blinking on and off. Lower it swept and lower. The blood was pounding
+in Langford's temples when a black-rimmed funnel of swirling brightness
+yawned suddenly before the viewport. The same instant the cushioning
+pressure of the anti-gravity jets made itself felt, holding the ship
+suspended above the roof of the forest until its atomotors ceased to
+throb.
+
+The ship descended under its own weight amidst a slowly dissolving
+pressure field. Sweeping down between the fire-blackened trees, it
+circled slowly about and settled to rest on the soggy forest floor.
+
+When Langford and Joan emerged a warm breeze, laden with jungle scents,
+swept toward them. They stood for an instant close to the air-lock,
+staring about them.
+
+No sound broke the stillness except the insistent hum of insects and
+the rustling of the vegetation on both sides of the ship. A few yards
+from where they were standing the ground sloped to the brown waters of
+a swift-running river, its surface flecked with white foam, and studded
+with little whirlpools that swirled with a darkly writhing turmoil as
+dry leaves fluttered down, twisting and turning in the breeze.
+
+Twisting and turning above a limp form that lay sprawled on the
+riverbank, its bare shoulders horribly hunched, its head immersed in
+the muddy brown water.
+
+Joan screamed when she saw it.
+
+She broke from Langford's restraining clasp and went stumbling forward
+until she was knee-deep in the swirling current. She was stooping and
+tugging in desperation at the half-submerged figure when Langford's
+hand closed on her shoulder.
+
+"Let me handle this," he said, firmly; "it's no job for a woman."
+
+On the bank Joan swung about to face him. "It's a job for a mutant!"
+she protested, her lips shaking. "You don't know how close he is to
+death. He's still breathing, but if we don't get him out--"
+
+She broke off abruptly when she saw that Langford needed no urging. He
+was already on his knees, tugging at the sprawled form. For a moment he
+tried to succeed from the bank, his knees sunk deep into the mud, his
+neckcords swelling. Then, with a gesture of fierce impatience, he waded
+deep into the water and lifted the unconscious man on his shoulders.
+
+       *       *       *       *       *
+
+Langford carried the man up the sloping bank, eased him to the ground
+and rolled him over. A small, wiry man, darkly bearded, his mouth
+hanging open! Staring down at the familiar face, Langford experienced
+a sense of irony so sharp and over-whelming it interfered with his
+breathing.
+
+He leaned forward, and started working the man's arms slowly up and
+down. He knelt in the soft mud, a murk of depth and shadow looming
+behind him, a grim anticipation in his stare.
+
+Suddenly the man on the riverbank stirred, groaned and opened his eyes.
+"Hey, cut that out!" he grunted. "What in blazes are you trying to do,
+you devil? Wrench my arms from their sockets?"
+
+"Good morning to you, Commander!" Langford said, chuckling.
+
+"Langford!" Commander Gurney's eyes began to shine, as though lit by
+fires from unfathomable depths of space. A convulsive shudder shook
+him. Digging his fists into the mud, he sat up straight.
+
+"You stole my ship!" he rasped, staring at Langford accusingly. "What
+made you think I couldn't trace my own cruiser? You can't rip out
+infra-radiant alarm installations unless you know where to look. Didn't
+you know I'd follow you in a fast auxiliary cruiser and get here ahead
+of you?"
+
+"I was afraid you might, sir!" Langford smiled ruefully. "But it was a
+chance I had to take."
+
+Gurney's eyes narrowed. "Your ship was sending out more automatic alarm
+rays than a chunk of radium. My men had orders to close in the instant
+you brought her down."
+
+"Just where are your men now, sir?" Langford asked.
+
+Something happened to Gurney's face. His features twitched and the
+strained intensity of his stare increased so sharply he seemed to be
+staring right through Langford into space.
+
+"Those devilish things attacked us!" he muttered. "Exactly as that
+little statue did! There were dozens of them, ten feet tall, and they
+kept coming. We blasted, but the charges went right through them; they
+lifted my lads up in their devilish preying arms and dumped them in the
+river!"
+
+Sweat gleamed on Gurney's brow. "It was ghastly, Langford. In the
+river--like pieces of dead timber. The current carried them downstream.
+I was helpless. I--I kept blasting, but I couldn't save them!"
+
+"How did you save yourself?" Langford asked.
+
+Gurney passed a dripping hand over his brow. "I was struggling with one
+of them when everything went blank. That's all I remember."
+
+Langford stood up. "I don't understand it. Why did that creature go
+away and leave you with your face submerged? Why didn't it make sure
+you'd drift downstream too?"
+
+"I'm sure I don't know, Langford!" Gurney jerked a tremulous hand
+toward the wall of foliage on the opposite bank. "Why don't you swim
+over to their ship and ask them? You'll find the ship in a clearing
+about three hundred yards from the bank. They've cleared a path to it."
+
+"That's just what I intend to do!" Langford said.
+
+Joan paled and moved swiftly to his side, her eyes wide with alarm.
+"Ralph! You're not going alone--"
+
+Langford nodded. "I'm a pretty good swimmer," he said.
+
+Joan stared at him. "But why?"
+
+"It's a little hard to explain," Langford said. "You've got a picture
+in your mind of something pretty horrible happening to me. Somehow I
+feel that everything about that picture is wrong. I've got to cross
+that stream, darling; I'd be a pretty poor specimen of a man if I
+turned back now, when we're so close to the answer."
+
+Joan said nothing. She would have argued and pleaded, but she knew that
+it would have been of no use.
+
+       *       *       *       *       *
+
+Five minutes later Langford was stripping on the riverbank. He slipped
+into the water quietly, and struck out with powerful, even strokes. On
+the opposite bank he turned an instant to flick a wet strand from his
+forehead, and wave to his wife. Then he struck off into the forest.
+
+He was a hundred feet from the bank, walking with his shoulders
+squared, when something bright and incredible swirled up from the
+forest floor directly in his path.
+
+"For your forbearance, your kindliness, thank you, Langford!" a voice
+said.
+
+It was not a spoken voice. It was still and small and remote, and it
+seemed to come from deep inside Langford's head. Langford stopped
+advancing; he stood utterly rigid, his temples pounding, his eyes
+riveted on a darting shape of flame.
+
+"Don't be alarmed, Langford," the voice said. "I'm not a shape of
+flame. But I can wrap myself in blinding flame so that the human eye
+cannot see me as I am."
+
+"Who are you?" Langford heard himself asking.
+
+"A traveler blown from his course by ill cosmic winds!" the voice said.
+"A lone and bewildered stranger from a universe so remote its light has
+not yet reached you. A genuinely frightened stranger and--a telepath,
+Langford."
+
+The voice paused, then went on. "I made you come to me just now. A
+promise of medals could not have done it, but I got inside your mind,
+and drew you to me. Medals, rewards, promotions; you prize them, don't
+you? What a pity that I cannot stay until your tunic gleams with
+ribbons."
+
+Another pause. Then the voice said: "It is difficult to get the
+intimate feel of your language. You must forgive me if my speech seems
+a little strained."
+
+"Your speech. You--"
+
+"You're not afraid of me, Langford? No, you mustn't be; you are the
+kindest of men. How can I convince you that I am--you have a phrase for
+it--letting down my hair? I shall leave you soon, my friend. I have
+repaired my ship, and I must try to return to my own people. But before
+I go I will tell you the truth."
+
+       *       *       *       *       *
+
+Another pause while the brightness pulsed. "You could have destroyed
+my ship when we met in the Asteroid Belt with a single blast; but you
+refused to do so. And I, not knowing you as I do now, tried to frighten
+you. There are so many worlds where intelligent life is cold and
+merciless that I was prepared for _any_ emergency. I am rather proud
+of that little multiplying creature I shot out into the void. It was a
+child's bauble in my world, Langford--a toy!
+
+"I am alone, my friend. Alone in a ship that utterly dwarfs me. But you
+like large ships, too; we're curiously alike in some respects. We'd
+never be satisfied with mechanical mastery on a puny scale!"
+
+"Mechanical mastery?" Langford's lips had gone cold. "Just what kind of
+mastery? Why did you attack Commander Gurney and his men?"
+
+The shape of flame seemed to pulse with a curious, inward merriment.
+Langford could feel the merriment beating into his brain, waves upon
+waves of it.
+
+"I didn't attack them. I can no more divide by fission than you can.
+But when I saw them crouching by the river, their faces merciless,
+waiting to seize you, I got inside their minds and drove them into the
+river.
+
+"Like chattering monkeys they fled from the terrifying images I planted
+in their minds. They were prepared to believe I was not one, but many,
+a swarming multitude. They floundered and swam until their strength
+gave out. When they could no longer swim they dragged themselves from
+the river, and went floundering through the jungle, fleeing from shapes
+that had no real existence.
+
+"Good Lord!" Langford muttered.
+
+"Their weapons are now at the bottom of the river. That stern and silly
+little man, who is nothing more than a jumble of bones, fell face down
+in the river; before I could reach his side you were lifting him up.
+You have won his undying gratitude. He will grumble and fume, but when
+he sees my ship disappearing into deep space you will wear ribbons, my
+friend. You will become--yes, a senior commander!"
+
+"A senior--"
+
+"Perhaps you'd like to see me as I really am, Langford, my friend!
+You'll promise not to laugh? I may look a little ridiculous to you."
+
+Langford's eyes were suddenly moist. "You couldn't possibly look
+ridiculous to me," he said.
+
+"Well ... I wouldn't like to show myself to just anybody. Certainly
+not to Skin-and-Bones! But it's terribly important that you know how
+completely I trust you. How else can I prove my gratitude?"
+
+       *       *       *       *       *
+
+Slowly the shape of flame began to contract. Its edges became brighter,
+sweeping inward to become a small, dazzling circle of radiance that
+hovered in the air like a blazing signet ring.
+
+In the middle of the ring a tiny form appeared. Amidst Langford's
+rioting thoughts one thing stood out with mind-numbing clarity. The
+form was minute, so tiny that the mantis shape it had shot into the
+void would have utterly dwarfed it. The form was minute, and yet--it
+did resemble a mantis. Its arms were upraised, and its pinpoint eyes
+fastened on Langford with a blazing intensity that seemed to bore deep
+into his brain.
+
+But there was no enmity in that stare. Only complete gratitude, trust
+and friendship. Yes, and a certain _greatness_!
+
+"Now you see me as I really am!" the voice said. "I am so small that
+you could crush me between your thumb and forefinger. But I would not
+hesitate to alight on your thumb, my friend!"
+
+A strange wonder throbbed in Langford's brain. And suddenly he found
+himself thinking: "Jimmy Cricket!"
+
+Yes, that was it! The tiny shape was as friendly, as puckish, as
+noble in essence as that little nursery rhyme will-o'-the-wisp, Jimmy
+Cricket. And it did look like a cricket; a chirping, gleeful, truly
+great cricket.
+
+Suddenly down the long sweep of the years Langford saw two small human
+figures advancing over a path of golden bricks toward a glittering
+distant palace.
+
+One of the forms was himself, the other his sister. They moved in awe
+and terror, because the palace was inhabited by a mighty wizard with
+truly terrifying powers. But when they reached the palace they met a
+human, likeable little man who wasn't terrible at all. And they knew
+then that the mighty wizard was a humbug. But somehow in his simple
+humanness the wizard seemed even greater than he had been. Greater, but
+no longer terrifying.
+
+Jimmy Cricket was--the Wizard of Oz. And he was something more. A
+lonely, wayfaring stranger, blown from his course by ill cosmic
+winds, taking reasonable precautions, but seeking only a responsive
+friendliness in the gulfs between the stars.
+
+For a moment Langford felt a swirl of energy brush his fingertips, like
+the clasp of an intangible hand. Then the mental voice said: "Good
+heavens, Langford! You're dripping wet! See how the dry leaves of the
+forest cling to your feet!"
+
+Startled, Langford lowered his eyes.
+
+When he looked up the circle of radiance was gone.
+
+"Forgive me, Langford!" a faint, diminishing voice said. "But partings
+should not be prolonged! Goodbye, my friend!"
+
+When Langford emerged on the riverbank, sunlight struck down over his
+tall, straight body, giving him the aspect of a Greek god emerging from
+a forest glade in the morning of the world.
+
+He paused for an instant on the sloping bank to wave to his wife. Then
+he plunged into the river and swam straight toward her.
+
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books/_downloader.py

@@ -0,0 +1,243 @@
+"""
+Project Gutenberg Top 100 EBooks Downloader
+
+This script downloads the top 100 ebooks from Project Gutenberg's "Top 100 EBooks last 30 days"
+in Plain Text UTF-8 format, following the robot access policy at:
+https://www.gutenberg.org/policy/robot_access.html
+
+Features:
+- Downloads Plain Text UTF-8 format
+- Respects robot access policy with delays between requests
+- Sanitizes filenames to use only alphanumeric characters and underscores
+
+NOTE: This script was generated by AI and has not been thoroughly tested.
+NOTE: After downloading, I did the following:
+- Add filesize to the filename
+- Remove books larger than 300KB
+- Remove books that are judged by AI as thematically inappropriate for this project
+  (e.g., non-narrative, no characters, or sexual content)
+"""
+
+import os
+import re
+import time
+
+import requests
+
+
+# Set the current working directory to the directory of this script
+_dir = os.path.dirname(__file__)
+os.chdir(_dir)
+
+
+class GutenbergDownloader:
+    def __init__(self, output_dir="./", delay=2):
+        """
+        Initialize the downloader.
+
+        Args:
+            output_dir (str): Directory to save downloaded books
+            delay (int): Delay between requests in seconds (following robot policy)
+        """
+        self.output_dir = output_dir
+        self.delay = delay
+        self.session = requests.Session()
+        self.session.headers.update(
+            {"User-Agent": "Novel Heroes Downloader 1.0 (Educational Purpose)"}
+        )
+
+        # Ensure output directory exists
+        os.makedirs(output_dir, exist_ok=True)
+
+    def get_top_100_list(self):
+        """Get the list of top 100 ebooks from Project Gutenberg."""
+        url = "https://www.gutenberg.org/browse/scores/top"
+
+        print("Fetching top 100 list...")
+        try:
+            response = self.session.get(url)
+            response.raise_for_status()
+            time.sleep(self.delay)  # Respect robot policy
+
+            # Parse the HTML to extract book information
+            books = []
+            content = response.text
+
+            # Look for the "Top 100 EBooks last 30 days" section
+            top_section_match = re.search(
+                r"<h2[^>]*>Top 100 EBooks last 30 days</h2>(.*)(?=<h2|$)",
+                content,
+                re.DOTALL | re.IGNORECASE,
+            )
+
+            if not top_section_match:
+                print("Could not find the Top 100 section")
+                return []
+
+            top_section = top_section_match.group(1)
+
+            # Extract book links and titles
+            book_pattern = r'<li[^>]*>.*?<a href="(/ebooks/\d+)"[^>]*>(.*?)</a>'
+            matches = re.findall(book_pattern, top_section, re.DOTALL)
+
+            for href, title in matches:
+                if len(books) >= 100:
+                    break
+
+                # Clean up title
+                title = re.sub(r"<[^>]+>", "", title)  # Remove HTML tags
+                title = title.strip()
+
+                # Extract book ID
+                book_id_match = re.search(r"/ebooks/(\d+)", href)
+                if book_id_match:
+                    book_id = book_id_match.group(1)
+                    books.append(
+                        {
+                            "id": book_id,
+                            "title": title,
+                            "url": f"https://www.gutenberg.org{href}",
+                        }
+                    )
+
+            print(f"Found {len(books)} books in top 100 list")
+            return books
+
+        except Exception as e:
+            print(f"Error fetching top 100 list: {e}")
+            return []
+
+    def get_plain_text_url(self, book_id):
+        """Get the Plain Text UTF-8 download URL for a book."""
+        # Project Gutenberg Plain Text UTF-8 format URL pattern
+        return f"https://www.gutenberg.org/files/{book_id}/{book_id}-0.txt"
+
+    def sanitize_filename(self, title, book_id=None):
+        """Sanitize filename to use only alphanumeric characters and underscores."""
+        # Remove or replace problematic characters
+        sanitized = re.sub(r"[^\w\s-]", "", title)
+        # Replace spaces and hyphens with underscores
+        sanitized = re.sub(r"[-\s]+", "_", sanitized)
+        # Remove multiple underscores
+        sanitized = re.sub(r"_+", "_", sanitized)
+        # Remove leading/trailing underscores
+        sanitized = sanitized.strip("_")
+        # Limit length
+        if len(sanitized) > 100:
+            sanitized = sanitized[:100].rstrip("_")
+
+        return sanitized or f"book_{book_id or 'unknown'}"
+
+    def download_book(self, book_info):
+        """Download a single book."""
+        book_id = book_info["id"]
+        title = book_info["title"]
+
+        # Get Plain Text URL
+        text_url = self.get_plain_text_url(book_id)
+
+        # Create sanitized filename
+        sanitized_title = self.sanitize_filename(title, book_id)
+        filename = f"{sanitized_title}.txt"
+        filepath = os.path.join(self.output_dir, filename)
+
+        # Skip if file already exists
+        if os.path.exists(filepath):
+            print(f"Skipping {title} (already exists)")
+            return True
+
+        print(f"Downloading: {title}")
+
+        try:
+            # Download the text
+            response = self.session.get(text_url)
+            response.raise_for_status()
+
+            # Save to file
+            with open(filepath, "w", encoding="utf-8") as f:
+                f.write(response.text)
+
+            print(f"Successfully downloaded: {filename}")
+            time.sleep(self.delay)  # Respect robot policy
+            return True
+
+        except requests.exceptions.RequestException as e:
+            print(f"Error downloading {title}: {e}")
+            return False
+        except Exception as e:
+            print(f"Error processing {title}: {e}")
+            return False
+
+    def download_top_100(self, limit=100):
+        """Download top ebooks with optional limit."""
+        # Get the list of top 100 books
+        books = self.get_top_100_list()
+
+        if not books:
+            print("No books found to download")
+            return
+
+        # Apply limit
+        if limit < len(books):
+            books = books[:limit]
+
+        print(f"Starting download of {len(books)} books...")
+        print(f"Output directory: {os.path.abspath(self.output_dir)}")
+        print(f"Delay between requests: {self.delay} seconds")
+        print("-" * 50)
+
+        successful_downloads = 0
+        failed_downloads = 0
+
+        for i, book in enumerate(books, 1):
+            print(f"\n[{i}/{len(books)}]", end=" ")
+
+            # Download the book directly (author will be extracted from text)
+            if self.download_book(book):
+                successful_downloads += 1
+            else:
+                failed_downloads += 1
+
+        print("\n" + "=" * 50)
+        print("Download completed!")
+        print(f"Successful downloads: {successful_downloads}")
+        print(f"Failed downloads: {failed_downloads}")
+        print(f"Total books processed: {len(books)}")
+
+
+def main():
+    """Main function to run the downloader."""
+    import argparse
+
+    parser = argparse.ArgumentParser(
+        description="Download Project Gutenberg Top 100 EBooks"
+    )
+    parser.add_argument(
+        "--output-dir",
+        "-o",
+        default="./",
+        help="Output directory (default: ./)",
+    )
+    parser.add_argument(
+        "--delay",
+        "-d",
+        type=int,
+        default=2,
+        help="Delay between requests in seconds (default: 2)",
+    )
+    parser.add_argument(
+        "--limit",
+        "-l",
+        type=int,
+        default=100,
+        help="Limit number of books to download (default: 100)",
+    )
+
+    args = parser.parse_args()
+
+    downloader = GutenbergDownloader(output_dir=args.output_dir, delay=args.delay)
+    downloader.download_top_100(limit=args.limit)
+
+
+if __name__ == "__main__":
+    main()

modal/invoke.py

@@ -35,7 +35,7 @@ if ENABLE_STREAMING:
 
 else:
     """Non-streaming version"""
-    response = model.chat.remote(chat_history)
+    response = model.generate.remote(chat_history)
     print("AI:", response)
 
 

modal/main.py

@@ -1,36 +1,27 @@
-import os
 import subprocess
 
 from huggingface_hub import snapshot_download
-from vllm import LLM, SamplingParams
+import vllm
 
 import modal
 
-image = (
-    # https//hub.docker.com/layers/nvidia/cuda/12.8.1-devel-ubuntu24.04/images/sha256-4b9ed5fa8361736996499f64ecebf25d4ec37ff56e4d11323ccde10aa36e0c43
-    modal.Image.from_registry(
-        "nvidia/cuda:12.8.1-devel-ubuntu24.04", add_python="3.12"
-    ).pip_install(
-        [
-            "accelerate>=1.7.0",
-            "bitsandbytes>=0.46.0",
-            "sentencepiece>=0.2.0",
-            "torch==2.7.0",  # torch2.7.1 is not compatible with vllm
-            "transformers>=4.52.4",
-            "vllm>=0.9.0.1",
-        ]
-    )
-)
-
 APP_NAME = "llm-server"
+VOLUME_NAME = APP_NAME + "-volume"
+MOUNT_VOLUME = modal.Volume.from_name(VOLUME_NAME, create_if_missing=True)
+MOUNT_DIR = "/data"
 
-# Model identifier for the Hugging Face model and GPU memory usage in comments
-MODEL_IDENTIFIER = "google/gemma-3-4b-it"  # 10GB
+# Model identifier for the Hugging Face model
+# NOTE: Gemma-3 GGUF models are not supported by vLLM yet (2025-06-10).
+# NOTE: vLLM allocate all GPU memory according to the value specified by `gpu_memory_utilization` at initialization.
+# https://huggingface.co/google/gemma-3-4b-it
+MODEL_IDENTIFIER = "google/gemma-3-4b-it"  # GPU memory requirements: 10GB when MAX_MODEL_TOKENS=2k, 20GB when MAX_MODEL_TOKENS=128k
+# https://huggingface.co/google/gemma-3-12b-it
 # MODEL_IDENTIFIER = "google/gemma-3-12b-it"
+# https://huggingface.co/google/gemma-3-27b-it
 # MODEL_IDENTIFIER = "google/gemma-3-27b-it"
 
 # https://modal.com/docs/guide/gpu#specifying-gpu-type
-GPU_NAME = "L4"
+GPU_NAME = "A100-40GB"
 GPU_NUM = 1  # Number of GPUs to use
 GPU = f"{GPU_NAME}:{GPU_NUM}"
 
@@ -47,12 +38,30 @@ GPU = f"{GPU_NAME}:{GPU_NUM}"
 # | L4        |  24 GB | $0.80 /h |
 # | T4        |  16 GB | $0.59 /h |
 
-VOLUME_NAME = APP_NAME + "-volume"
-MOUNT_VOLUME = modal.Volume.from_name(VOLUME_NAME, create_if_missing=True)
+# MAX_MODEL_TOKENS >= Input + Output
+MAX_MODEL_TOKENS = 128 * 1024  # Gemma-3-4B~ has 128K context length
+MAX_OUTPUT_TOKENS = 512
 
-MOUNT_DIR = "/data"
-MODEL_SNAPSHOT = MOUNT_DIR + "/" + MODEL_IDENTIFIER.split("/")[-1] + "/snapshot"
-MODEL_CACHE = MOUNT_DIR + "/" + MODEL_IDENTIFIER.split("/")[-1] + "/cache"
+image = (
+    # https//hub.docker.com/layers/nvidia/cuda/12.8.1-devel-ubuntu24.04/images/sha256-4b9ed5fa8361736996499f64ecebf25d4ec37ff56e4d11323ccde10aa36e0c43
+    modal.Image.from_registry("nvidia/cuda:12.8.1-devel-ubuntu24.04", add_python="3.12")
+    .pip_install(
+        [
+            "accelerate>=1.7.0",
+            "bitsandbytes>=0.46.0",
+            "sentencepiece>=0.2.0",
+            "torch==2.7.0",  # torch2.7.1 is not compatible with vllm
+            "transformers>=4.52.4",
+            "vllm>=0.9.0.1",
+        ]
+    )
+    .env(
+        {
+            "HF_HOME": MOUNT_DIR + "/huggingface",
+            "VLLM_CACHE_ROOT": MOUNT_DIR + "/vllm",
+        }
+    )
+)
 
 app = modal.App(APP_NAME, image=image)
 
@@ -72,37 +81,39 @@ class VLLMModel:
 
     @modal.enter()
     def setup(self):
-        self._download_model(repo_id=MODEL_IDENTIFIER)
-        self._load_model()
+        # Ensure the cache volume is the latest
+        MOUNT_VOLUME.reload()
 
-    def _download_model(self, repo_id: str):
+        # NOTE:"HF_TOKEN" environment variable is required for Hugging Face authentication
 
-        print(f"🦙 downloading model from {repo_id} if not present")
+        # self._download_model(MODEL_IDENTIFIER)  # This is not needed because vLLM can download the model automatically.
+
+        self._load_model()
 
-        huggingface_token = os.environ.get("HUGGINGFACE_TOKEN")
+        # Commit the volume to ensure the model is saved
+        MOUNT_VOLUME.commit()
+
+    def _download_model(self, repo_id: str):
+        """Download the model from Hugging Face if not already present."""
+        # Ensure the cache volume is the latest
+        MOUNT_VOLUME.reload()
 
         snapshot_download(
             repo_id=repo_id,
-            local_dir=MODEL_SNAPSHOT,
-            token=huggingface_token,
         )
 
-        MOUNT_VOLUME.commit()  # ensure other Modal Functions can see our writes before we quit
+        # Commit downloaded model
+        MOUNT_VOLUME.commit()
 
     def _load_model(self):
-        # vLLM requires "HF_TOKEN" environment variable to access Hugging Face models
-        huggingface_token = os.environ.get("HUGGINGFACE_TOKEN")
-        if huggingface_token:
-            os.environ["HF_TOKEN"] = huggingface_token
 
-        self.llm = LLM(
+        self.llm = vllm.LLM(
             model=MODEL_IDENTIFIER,
             tensor_parallel_size=1,
-            dtype="bfloat16",
-            max_model_len=2048,  # Input 1024 + Output 512 + Margin
+            dtype="auto",
+            max_model_len=MAX_MODEL_TOKENS,
             gpu_memory_utilization=0.9,
             trust_remote_code=True,
-            download_dir=MODEL_CACHE,
         )
 
         # Show GPU information
@@ -110,22 +121,17 @@ class VLLMModel:
 
     @modal.method()
     def generate(self, chat_history):
-        """Generate a response using vLLM"""
+        """Generate a response"""
+        formatted_text = self._get_formatted_text(chat_history)
 
-        tokenizer = self.llm.get_tokenizer()
+        input_token_len = self._check_input_length(formatted_text)
+        if input_token_len + MAX_OUTPUT_TOKENS > MAX_MODEL_TOKENS:
+            raise ValueError(
+                f"Input length exceeds the maximum allowed tokens: {MAX_MODEL_TOKENS}. "
+                f"Current input length: {input_token_len} tokens."
+            )
 
-        formatted_text = tokenizer.apply_chat_template(
-            chat_history,
-            tokenize=False,
-            add_generation_prompt=True,
-        )
-
-        sampling_params = SamplingParams(
-            temperature=1.0,
-            top_k=50,
-            top_p=1.0,
-            max_tokens=512,
-        )
+        sampling_params = self._get_sampling_params()
 
         outputs = self.llm.generate([formatted_text], sampling_params)
         response = outputs[0].outputs[0].text
@@ -134,31 +140,52 @@ class VLLMModel:
 
     @modal.method()
     def generate_stream(self, chat_history):
-        """Generate a streaming response using vLLM"""
+        """Generate a streaming response"""
+        formatted_text = self._get_formatted_text(chat_history)
+
+        input_token_len = self._check_input_length(formatted_text)
+        if input_token_len + MAX_OUTPUT_TOKENS > MAX_MODEL_TOKENS:
+            raise ValueError(
+                f"Input length exceeds the maximum allowed tokens: {MAX_MODEL_TOKENS}. "
+                f"Current input length: {input_token_len} tokens."
+            )
+
+        sampling_params = self._get_sampling_params()
+
+        # Streaming generation with vLLM
+        for output in self.llm.generate([formatted_text], sampling_params):
+            for completion_output in output.outputs:
+                yield completion_output.text
 
+    def _get_formatted_text(self, chat_history):
+        """Format the chat history"""
         tokenizer = self.llm.get_tokenizer()
-        formatted_text = tokenizer.apply_chat_template(
+        return tokenizer.apply_chat_template(
             chat_history,
             tokenize=False,
             add_generation_prompt=True,
         )
 
-        sampling_params = SamplingParams(
+    def _check_input_length(self, formatted_text):
+        tokenizer = self.llm.get_tokenizer()
+        input_token_len = len(tokenizer(formatted_text)["input_ids"])
+        return input_token_len
+
+    def _get_sampling_params(self):
+        """Get sampling parameters for generation"""
+        return vllm.SamplingParams(
             temperature=1.0,
             top_k=50,
             top_p=1.0,
-            max_tokens=512,
+            max_tokens=MAX_OUTPUT_TOKENS,
         )
 
-        # Streaming generation with vLLM
-        for output in self.llm.generate([formatted_text], sampling_params):
-            for completion_output in output.outputs:
-                yield completion_output.text
-
 
 @app.local_entrypoint()
 def main():
-    SYSTEM_PROMPT = "You are a friendly Chatbot. Please respond in the same language as the user."
+    SYSTEM_PROMPT = (
+        "You are a friendly Chatbot. Please respond in the same language as the user."
+    )
 
     # Initialize chat history list
     chat_history = []
@@ -179,9 +206,27 @@ def main():
     )
 
     model = VLLMModel()
-    response = model.generate.remote(chat_history)
 
+    # Call non-streaming function
+    response = model.generate.remote(chat_history)
     print("AI:", response)
     chat_history.append(
         {"role": "assistant", "content": [{"type": "text", "text": response}]}
     )
+
+    user_prompt = "What is your name?"
+    print(f"USER: {user_prompt}\n")
+    chat_history.append(
+        {
+            "role": "user",
+            "content": [{"type": "text", "text": user_prompt}],
+        }
+    )
+
+    # Call streaming function
+    print("AI: ", end="", flush=True)
+    response = ""
+    for chunk in model.generate_stream.remote_gen(chat_history):
+        print(chunk, end="", flush=True)
+        response += chunk
+    print()

pyproject.toml

@@ -18,3 +18,7 @@ dev = [
     "transformers>=4.52.4",
     "vllm>=0.9.0.1",
 ]
+
+[build-system]
+requires = ["setuptools>=61"]
+build-backend = "setuptools.build_meta"

requirements.txt

@@ -1,61 +1,16 @@
 # This file was autogenerated by uv via the following command:
-#    uv export --format requirements-txt --no-dev
-aiofiles==24.1.0 \
-    --hash=sha256:22a075c9e5a3810f0c2e48f3008c94d68c65d763b9b03857924c99e57355166c \
-    --hash=sha256:b4ec55f4195e3eb5d7abd1bf7e061763e864dd4954231fb8539a0ef8bb8260e5
+#    uv export --format requirements-txt --no-dev --no-editable --no-hashes --no-emit-project
+aiofiles==24.1.0
     # via gradio
-aiohappyeyeballs==2.6.1 \
-    --hash=sha256:c3f9d0113123803ccadfdf3f0faa505bc78e6a72d1cc4806cbd719826e943558 \
-    --hash=sha256:f349ba8f4b75cb25c99c5c2d84e997e485204d2902a9597802b0371f09331fb8
+aiohappyeyeballs==2.6.1
     # via aiohttp
-aiohttp==3.12.9 \
-    --hash=sha256:00369db59f09860e0e26c75035f80f92881103e90f5858c18f29eb4f8cb8970f \
-    --hash=sha256:0575d7ae9a9c206276a6aaa3ce364b467f29f0497c0db4449de060dc341d88d6 \
-    --hash=sha256:0bd0e06c8626361027f69df510c8484e17568ba2f91b2de51ea055f86ed3b071 \
-    --hash=sha256:11b5bf453056b6ac4924ede1188d01e8b8d4801a6aa5351da3a7dbdbc03cb44e \
-    --hash=sha256:16627b4caf6a36b605e3e1c4847e6d14af8e8d6b7dad322935be43237d4eb10d \
-    --hash=sha256:1a3f20a1b72643a0be5c9fcb97eb22607fcca32f1ca497f09a88d1ec3109daae \
-    --hash=sha256:20f8a6d3af13f043a09726add6d096b533f180cf8b43970a8d9c9ca978bf45c5 \
-    --hash=sha256:2c9914c8914ff40b68c6e4ed5da33e88d4e8f368fddd03ceb0eb3175905ca782 \
-    --hash=sha256:3647dd1da43d595a52c5071b68fd8d39c0fd25b80f2cdd83eaabd9d59cd1f139 \
-    --hash=sha256:4a1f72b2560beaa949b5d3b324fc07b66846d39a8e7cc106ca450312a5771e3e \
-    --hash=sha256:4cfa37e0797510fdb20ab0ee3ad483ae7cfacb27c6fb8de872a998705ad2286a \
-    --hash=sha256:55197e86994682a332e8943eb01b462ae25630b10f245812e517251d7a922f25 \
-    --hash=sha256:5cade22a0f0a4665003ded2bc4d43bb69fde790e5a287187569509c33333a3ab \
-    --hash=sha256:64e22f12dd940a6e7b923637b10b611b752f6117bc3a780b7e61cc43c9e04892 \
-    --hash=sha256:74e87ea6c832311b18a32b06baa6fee90a83dd630de951cca1aa175c3c9fa1ce \
-    --hash=sha256:7ae744b61b395e04b3d1acbbd301d98249397333f49419039517226ff32f3aa7 \
-    --hash=sha256:7ccc5a5a4ccfa0ef0191dad2926e9752c37f368d846a70e40095a8529c5fb6eb \
-    --hash=sha256:80fa1efc71d423be25db9dddefe8dcd90e487fbc9351a59549521b66405e71de \
-    --hash=sha256:94d0cf6606ed9f2373565b8d0005bb070afbb81525ef6fa6e0725b8aec0c0843 \
-    --hash=sha256:970bae350cedbabb7c9d0fc8564b004a547d4a27cf12dc986be0abf7d8cc8d81 \
-    --hash=sha256:97b036ce251825fd5ab69d302ca8a99d3352af1c616cf40b2306fdb734cd6d30 \
-    --hash=sha256:995b5640969b1250e37be6fc92d185e523e8df446f8bfa723b347e52d7ae80f9 \
-    --hash=sha256:998e323c107c3f6396c1f9de72289009057c611942771f24114ae78a76af0af5 \
-    --hash=sha256:9f44a4ebd717cc39796c4647495bc2901d0c168c71cd0132691ae3d0312215a9 \
-    --hash=sha256:ba7a8b5f02c2826eb29e8d6c38f1bc509efb506a2862131079b5b8d880ed4b62 \
-    --hash=sha256:bf6fac88666d7e4c6cfe649d133fcedbc68e37a4472e8662d98a7cf576207303 \
-    --hash=sha256:bfe590ddb0dca3cdb601787079276545f00cfb9493f73f00fa011e71dae6f5fd \
-    --hash=sha256:ccb1931cc8b4dc6d7a2d83db39db18c3f9ac3d46a59289cea301acbad57f3d12 \
-    --hash=sha256:d467a2049c4405853799dea41474b0ea9852fd465e7e2df819d3a33ac53214e8 \
-    --hash=sha256:d4a0fe3cd45cf6fb18222deef92af1c3efe090b7f43d477de61b2360c90a4b32 \
-    --hash=sha256:e429fce99ac3fd6423622713d2474a5911f24816ccdaf9a74c3ece854b7375c1 \
-    --hash=sha256:eeac3a965552dbf79bcc0b9b963b5f7d6364b1542eb609937278d70d27ae997f \
-    --hash=sha256:f9cdadfe84beb8ceafa98ab676e8c0caf1e5d60e8b33c385c11259ee0f7f2587 \
-    --hash=sha256:fc441aba05efec5c72127393f56206d0f3fb113aadcd1685033c10da1ff582ad \
-    --hash=sha256:fdbd04e9b05885eaaefdb81c163b6dc1431eb13ee2da16d82ee980d4dd123890
+aiohttp==3.12.9
     # via modal
-aiosignal==1.3.2 \
-    --hash=sha256:45cde58e409a301715980c2b01d0c28bdde3770d8290b5eb2173759d9acb31a5 \
-    --hash=sha256:a8c255c66fafb1e499c9351d0bf32ff2d8a0321595ebac3b93713656d2436f54
+aiosignal==1.3.2
     # via aiohttp
-annotated-types==0.7.0 \
-    --hash=sha256:1f02e8b43a8fbbc3f3e0d4f0f4bfc8131bcb4eebe8849b8e5c773f3a1c582a53 \
-    --hash=sha256:aff07c09a53a08bc8cfccb9c85b05f1aa9a2a6f23728d790723543408344ce89
+annotated-types==0.7.0
     # via pydantic
-anyio==4.9.0 \
-    --hash=sha256:673c0c244e15788651a4ff38710fea9675823028a6f08a5eda409e0c9840a028 \
-    --hash=sha256:9f76d541cad6e36af7beb62e978876f3b41e3e04f2c1fbf0884604c0a9c4d93c
+anyio==4.9.0
     # via
     #   gradio
     #   httpx
@@ -63,749 +18,195 @@ anyio==4.9.0 \
     #   sse-starlette
     #   starlette
     #   watchfiles
-attrs==25.3.0 \
-    --hash=sha256:427318ce031701fea540783410126f03899a97ffc6f61596ad581ac2e40e3bc3 \
-    --hash=sha256:75d7cefc7fb576747b2c81b4442d4d4a1ce0900973527c011d1030fd3bf4af1b
+attrs==25.3.0
     # via
     #   aiohttp
     #   sigtools
-audioop-lts==0.2.1 ; python_full_version >= '3.13' \
-    --hash=sha256:05da64e73837f88ee5c6217d732d2584cf638003ac72df124740460531e95e47 \
-    --hash=sha256:120678b208cca1158f0a12d667af592e067f7a50df9adc4dc8f6ad8d065a93fb \
-    --hash=sha256:161249db9343b3c9780ca92c0be0d1ccbfecdbccac6844f3d0d44b9c4a00a17f \
-    --hash=sha256:2aeb6f96f7f6da80354330470b9134d81b4cf544cdd1c549f2f45fe964d28059 \
-    --hash=sha256:2bdb3b7912ccd57ea53197943f1bbc67262dcf29802c4a6df79ec1c715d45a78 \
-    --hash=sha256:3827e3fce6fee4d69d96a3d00cd2ab07f3c0d844cb1e44e26f719b34a5b15455 \
-    --hash=sha256:4a8dd6a81770f6ecf019c4b6d659e000dc26571b273953cef7cd1d5ce2ff3ae6 \
-    --hash=sha256:534ce808e6bab6adb65548723c8cbe189a3379245db89b9d555c4210b4aaa9b6 \
-    --hash=sha256:54cd4520fc830b23c7d223693ed3e1b4d464997dd3abc7c15dce9a1f9bd76ab2 \
-    --hash=sha256:56b7a0a4dba8e353436f31a932f3045d108a67b5943b30f85a5563f4d8488d77 \
-    --hash=sha256:5b7b4ff9de7a44e0ad2618afdc2ac920b91f4a6d3509520ee65339d4acde5abf \
-    --hash=sha256:64562c5c771fb0a8b6262829b9b4f37a7b886c01b4d3ecdbae1d629717db08b4 \
-    --hash=sha256:6e899eb8874dc2413b11926b5fb3857ec0ab55222840e38016a6ba2ea9b7d5e3 \
-    --hash=sha256:72e37f416adb43b0ced93419de0122b42753ee74e87070777b53c5d2241e7fab \
-    --hash=sha256:78bfb3703388c780edf900be66e07de5a3d4105ca8e8720c5c4d67927e0b15d0 \
-    --hash=sha256:a351af79edefc2a1bd2234bfd8b339935f389209943043913a919df4b0f13300 \
-    --hash=sha256:c45317debeb64002e980077642afbd977773a25fa3dfd7ed0c84dccfc1fafcb0 \
-    --hash=sha256:c589f06407e8340e81962575fcffbba1e92671879a221186c3d4662de9fe804e \
-    --hash=sha256:d1cd3c0b6f2ca25c7d2b1c3adeecbe23e65689839ba73331ebc7d893fcda7ffe \
-    --hash=sha256:d2d5434717f33117f29b5691fbdf142d36573d751716249a288fbb96ba26a281 \
-    --hash=sha256:d2de9b6fb8b1cf9f03990b299a9112bfdf8b86b6987003ca9e8a6c4f56d39543 \
-    --hash=sha256:d6bd20c7a10abcb0fb3d8aaa7508c0bf3d40dfad7515c572014da4b979d3310a \
-    --hash=sha256:e175350da05d2087e12cea8e72a70a1a8b14a17e92ed2022952a4419689ede5e \
-    --hash=sha256:e1af3ff32b8c38a7d900382646e91f2fc515fd19dea37e9392275a5cbfdbff63 \
-    --hash=sha256:e81268da0baa880431b68b1308ab7257eb33f356e57a5f9b1f915dfb13dd1387 \
-    --hash=sha256:f0ed1ad9bd862539ea875fb339ecb18fcc4148f8d9908f4502df28f94d23491a \
-    --hash=sha256:f0f2f336aa2aee2bce0b0dcc32bbba9178995454c7b979cf6ce086a8801e14c7 \
-    --hash=sha256:f24865991b5ed4b038add5edbf424639d1358144f4e2a3e7a84bc6ba23e35074 \
-    --hash=sha256:f51bb55122a89f7a0817d7ac2319744b4640b5b446c4c3efcea5764ea99ae509 \
-    --hash=sha256:f626a01c0a186b08f7ff61431c01c055961ee28769591efa8800beadd27a2959 \
-    --hash=sha256:fbae5d6925d7c26e712f0beda5ed69ebb40e14212c185d129b8dfbfcc335eb48 \
-    --hash=sha256:fd1345ae99e17e6910f47ce7d52673c6a1a70820d78b67de1b7abb3af29c426a \
-    --hash=sha256:ff3f97b3372c97782e9c6d3d7fdbe83bce8f70de719605bd7ee1839cd1ab360a
+audioop-lts==0.2.1 ; python_full_version >= '3.13'
     # via gradio
-certifi==2025.4.26 \
-    --hash=sha256:0a816057ea3cdefcef70270d2c515e4506bbc954f417fa5ade2021213bb8f0c6 \
-    --hash=sha256:30350364dfe371162649852c63336a15c70c6510c2ad5015b21c2345311805f3
+certifi==2025.4.26
     # via
     #   httpcore
     #   httpx
     #   modal
     #   requests
-charset-normalizer==3.4.2 \
-    --hash=sha256:0c29de6a1a95f24b9a1aa7aefd27d2487263f00dfd55a77719b530788f75cff7 \
-    --hash=sha256:1c95a1e2902a8b722868587c0e1184ad5c55631de5afc0eb96bc4b0d738092c0 \
-    --hash=sha256:289200a18fa698949d2b39c671c2cc7a24d44096784e76614899a7ccf2574b7b \
-    --hash=sha256:32fc0341d72e0f73f80acb0a2c94216bd704f4f0bce10aedea38f30502b271ff \
-    --hash=sha256:3fddb7e2c84ac87ac3a947cb4e66d143ca5863ef48e4a5ecb83bd48619e4634e \
-    --hash=sha256:4a476b06fbcf359ad25d34a057b7219281286ae2477cc5ff5e3f70a246971148 \
-    --hash=sha256:4e594135de17ab3866138f496755f302b72157d115086d100c3f19370839dd3a \
-    --hash=sha256:5a9979887252a82fefd3d3ed2a8e3b937a7a809f65dcb1e068b090e165bbe99e \
-    --hash=sha256:5baececa9ecba31eff645232d59845c07aa030f0c81ee70184a90d35099a0e63 \
-    --hash=sha256:6c9379d65defcab82d07b2a9dfbfc2e95bc8fe0ebb1b176a3190230a3ef0e07c \
-    --hash=sha256:7222ffd5e4de8e57e03ce2cef95a4c43c98fcb72ad86909abdfc2c17d227fc1b \
-    --hash=sha256:7f56930ab0abd1c45cd15be65cc741c28b1c9a34876ce8c17a2fa107810c0af0 \
-    --hash=sha256:926ca93accd5d36ccdabd803392ddc3e03e6d4cd1cf17deff3b989ab8e9dbcf0 \
-    --hash=sha256:98f862da73774290f251b9df8d11161b6cf25b599a66baf087c1ffe340e9bfd1 \
-    --hash=sha256:a370b3e078e418187da8c3674eddb9d983ec09445c99a3a263c2011993522981 \
-    --hash=sha256:a955b438e62efdf7e0b7b52a64dc5c3396e2634baa62471768a64bc2adb73d5c \
-    --hash=sha256:aa6af9e7d59f9c12b33ae4e9450619cf2488e2bbe9b44030905877f0b2324980 \
-    --hash=sha256:aaeeb6a479c7667fbe1099af9617c83aaca22182d6cf8c53966491a0f1b7ffb7 \
-    --hash=sha256:bee093bf902e1d8fc0ac143c88902c3dfc8941f7ea1d6a8dd2bcb786d33db03d \
-    --hash=sha256:cddf7bd982eaa998934a91f69d182aec997c6c468898efe6679af88283b498d3 \
-    --hash=sha256:cf713fe9a71ef6fd5adf7a79670135081cd4431c2943864757f0fa3a65b1fafd \
-    --hash=sha256:d41c4d287cfc69060fa91cae9683eacffad989f1a10811995fa309df656ec214 \
-    --hash=sha256:db4c7bf0e07fc3b7d89ac2a5880a6a8062056801b83ff56d8464b70f65482b6c \
-    --hash=sha256:dedb8adb91d11846ee08bec4c8236c8549ac721c245678282dcb06b221aab59f \
-    --hash=sha256:e635b87f01ebc977342e2697d05b56632f5f879a4f15955dfe8cef2448b51691 \
-    --hash=sha256:eba9904b0f38a143592d9fc0e19e2df0fa2e41c3c3745554761c5f6447eedabf \
-    --hash=sha256:ef8de666d6179b009dce7bcb2ad4c4a779f113f12caf8dc77f0162c29d20490b \
-    --hash=sha256:fcbe676a55d7445b22c10967bceaaf0ee69407fbe0ece4d032b6eb8d4565982a
+charset-normalizer==3.4.2
     # via requests
-click==8.1.8 \
-    --hash=sha256:63c132bbbed01578a06712a2d1f497bb62d9c1c0d329b7903a866228027263b2 \
-    --hash=sha256:ed53c9d8990d83c2a27deae68e4ee337473f6330c040a31d4225c9574d16096a
+click==8.1.8
     # via
     #   modal
     #   typer
     #   uvicorn
-colorama==0.4.6 ; sys_platform == 'win32' \
-    --hash=sha256:08695f5cb7ed6e0531a20572697297273c47b8cae5a63ffc6d6ed5c201be6e44 \
-    --hash=sha256:4f1d9991f5acc0ca119f9d443620b77f9d6b33703e51011c16baf57afb285fc6
+colorama==0.4.6 ; sys_platform == 'win32'
     # via
     #   click
     #   tqdm
-fastapi==0.115.12 \
-    --hash=sha256:1e2c2a2646905f9e83d32f04a3f86aff4a286669c6c950ca95b5fd68c2602681 \
-    --hash=sha256:e94613d6c05e27be7ffebdd6ea5f388112e5e430c8f7d6494a9d1d88d43e814d
+fastapi==0.115.12
     # via gradio
-ffmpy==0.6.0 \
-    --hash=sha256:332dd93198a162db61e527e866a04578d3713e577bfe68f2ed26ba9d09dbc948 \
-    --hash=sha256:c8369bf45f8bd5285ebad94c4a789a79e7af86eded74c1f8c36eccf57aaea58c
+ffmpy==0.6.0
     # via gradio
-filelock==3.18.0 \
-    --hash=sha256:adbc88eabb99d2fec8c9c1b229b171f18afa655400173ddc653d5d01501fb9f2 \
-    --hash=sha256:c401f4f8377c4464e6db25fff06205fd89bdd83b65eb0488ed1b160f780e21de
+filelock==3.18.0
     # via huggingface-hub
-frozenlist==1.6.2 \
-    --hash=sha256:12af99e6023851b36578e5bcc60618b5b30f4650340e29e565cd1936326dbea7 \
-    --hash=sha256:15c33f665faa9b8f8e525b987eeaae6641816e0f6873e8a9c4d224338cebbb55 \
-    --hash=sha256:16263bd677a31fe1a5dc2b803b564e349c96f804a81706a62b8698dd14dbba50 \
-    --hash=sha256:207f717fd5e65fddb77d33361ab8fa939f6d89195f11307e073066886b33f2b8 \
-    --hash=sha256:2ad8851ae1f6695d735f8646bf1e68675871789756f7f7e8dc8224a74eabb9d0 \
-    --hash=sha256:2e51b2054886ff7db71caf68285c2cd936eb7a145a509965165a2aae715c92a7 \
-    --hash=sha256:2e5e7564d232a782baa3089b25a0d979e2e4d6572d3c7231fcceacc5c22bf0f7 \
-    --hash=sha256:30155cc481f73f92f47ab1e858a7998f7b1207f9b5cf3b3cba90ec65a7f224f5 \
-    --hash=sha256:301eb2f898d863031f8c5a56c88a6c5d976ba11a4a08a1438b96ee3acb5aea80 \
-    --hash=sha256:324a4cf4c220ddb3db1f46ade01e48432c63fa8c26812c710006e7f6cfba4a08 \
-    --hash=sha256:38544cae535ed697960891131731b33bb865b7d197ad62dc380d2dbb1bceff48 \
-    --hash=sha256:3bd12d727cd616387d50fe283abebb2db93300c98f8ff1084b68460acd551926 \
-    --hash=sha256:47396898f98fae5c9b9bb409c3d2cf6106e409730f35a0926aad09dd7acf1ef5 \
-    --hash=sha256:48544d07404d7fcfccb6cc091922ae10de4d9e512c537c710c063ae8f5662b85 \
-    --hash=sha256:4fbce985c7fe7bafb4d9bf647c835dbe415b465a897b0c79d1bdf0f3fae5fe50 \
-    --hash=sha256:53835d8a6929c2f16e02616f8b727bd140ce8bf0aeddeafdb290a67c136ca8ad \
-    --hash=sha256:55dc289a064c04819d669e6e8a85a1c0416e6c601782093bdc749ae14a2f39da \
-    --hash=sha256:56de277a0e0ad26a1dcdc99802b4f5becd7fd890807b68e3ecff8ced01d58132 \
-    --hash=sha256:61bae4d345a26550d0ed9f2c9910ea060f89dbfc642b7b96e9510a95c3a33b3c \
-    --hash=sha256:65eb9e8a973161bdac5fa06ea6bd261057947adc4f47a7a6ef3d6db30c78c5b4 \
-    --hash=sha256:695284e51458dabb89af7f7dc95c470aa51fd259207aba5378b187909297feef \
-    --hash=sha256:6c5c3c575148aa7308a38709906842039d7056bf225da6284b7a11cf9275ac5d \
-    --hash=sha256:6ee0cf89e7638de515c0bb2e8be30e8e2e48f3be9b6c2f7127bca4a1f35dff45 \
-    --hash=sha256:6f01620444a674eaad900a3263574418e99c49e2a5d6e5330753857363b5d59f \
-    --hash=sha256:6fcd8d56880dccdd376afb18f483ab55a0e24036adc9a83c914d4b7bb5729d4e \
-    --hash=sha256:76857098ee17258df1a61f934f2bae052b8542c9ea6b187684a737b2e3383a65 \
-    --hash=sha256:82b94c8948341512306ca8ccc702771600b442c6abe5f8ee017e00e452a209e8 \
-    --hash=sha256:84105cb0f3479dfa20b85f459fb2db3b0ee52e2f84e86d447ea8b0de1fb7acdd \
-    --hash=sha256:84d918b01781c6ebb5b776c18a87dd3016ff979eb78626aaca928bae69a640c3 \
-    --hash=sha256:88b1b79ae86fdacc4bf842a4e0456540947abba64a84e61b5ae24c87adb089db \
-    --hash=sha256:90e5a84016d0d2fb828f770ede085b5d89155fcb9629b8a3237c960c41c120c3 \
-    --hash=sha256:947abfcc8c42a329bbda6df97a4b9c9cdb4e12c85153b3b57b9d2f02aa5877dc \
-    --hash=sha256:9b679187cba0a99f1162c7ec1b525e34bdc5ca246857544d16c1ed234562df80 \
-    --hash=sha256:9cb386dd69ae91be586aa15cb6f39a19b5f79ffc1511371eca8ff162721c4867 \
-    --hash=sha256:9ccbeb1c8dda4f42d0678076aa5cbde941a232be71c67b9d8ca89fbaf395807c \
-    --hash=sha256:a400fe775a41b6d7a3fef00d88f10cbae4f0074c9804e282013d7797671ba58d \
-    --hash=sha256:ae1785b76f641cce4efd7e6f49ca4ae456aa230383af5ab0d4d3922a7e37e763 \
-    --hash=sha256:b79bcf97ca03c95b044532a4fef6e5ae106a2dd863875b75fde64c553e3f4820 \
-    --hash=sha256:bbd2225d7218e7d386f4953d11484b0e38e5d134e85c91f0a6b0f30fb6ae25c4 \
-    --hash=sha256:bceb7bd48849d4b76eac070a6d508aa3a529963f5d9b0a6840fd41fb381d5a09 \
-    --hash=sha256:c06a88daba7e891add42f9278cdf7506a49bc04df9b1648be54da1bf1c79b4c6 \
-    --hash=sha256:cbbdf62fcc1864912c592a1ec748fee94f294c6b23215d5e8e9569becb7723ee \
-    --hash=sha256:cc49f2277e8173abf028d744f8b7d69fe8cc26bffc2de97d47a3b529599fbf50 \
-    --hash=sha256:cc8b25b321863ed46992558a29bb09b766c41e25f31461666d501be0f893bada \
-    --hash=sha256:cd2d5abc0ccd99a2a5b437987f3b1e9c265c1044d2855a09ac68f09bbb8082ca \
-    --hash=sha256:d10d835f8ce8571fd555db42d3aef325af903535dad7e6faa7b9c8abe191bffc \
-    --hash=sha256:d3e6c0681783723bb472b6b8304e61ecfcb4c2b11cf7f243d923813c21ae5d2a \
-    --hash=sha256:e084d838693d73c0fe87d212b91af80c18068c95c3d877e294f165056cedfa58 \
-    --hash=sha256:e1a1d82f2eb3d2875a8d139ae3f5026f7797f9de5dce44f53811ab0a883e85e7 \
-    --hash=sha256:e2892d9ab060a847f20fab83fdb886404d0f213f648bdeaebbe76a6134f0973d \
-    --hash=sha256:eecc861bd30bc5ee3b04a1e6ebf74ed0451f596d91606843f3edbd2f273e2fe3 \
-    --hash=sha256:effc641518696471cf4962e8e32050133bc1f7b2851ae8fd0cb8797dd70dc202 \
-    --hash=sha256:f83992722642ee0db0333b1dbf205b1a38f97d51a7382eb304ba414d8c3d1e05
+frozenlist==1.6.2
     # via
     #   aiohttp
     #   aiosignal
-fsspec==2025.5.1 \
-    --hash=sha256:24d3a2e663d5fc735ab256263c4075f374a174c3410c0b25e5bd1970bceaa462 \
-    --hash=sha256:2e55e47a540b91843b755e83ded97c6e897fa0942b11490113f09e9c443c2475
+fsspec==2025.5.1
     # via
     #   gradio-client
     #   huggingface-hub
-gradio==5.33.0 \
-    --hash=sha256:0cba3a1596fda6cb0048dd7ddc2d57e6238a047c0df9dee5a4a0e5c2a74e8e50 \
-    --hash=sha256:165e412e1510a22471901744722f99a52cb56465a7e9609f1e400cac9999e9d8
+gradio==5.33.0
     # via novel-heroes
-gradio-client==1.10.2 \
-    --hash=sha256:6de67b6224123d264c7887caa0586b2a9e2c369ec32ca38927cf8a841694edcd \
-    --hash=sha256:bf71ba95714784fa77ca0cfb20189ad91c55e563c2dc71722d023a97f1815d7f
+gradio-client==1.10.2
     # via gradio
-groovy==0.1.2 \
-    --hash=sha256:25c1dc09b3f9d7e292458aa762c6beb96ea037071bf5e917fc81fb78d2231083 \
-    --hash=sha256:7f7975bab18c729a257a8b1ae9dcd70b7cafb1720481beae47719af57c35fa64
+groovy==0.1.2
     # via gradio
-grpclib==0.4.7 \
-    --hash=sha256:2988ef57c02b22b7a2e8e961792c41ccf97efc2ace91ae7a5b0de03c363823c3
+grpclib==0.4.7
     # via modal
-h11==0.16.0 \
-    --hash=sha256:4e35b956cf45792e4caa5885e69fba00bdbc6ffafbfa020300e549b208ee5ff1 \
-    --hash=sha256:63cf8bbe7522de3bf65932fda1d9c2772064ffb3dae62d55932da54b31cb6c86
+h11==0.16.0
     # via
     #   httpcore
     #   uvicorn
-h2==4.2.0 \
-    --hash=sha256:479a53ad425bb29af087f3458a61d30780bc818e4ebcf01f0b536ba916462ed0 \
-    --hash=sha256:c8a52129695e88b1a0578d8d2cc6842bbd79128ac685463b887ee278126ad01f
+h2==4.2.0
     # via grpclib
-hf-xet==1.1.3 ; platform_machine == 'aarch64' or platform_machine == 'amd64' or platform_machine == 'arm64' or platform_machine == 'x86_64' \
-    --hash=sha256:30c575a5306f8e6fda37edb866762140a435037365eba7a17ce7bd0bc0216a8b \
-    --hash=sha256:7c1a6aa6abed1f696f8099aa9796ca04c9ee778a58728a115607de9cc4638ff1 \
-    --hash=sha256:8203f52827e3df65981984936654a5b390566336956f65765a8aa58c362bb841 \
-    --hash=sha256:a5f09b1dd24e6ff6bcedb4b0ddab2d81824098bb002cf8b4ffa780545fa348c3 \
-    --hash=sha256:b578ae5ac9c056296bb0df9d018e597c8dc6390c5266f35b5c44696003cde9f3 \
-    --hash=sha256:b788a61977fbe6b5186e66239e2a329a3f0b7e7ff50dad38984c0c74f44aeca1 \
-    --hash=sha256:c3b508b5f583a75641aebf732853deb058953370ce8184f5dabc49f803b0819b \
-    --hash=sha256:fd2da210856444a34aad8ada2fc12f70dabed7cc20f37e90754d1d9b43bc0534
+hf-xet==1.1.3 ; platform_machine == 'aarch64' or platform_machine == 'amd64' or platform_machine == 'arm64' or platform_machine == 'x86_64'
     # via huggingface-hub
-hpack==4.1.0 \
-    --hash=sha256:157ac792668d995c657d93111f46b4535ed114f0c9c8d672271bbec7eae1b496 \
-    --hash=sha256:ec5eca154f7056aa06f196a557655c5b009b382873ac8d1e66e79e87535f1dca
+hpack==4.1.0
     # via h2
-httpcore==1.0.9 \
-    --hash=sha256:2d400746a40668fc9dec9810239072b40b4484b640a8c38fd654a024c7a1bf55 \
-    --hash=sha256:6e34463af53fd2ab5d807f399a9b45ea31c3dfa2276f15a2c3f00afff6e176e8
+httpcore==1.0.9
     # via httpx
-httpx==0.28.1 \
-    --hash=sha256:75e98c5f16b0f35b567856f597f06ff2270a374470a5c2392242528e3e3e42fc \
-    --hash=sha256:d909fcccc110f8c7faf814ca82a9a4d816bc5a6dbfea25d6591d6985b8ba59ad
+httpx==0.28.1
     # via
     #   gradio
     #   gradio-client
     #   mcp
     #   safehttpx
-httpx-sse==0.4.0 \
-    --hash=sha256:1e81a3a3070ce322add1d3529ed42eb5f70817f45ed6ec915ab753f961139721 \
-    --hash=sha256:f329af6eae57eaa2bdfd962b42524764af68075ea87370a2de920af5341e318f
+httpx-sse==0.4.0
     # via mcp
-huggingface-hub==0.32.4 \
-    --hash=sha256:37abf8826b38d971f60d3625229221c36e53fe58060286db9baf619cfbf39767 \
-    --hash=sha256:f61d45cd338736f59fb0e97550b74c24ee771bcc92c05ae0766b9116abe720be
+huggingface-hub==0.32.4
     # via
     #   gradio
     #   gradio-client
-hyperframe==6.1.0 \
-    --hash=sha256:b03380493a519fce58ea5af42e4a42317bf9bd425596f7a0835ffce80f1a42e5 \
-    --hash=sha256:f630908a00854a7adeabd6382b43923a4c4cd4b821fcb527e6ab9e15382a3b08
+hyperframe==6.1.0
     # via h2
-idna==3.10 \
-    --hash=sha256:12f65c9b470abda6dc35cf8e63cc574b1c52b11df2c86030af0ac09b01b13ea9 \
-    --hash=sha256:946d195a0d259cbba61165e88e65941f16e9b36ea6ddb97f00452bae8b1287d3
+idna==3.10
     # via
     #   anyio
     #   httpx
     #   requests
     #   yarl
-jinja2==3.1.6 \
-    --hash=sha256:0137fb05990d35f1275a587e9aee6d56da821fc83491a0fb838183be43f66d6d \
-    --hash=sha256:85ece4451f492d0c13c5dd7c13a64681a86afae63a5f347908daf103ce6d2f67
+jinja2==3.1.6
     # via gradio
-markdown-it-py==3.0.0 \
-    --hash=sha256:355216845c60bd96232cd8d8c40e8f9765cc86f46880e43a8fd22dc1a1a8cab1 \
-    --hash=sha256:e3f60a94fa066dc52ec76661e37c851cb232d92f9886b15cb560aaada2df8feb
+markdown-it-py==3.0.0
     # via rich
-markupsafe==3.0.2 \
-    --hash=sha256:0f4ca02bea9a23221c0182836703cbf8930c5e9454bacce27e767509fa286a30 \
-    --hash=sha256:131a3c7689c85f5ad20f9f6fb1b866f402c445b220c19fe4308c0b147ccd2ad9 \
-    --hash=sha256:15ab75ef81add55874e7ab7055e9c397312385bd9ced94920f2802310c930396 \
-    --hash=sha256:1c99d261bd2d5f6b59325c92c73df481e05e57f19837bdca8413b9eac4bd8028 \
-    --hash=sha256:2181e67807fc2fa785d0592dc2d6206c019b9502410671cc905d132a92866557 \
-    --hash=sha256:3d79d162e7be8f996986c064d1c7c817f6df3a77fe3d6859f6f9e7be4b8c213a \
-    --hash=sha256:444dcda765c8a838eaae23112db52f1efaf750daddb2d9ca300bcae1039adc5c \
-    --hash=sha256:4aa4e5faecf353ed117801a068ebab7b7e09ffb6e1d5e412dc852e0da018126c \
-    --hash=sha256:52305740fe773d09cffb16f8ed0427942901f00adedac82ec8b67752f58a1b22 \
-    --hash=sha256:569511d3b58c8791ab4c2e1285575265991e6d8f8700c7be0e88f86cb0672094 \
-    --hash=sha256:6381026f158fdb7c72a168278597a5e3a5222e83ea18f543112b2662a9b699c5 \
-    --hash=sha256:846ade7b71e3536c4e56b386c2a47adf5741d2d8b94ec9dc3e92e5e1ee1e2225 \
-    --hash=sha256:88416bd1e65dcea10bc7569faacb2c20ce071dd1f87539ca2ab364bf6231393c \
-    --hash=sha256:8e06879fc22a25ca47312fbe7c8264eb0b662f6db27cb2d3bbbc74b1df4b9b87 \
-    --hash=sha256:9778bd8ab0a994ebf6f84c2b949e65736d5575320a17ae8984a77fab08db94cf \
-    --hash=sha256:a904af0a6162c73e3edcb969eeeb53a63ceeb5d8cf642fade7d39e7963a22ddb \
-    --hash=sha256:ad10d3ded218f1039f11a75f8091880239651b52e9bb592ca27de44eed242a48 \
-    --hash=sha256:b5a6b3ada725cea8a5e634536b1b01c30bcdcd7f9c6fff4151548d5bf6b3a36c \
-    --hash=sha256:ba8062ed2cf21c07a9e295d5b8a2a5ce678b913b45fdf68c32d95d6c1291e0b6 \
-    --hash=sha256:ba9527cdd4c926ed0760bc301f6728ef34d841f405abf9d4f959c478421e4efd \
-    --hash=sha256:bcf3e58998965654fdaff38e58584d8937aa3096ab5354d493c77d1fdd66d7a1 \
-    --hash=sha256:c0ef13eaeee5b615fb07c9a7dadb38eac06a0608b41570d8ade51c56539e509d \
-    --hash=sha256:cabc348d87e913db6ab4aa100f01b08f481097838bdddf7c7a84b7575b7309ca \
-    --hash=sha256:cdb82a876c47801bb54a690c5ae105a46b392ac6099881cdfb9f6e95e4014c6a \
-    --hash=sha256:d16a81a06776313e817c951135cf7340a3e91e8c1ff2fac444cfd75fffa04afe \
-    --hash=sha256:e17c96c14e19278594aa4841ec148115f9c7615a47382ecb6b82bd8fea3ab0c8 \
-    --hash=sha256:e444a31f8db13eb18ada366ab3cf45fd4b31e4db1236a4448f68778c1d1a5a2f \
-    --hash=sha256:e6a2a455bd412959b57a172ce6328d2dd1f01cb2135efda2e4576e8a23fa3b0f \
-    --hash=sha256:ee55d3edf80167e48ea11a923c7386f4669df67d7994554387f84e7d8b0a2bf0 \
-    --hash=sha256:f3818cb119498c0678015754eba762e0d61e5b52d34c8b13d770f0719f7b1d79 \
-    --hash=sha256:f8b3d067f2e40fe93e1ccdd6b2e1d16c43140e76f02fb1319a05cf2b79d99430
+markupsafe==3.0.2
     # via
     #   gradio
     #   jinja2
-mcp==1.9.0 \
-    --hash=sha256:905d8d208baf7e3e71d70c82803b89112e321581bcd2530f9de0fe4103d28749 \
-    --hash=sha256:9dfb89c8c56f742da10a5910a1f64b0d2ac2c3ed2bd572ddb1cfab7f35957178
+mcp==1.9.0
     # via gradio
-mdurl==0.1.2 \
-    --hash=sha256:84008a41e51615a49fc9966191ff91509e3c40b939176e643fd50a5c2196b8f8 \
-    --hash=sha256:bb413d29f5eea38f31dd4754dd7377d4465116fb207585f97bf925588687c1ba
+mdurl==0.1.2
     # via markdown-it-py
-modal==1.0.3 \
-    --hash=sha256:16cc4f98f755cfc0d0c84b069a0239eb4a9a634e105d38bfa0666301e918544d \
-    --hash=sha256:7f27553c93529f5ac27f3d2ab2f7c0c2c0053314a35984ad25ebf8ede193ad14
+modal==1.0.3
     # via novel-heroes
-multidict==6.4.4 \
-    --hash=sha256:058cc59b9e9b143cc56715e59e22941a5d868c322242278d28123a5d09cdf6b0 \
-    --hash=sha256:0d2b9712211b860d123815a80b859075d86a4d54787e247d7fbee9db6832cf1c \
-    --hash=sha256:169c4ba7858176b797fe551d6e99040c531c775d2d57b31bcf4de6d7a669847f \
-    --hash=sha256:1d0121ccce8c812047d8d43d691a1ad7641f72c4f730474878a5aeae1b8ead8c \
-    --hash=sha256:329ae97fc2f56f44d91bc47fe0972b1f52d21c4b7a2ac97040da02577e2daca2 \
-    --hash=sha256:3312f63261b9df49be9d57aaa6abf53a6ad96d93b24f9cc16cf979956355ce6e \
-    --hash=sha256:3e9f1cd61a0ab857154205fb0b1f3d3ace88d27ebd1409ab7af5096e409614cd \
-    --hash=sha256:50855d03e9e4d66eab6947ba688ffb714616f985838077bc4b490e769e48da51 \
-    --hash=sha256:530d86827a2df6504526106b4c104ba19044594f8722d3e87714e847c74a0275 \
-    --hash=sha256:5883d6ee0fd9d8a48e9174df47540b7545909841ac82354c7ae4cbe9952603bd \
-    --hash=sha256:5bce06b83be23225be1905dcdb6b789064fae92499fbc458f59a8c0e68718601 \
-    --hash=sha256:5e2bcda30d5009996ff439e02a9f2b5c3d64a20151d34898c000a6281faa3781 \
-    --hash=sha256:622f26ea6a7e19b7c48dd9228071f571b2fbbd57a8cd71c061e848f281550e6b \
-    --hash=sha256:632a3bf8f1787f7ef7d3c2f68a7bde5be2f702906f8b5842ad6da9d974d0aab3 \
-    --hash=sha256:66ed0731f8e5dfd8369a883b6e564aca085fb9289aacabd9decd70568b9a30de \
-    --hash=sha256:69133376bc9a03f8c47343d33f91f74a99c339e8b58cea90433d8e24bb298031 \
-    --hash=sha256:69ee9e6ba214b5245031b76233dd95408a0fd57fdb019ddcc1ead4790932a8e8 \
-    --hash=sha256:6a2f58a66fe2c22615ad26156354005391e26a2f3721c3621504cd87c1ea87bf \
-    --hash=sha256:6a602151dbf177be2450ef38966f4be3467d41a86c6a845070d12e17c858a156 \
-    --hash=sha256:6ed5ae5605d4ad5a049fad2a28bb7193400700ce2f4ae484ab702d1e3749c3f9 \
-    --hash=sha256:7cf3bd54c56aa16fdb40028d545eaa8d051402b61533c21e84046e05513d5780 \
-    --hash=sha256:7f3d3b3c34867579ea47cbd6c1f2ce23fbfd20a273b6f9e3177e256584f1eacc \
-    --hash=sha256:82ffabefc8d84c2742ad19c37f02cde5ec2a1ee172d19944d380f920a340e4b9 \
-    --hash=sha256:83ec4967114295b8afd120a8eec579920c882831a3e4c3331d591a8e5bfbbc0f \
-    --hash=sha256:87a728af265e08f96b6318ebe3c0f68b9335131f461efab2fc64cc84a44aa6ed \
-    --hash=sha256:8cd8f81f1310182362fb0c7898145ea9c9b08a71081c5963b40ee3e3cac589b1 \
-    --hash=sha256:8ffb40b74400e4455785c2fa37eba434269149ec525fc8329858c862e4b35373 \
-    --hash=sha256:98af87593a666f739d9dba5d0ae86e01b0e1a9cfcd2e30d2d361fbbbd1a9162d \
-    --hash=sha256:995f985e2e268deaf17867801b859a282e0448633f1310e3704b30616d269d69 \
-    --hash=sha256:9abcf56a9511653fa1d052bfc55fbe53dbee8f34e68bd6a5a038731b0ca42d15 \
-    --hash=sha256:9f193eeda1857f8e8d3079a4abd258f42ef4a4bc87388452ed1e1c4d2b0c8740 \
-    --hash=sha256:a145c550900deb7540973c5cdb183b0d24bed6b80bf7bddf33ed8f569082535e \
-    --hash=sha256:a887b77f51d3d41e6e1a63cf3bc7ddf24de5939d9ff69441387dfefa58ac2e26 \
-    --hash=sha256:a920f9cf2abdf6e493c519492d892c362007f113c94da4c239ae88429835bad1 \
-    --hash=sha256:aff4cafea2d120327d55eadd6b7f1136a8e5a0ecf6fb3b6863e8aca32cd8e50a \
-    --hash=sha256:b0f1987787f5f1e2076b59692352ab29a955b09ccc433c1f6b8e8e18666f608b \
-    --hash=sha256:b9eb4c59c54421a32b3273d4239865cb14ead53a606db066d7130ac80cc8ec93 \
-    --hash=sha256:ba852168d814b2c73333073e1c7116d9395bea69575a01b0b3c89d2d5a87c8fb \
-    --hash=sha256:bbfcb60396f9bcfa63e017a180c3105b8c123a63e9d1428a36544e7d37ca9e20 \
-    --hash=sha256:bd4557071b561a8b3b6075c3ce93cf9bfb6182cb241805c3d66ced3b75eff4ac \
-    --hash=sha256:be06e73c06415199200e9a2324a11252a3d62030319919cde5e6950ffeccf72e \
-    --hash=sha256:c27e5dcf520923d6474d98b96749e6805f7677e93aaaf62656005b8643f907ab \
-    --hash=sha256:c93a6fb06cc8e5d3628b2b5fda215a5db01e8f08fc15fadd65662d9b857acbe4 \
-    --hash=sha256:cbebaa076aaecad3d4bb4c008ecc73b09274c952cf6a1b78ccfd689e51f5a5b0 \
-    --hash=sha256:cc5d83c6619ca5c9672cb78b39ed8542f1975a803dee2cda114ff73cbb076edd \
-    --hash=sha256:d21c1212171cf7da703c5b0b7a0e85be23b720818aef502ad187d627316d5645 \
-    --hash=sha256:d2fa86af59f8fc1972e121ade052145f6da22758f6996a197d69bb52f8204e7e \
-    --hash=sha256:d6b15c55721b1b115c5ba178c77104123745b1417527ad9641a4c5e2047450f0 \
-    --hash=sha256:d832c608f94b9f92a0ec8b7e949be7792a642b6e535fcf32f3e28fab69eeb046 \
-    --hash=sha256:dc388f75a1c00000824bf28b7633e40854f4127ede80512b44c3cfeeea1839a2 \
-    --hash=sha256:dc8c9736d8574b560634775ac0def6bdc1661fc63fa27ffdfc7264c565bcb4f2 \
-    --hash=sha256:ecde56ea2439b96ed8a8d826b50c57364612ddac0438c39e473fafad7ae1c23b \
-    --hash=sha256:f682c42003c7264134bfe886376299db4cc0c6cd06a3295b41b347044bcb5482
+multidict==6.4.4
     # via
     #   aiohttp
     #   grpclib
     #   yarl
-numpy==2.2.6 \
-    --hash=sha256:038613e9fb8c72b0a41f025a7e4c3f0b7a1b5d768ece4796b674c8f3fe13efff \
-    --hash=sha256:0811bb762109d9708cca4d0b13c4f67146e3c3b7cf8d34018c722adb2d957c84 \
-    --hash=sha256:0bca768cd85ae743b2affdc762d617eddf3bcf8724435498a1e80132d04879e6 \
-    --hash=sha256:1bc23a79bfabc5d056d106f9befb8d50c31ced2fbc70eedb8155aec74a45798f \
-    --hash=sha256:287cc3162b6f01463ccd86be154f284d0893d2b3ed7292439ea97eafa8170e0b \
-    --hash=sha256:37c0ca431f82cd5fa716eca9506aefcabc247fb27ba69c5062a6d3ade8cf8f49 \
-    --hash=sha256:389d771b1623ec92636b0786bc4ae56abafad4a4c513d36a55dce14bd9ce8571 \
-    --hash=sha256:41c5a21f4a04fa86436124d388f6ed60a9343a6f767fced1a8a71c3fbca038ff \
-    --hash=sha256:4eeaae00d789f66c7a25ac5f34b71a7035bb474e679f410e5e1a94deb24cf2d4 \
-    --hash=sha256:55a4d33fa519660d69614a9fad433be87e5252f4b03850642f88993f7b2ca566 \
-    --hash=sha256:5bd4fc3ac8926b3819797a7c0e2631eb889b4118a9898c84f585a54d475b7e40 \
-    --hash=sha256:5beb72339d9d4fa36522fc63802f469b13cdbe4fdab4a288f0c441b74272ebfd \
-    --hash=sha256:6031dd6dfecc0cf9f668681a37648373bddd6421fff6c66ec1624eed0180ee06 \
-    --hash=sha256:71594f7c51a18e728451bb50cc60a3ce4e6538822731b2933209a1f3614e9282 \
-    --hash=sha256:894b3a42502226a1cac872f840030665f33326fc3dac8e57c607905773cdcde3 \
-    --hash=sha256:8e9ace4a37db23421249ed236fdcdd457d671e25146786dfc96835cd951aa7c1 \
-    --hash=sha256:b0544343a702fa80c95ad5d3d608ea3599dd54d4632df855e4c8d24eb6ecfa1c \
-    --hash=sha256:b4f13750ce79751586ae2eb824ba7e1e8dba64784086c98cdbbcc6a42112ce0d \
-    --hash=sha256:c1f9540be57940698ed329904db803cf7a402f3fc200bfe599334c9bd84a40b2 \
-    --hash=sha256:de749064336d37e340f640b05f24e9e3dd678c57318c7289d222a8a2f543e90c \
-    --hash=sha256:e1dda9c7e08dc141e0247a5b8f49cf05984955246a327d4c48bda16821947b2f \
-    --hash=sha256:e29554e2bef54a90aa5cc07da6ce955accb83f21ab5de01a62c8478897b264fd \
-    --hash=sha256:e3143e4451880bed956e706a3220b4e5cf6172ef05fcc397f6f36a550b1dd868 \
-    --hash=sha256:f1372f041402e37e5e633e586f62aa53de2eac8d98cbfb822806ce4bbefcb74d \
-    --hash=sha256:f2618db89be1b4e05f7a1a847a9c1c0abd63e63a1607d892dd54668dd92faf87 \
-    --hash=sha256:f447e6acb680fd307f40d3da4852208af94afdfab89cf850986c3ca00562f4fa \
-    --hash=sha256:f92729c95468a2f4f15e9bb94c432a9229d0d50de67304399627a943201baa2f \
-    --hash=sha256:fc0c5673685c508a142ca65209b4e79ed6740a4ed6b2267dbba90f34b0b3cfda \
-    --hash=sha256:fd83c01228a688733f1ded5201c678f0c53ecc1006ffbc404db9f7a899ac6249 \
-    --hash=sha256:fe27749d33bb772c80dcd84ae7e8df2adc920ae8297400dabec45f0dedb3f6de \
-    --hash=sha256:fee4236c876c4e8369388054d02d0e9bb84821feb1a64dd59e137e6511a551f8
+numpy==2.2.6
     # via
     #   gradio
     #   pandas
-orjson==3.10.18 \
-    --hash=sha256:0315317601149c244cb3ecef246ef5861a64824ccbcb8018d32c66a60a84ffbc \
-    --hash=sha256:187ec33bbec58c76dbd4066340067d9ece6e10067bb0cc074a21ae3300caa84e \
-    --hash=sha256:1ebeda919725f9dbdb269f59bc94f861afbe2a27dce5608cdba2d92772364d1c \
-    --hash=sha256:22748de2a07fcc8781a70edb887abf801bb6142e6236123ff93d12d92db3d406 \
-    --hash=sha256:2d808e34ddb24fc29a4d4041dcfafbae13e129c93509b847b14432717d94b44f \
-    --hash=sha256:303565c67a6c7b1f194c94632a4a39918e067bd6176a48bec697393865ce4f06 \
-    --hash=sha256:356b076f1662c9813d5fa56db7d63ccceef4c271b1fb3dd522aca291375fcf17 \
-    --hash=sha256:3a83c9954a4107b9acd10291b7f12a6b29e35e8d43a414799906ea10e75438e6 \
-    --hash=sha256:3d600be83fe4514944500fa8c2a0a77099025ec6482e8087d7659e891f23058a \
-    --hash=sha256:50c15557afb7f6d63bc6d6348e0337a880a04eaa9cd7c9d569bcb4e760a24753 \
-    --hash=sha256:559eb40a70a7494cd5beab2d73657262a74a2c59aff2068fdba8f0424ec5b39d \
-    --hash=sha256:5adf5f4eed520a4959d29ea80192fa626ab9a20b2ea13f8f6dc58644f6927103 \
-    --hash=sha256:6612787e5b0756a171c7d81ba245ef63a3533a637c335aa7fcb8e665f4a0966f \
-    --hash=sha256:69c34b9441b863175cc6a01f2935de994025e773f814412030f269da4f7be147 \
-    --hash=sha256:7592bb48a214e18cd670974f289520f12b7aed1fa0b2e2616b8ed9e069e08595 \
-    --hash=sha256:7ac6bd7be0dcab5b702c9d43d25e70eb456dfd2e119d512447468f6405b4a69c \
-    --hash=sha256:86314fdb5053a2f5a5d881f03fca0219bfdf832912aa88d18676a5175c6916b5 \
-    --hash=sha256:8e4b2ae732431127171b875cb2668f883e1234711d3c147ffd69fe5be51a8012 \
-    --hash=sha256:9dca85398d6d093dd41dc0983cbf54ab8e6afd1c547b6b8a311643917fbf4e0c \
-    --hash=sha256:9f72f100cee8dde70100406d5c1abba515a7df926d4ed81e20a9730c062fe9ad \
-    --hash=sha256:ad8eacbb5d904d5591f27dee4031e2c1db43d559edb8f91778efd642d70e6bea \
-    --hash=sha256:aed411bcb68bf62e85588f2a7e03a6082cc42e5a2796e06e72a962d7c6310b52 \
-    --hash=sha256:bb70d489bc79b7519e5803e2cc4c72343c9dc1154258adf2f8925d0b60da7c58 \
-    --hash=sha256:c382a5c0b5931a5fc5405053d36c1ce3fd561694738626c77ae0b1dfc0242ca1 \
-    --hash=sha256:e0da26957e77e9e55a6c2ce2e7182a36a6f6b180ab7189315cb0995ec362e049 \
-    --hash=sha256:e8da3947d92123eda795b68228cafe2724815621fe35e8e320a9e9593a4bcd53 \
-    --hash=sha256:e9e86a6af31b92299b00736c89caf63816f70a4001e750bda179e15564d7a034 \
-    --hash=sha256:f3c29eb9a81e2fbc6fd7ddcfba3e101ba92eaff455b8d602bf7511088bbc0eae \
-    --hash=sha256:f54c1385a0e6aba2f15a40d703b858bedad36ded0491e55d35d905b2c34a4cc3 \
-    --hash=sha256:f872bef9f042734110642b7a11937440797ace8c87527de25e0c53558b579ccc \
-    --hash=sha256:f9f94cf6d3f9cd720d641f8399e390e7411487e493962213390d1ae45c7814fc
+orjson==3.10.18
     # via gradio
-packaging==25.0 \
-    --hash=sha256:29572ef2b1f17581046b3a2227d5c611fb25ec70ca1ba8554b24b0e69331a484 \
-    --hash=sha256:d443872c98d677bf60f6a1f2f8c1cb748e8fe762d2bf9d3148b5599295b0fc4f
+packaging==25.0
     # via
     #   gradio
     #   gradio-client
     #   huggingface-hub
-pandas==2.3.0 \
-    --hash=sha256:094e271a15b579650ebf4c5155c05dcd2a14fd4fdd72cf4854b2f7ad31ea30be \
-    --hash=sha256:1a881bc1309f3fce34696d07b00f13335c41f5f5a8770a33b09ebe23261cfc67 \
-    --hash=sha256:1d2b33e68d0ce64e26a4acc2e72d747292084f4e8db4c847c6f5f6cbe56ed6d8 \
-    --hash=sha256:213cd63c43263dbb522c1f8a7c9d072e25900f6975596f883f4bebd77295d4f3 \
-    --hash=sha256:2c7e2fc25f89a49a11599ec1e76821322439d90820108309bf42130d2f36c983 \
-    --hash=sha256:2eb4728a18dcd2908c7fccf74a982e241b467d178724545a48d0caf534b38ebf \
-    --hash=sha256:34600ab34ebf1131a7613a260a61dbe8b62c188ec0ea4c296da7c9a06b004133 \
-    --hash=sha256:404d681c698e3c8a40a61d0cd9412cc7364ab9a9cc6e144ae2992e11a2e77a20 \
-    --hash=sha256:430a63bae10b5086995db1b02694996336e5a8ac9a96b4200572b413dfdfccb9 \
-    --hash=sha256:4930255e28ff5545e2ca404637bcc56f031893142773b3468dc021c6c32a1390 \
-    --hash=sha256:6021910b086b3ca756755e86ddc64e0ddafd5e58e076c72cb1585162e5ad259b \
-    --hash=sha256:951805d146922aed8357e4cc5671b8b0b9be1027f0619cea132a9f3f65f2f09c \
-    --hash=sha256:9ff730713d4c4f2f1c860e36c005c7cefc1c7c80c21c0688fd605aa43c9fcf09 \
-    --hash=sha256:b9d8c3187be7479ea5c3d30c32a5d73d62a621166675063b2edd21bc47614027 \
-    --hash=sha256:ba24af48643b12ffe49b27065d3babd52702d95ab70f50e1b34f71ca703e2c0d \
-    --hash=sha256:bb32dc743b52467d488e7a7c8039b821da2826a9ba4f85b89ea95274f863280f \
-    --hash=sha256:bb3be958022198531eb7ec2008cfc78c5b1eed51af8600c6c5d9160d89d8d249 \
-    --hash=sha256:c6da97aeb6a6d233fb6b17986234cc723b396b50a3c6804776351994f2a658fd \
-    --hash=sha256:e1991bbb96f4050b09b5f811253c4f3cf05ee89a589379aa36cd623f21a31d6f \
-    --hash=sha256:e78ad363ddb873a631e92a3c063ade1ecfb34cae71e9a2be6ad100f875ac1042 \
-    --hash=sha256:f925f1ef673b4bd0271b1809b72b3270384f2b7d9d14a189b12b7fc02574d575
+pandas==2.3.0
     # via gradio
-pillow==11.2.1 \
-    --hash=sha256:062b7a42d672c45a70fa1f8b43d1d38ff76b63421cbbe7f88146b39e8a558d91 \
-    --hash=sha256:0c7b29dbd4281923a2bfe562acb734cee96bbb129e96e6972d315ed9f232bef4 \
-    --hash=sha256:14e33b28bf17c7a38eede290f77db7c664e4eb01f7869e37fa98a5aa95978941 \
-    --hash=sha256:191955c55d8a712fab8934a42bfefbf99dd0b5875078240943f913bb66d46d9f \
-    --hash=sha256:1d535df14716e7f8776b9e7fee118576d65572b4aad3ed639be9e4fa88a1cad3 \
-    --hash=sha256:21e1470ac9e5739ff880c211fc3af01e3ae505859392bf65458c224d0bf283eb \
-    --hash=sha256:225c832a13326e34f212d2072982bb1adb210e0cc0b153e688743018c94a2681 \
-    --hash=sha256:25a5f306095c6780c52e6bbb6109624b95c5b18e40aab1c3041da3e9e0cd3e2d \
-    --hash=sha256:31df6e2d3d8fc99f993fd253e97fae451a8db2e7207acf97859732273e108406 \
-    --hash=sha256:36d6b82164c39ce5482f649b437382c0fb2395eabc1e2b1702a6deb8ad647d6e \
-    --hash=sha256:3e645b020f3209a0181a418bffe7b4a93171eef6c4ef6cc20980b30bebf17b7d \
-    --hash=sha256:3fe735ced9a607fee4f481423a9c36701a39719252a9bb251679635f99d0f7d2 \
-    --hash=sha256:4eb92eca2711ef8be42fd3f67533765d9fd043b8c80db204f16c8ea62ee1a751 \
-    --hash=sha256:5119225c622403afb4b44bad4c1ca6c1f98eed79db8d3bc6e4e160fc6339d66c \
-    --hash=sha256:598174aef4589af795f66f9caab87ba4ff860ce08cd5bb447c6fc553ffee603c \
-    --hash=sha256:63b5dff3a68f371ea06025a1a6966c9a1e1ee452fc8020c2cd0ea41b83e9037b \
-    --hash=sha256:74ee3d7ecb3f3c05459ba95eed5efa28d6092d751ce9bf20e3e253a4e497e691 \
-    --hash=sha256:750f96efe0597382660d8b53e90dd1dd44568a8edb51cb7f9d5d918b80d4de14 \
-    --hash=sha256:78092232a4ab376a35d68c4e6d5e00dfd73454bd12b230420025fbe178ee3b0b \
-    --hash=sha256:78afba22027b4accef10dbd5eed84425930ba41b3ea0a86fa8d20baaf19d807f \
-    --hash=sha256:7bdb5e09068332578214cadd9c05e3d64d99e0e87591be22a324bdbc18925be0 \
-    --hash=sha256:8ce2e8411c7aaef53e6bb29fe98f28cd4fbd9a1d9be2eeea434331aac0536b22 \
-    --hash=sha256:9622e3b6c1d8b551b6e6f21873bdcc55762b4b2126633014cea1803368a9aa16 \
-    --hash=sha256:9ee66787e095127116d91dea2143db65c7bb1e232f617aa5957c0d9d2a3f23a7 \
-    --hash=sha256:a64dd61998416367b7ef979b73d3a85853ba9bec4c2925f74e588879a58716b6 \
-    --hash=sha256:ad275964d52e2243430472fc5d2c2334b4fc3ff9c16cb0a19254e25efa03a155 \
-    --hash=sha256:b0e130705d568e2f43a17bcbe74d90958e8a16263868a12c3e0d9c8162690830 \
-    --hash=sha256:b2dbea1012ccb784a65349f57bbc93730b96e85b42e9bf7b01ef40443db720b4 \
-    --hash=sha256:d189ba1bebfbc0c0e529159631ec72bb9e9bc041f01ec6d3233d6d82eb823bc1 \
-    --hash=sha256:da3104c57bbd72948d75f6a9389e6727d2ab6333c3617f0a89d72d4940aa0443 \
-    --hash=sha256:e0b55f27f584ed623221cfe995c912c61606be8513bfa0e07d2c674b4516d9dd \
-    --hash=sha256:f91ebf30830a48c825590aede79376cb40f110b387c17ee9bd59932c961044f9 \
-    --hash=sha256:fdec757fea0b793056419bca3e9932eb2b0ceec90ef4813ea4c1e072c389eb28 \
-    --hash=sha256:fe15238d3798788d00716637b3d4e7bb6bde18b26e5d08335a96e88564a36b6b
+pillow==11.2.1
     # via gradio
-propcache==0.3.1 \
-    --hash=sha256:050b571b2e96ec942898f8eb46ea4bfbb19bd5502424747e83badc2d4a99a44e \
-    --hash=sha256:05543250deac8e61084234d5fc54f8ebd254e8f2b39a16b1dce48904f45b744b \
-    --hash=sha256:09400e98545c998d57d10035ff623266927cb784d13dd2b31fd33b8a5316b85b \
-    --hash=sha256:0fbe94666e62ebe36cd652f5fc012abfbc2342de99b523f8267a678e4dfdee3c \
-    --hash=sha256:17d1c688a443355234f3c031349da69444be052613483f3e4158eef751abcd8a \
-    --hash=sha256:19a06db789a4bd896ee91ebc50d059e23b3639c25d58eb35be3ca1cbe967c3bf \
-    --hash=sha256:1c5c7ab7f2bb3f573d1cb921993006ba2d39e8621019dffb1c5bc94cdbae81e8 \
-    --hash=sha256:359e81a949a7619802eb601d66d37072b79b79c2505e6d3fd8b945538411400d \
-    --hash=sha256:3a02a28095b5e63128bcae98eb59025924f121f048a62393db682f049bf4ac24 \
-    --hash=sha256:3e584b6d388aeb0001d6d5c2bd86b26304adde6d9bb9bfa9c4889805021b96de \
-    --hash=sha256:40d980c33765359098837527e18eddefc9a24cea5b45e078a7f3bb5b032c6ecf \
-    --hash=sha256:4114c4ada8f3181af20808bedb250da6bae56660e4b8dfd9cd95d4549c0962f7 \
-    --hash=sha256:563f9d8c03ad645597b8d010ef4e9eab359faeb11a0a2ac9f7b4bc8c28ebef25 \
-    --hash=sha256:5a0a9898fdb99bf11786265468571e628ba60af80dc3f6eb89a3545540c6b0ef \
-    --hash=sha256:5aed8d8308215089c0734a2af4f2e95eeb360660184ad3912686c181e500b2e7 \
-    --hash=sha256:5cb5918253912e088edbf023788de539219718d3b10aef334476b62d2b53de53 \
-    --hash=sha256:5ced33d827625d0a589e831126ccb4f5c29dfdf6766cac441d23995a65825dcb \
-    --hash=sha256:6d8e309ff9a0503ef70dc9a0ebd3e69cf7b3894c9ae2ae81fc10943c37762458 \
-    --hash=sha256:7d2d5a0028d920738372630870e7d9644ce437142197f8c827194fca404bf03b \
-    --hash=sha256:813fbb8b6aea2fc9659815e585e548fe706d6f663fa73dff59a1677d4595a037 \
-    --hash=sha256:87380fb1f3089d2a0b8b00f006ed12bd41bd858fabfa7330c954c70f50ed8757 \
-    --hash=sha256:88c423efef9d7a59dae0614eaed718449c09a5ac79a5f224a8b9664d603f04a3 \
-    --hash=sha256:89498dd49c2f9a026ee057965cdf8192e5ae070ce7d7a7bd4b66a8e257d0c976 \
-    --hash=sha256:8a17583515a04358b034e241f952f1715243482fc2c2945fd99a1b03a0bd77d6 \
-    --hash=sha256:975af16f406ce48f1333ec5e912fe11064605d5c5b3f6746969077cc3adeb120 \
-    --hash=sha256:9a8ecf38de50a7f518c21568c80f985e776397b902f1ce0b01f799aba1608b40 \
-    --hash=sha256:9cec3239c85ed15bfaded997773fdad9fb5662b0a7cbc854a43f291eb183179e \
-    --hash=sha256:9f64d91b751df77931336b5ff7bafbe8845c5770b06630e27acd5dbb71e1931c \
-    --hash=sha256:a0ab8cf8cdd2194f8ff979a43ab43049b1df0b37aa64ab7eca04ac14429baeb7 \
-    --hash=sha256:a110205022d077da24e60b3df8bcee73971be9575dec5573dd17ae5d81751111 \
-    --hash=sha256:a34aa3a1abc50740be6ac0ab9d594e274f59960d3ad253cd318af76b996dd654 \
-    --hash=sha256:a444192f20f5ce8a5e52761a031b90f5ea6288b1eef42ad4c7e64fef33540b8f \
-    --hash=sha256:aa8efd8c5adc5a2c9d3b952815ff8f7710cefdcaf5f2c36d26aff51aeca2f12f \
-    --hash=sha256:aca63103895c7d960a5b9b044a83f544b233c95e0dcff114389d64d762017af7 \
-    --hash=sha256:b655032b202028a582d27aeedc2e813299f82cb232f969f87a4fde491a233f11 \
-    --hash=sha256:bef100c88d8692864651b5f98e871fb090bd65c8a41a1cb0ff2322db39c96c27 \
-    --hash=sha256:c2fe5c910f6007e716a06d269608d307b4f36e7babee5f36533722660e8c4a70 \
-    --hash=sha256:d249609e547c04d190e820d0d4c8ca03ed4582bcf8e4e160a6969ddfb57b62e5 \
-    --hash=sha256:dc1915ec523b3b494933b5424980831b636fe483d7d543f7afb7b3bf00f0c10f \
-    --hash=sha256:e1c4d24b804b3a87e9350f79e2371a705a188d292fd310e663483af6ee6718ee \
-    --hash=sha256:e474fc718e73ba5ec5180358aa07f6aded0ff5f2abe700e3115c37d75c947e18 \
-    --hash=sha256:e4fe2a6d5ce975c117a6bb1e8ccda772d1e7029c1cca1acd209f91d30fa72815 \
-    --hash=sha256:e7fb9a84c9abbf2b2683fa3e7b0d7da4d8ecf139a1c635732a8bda29c5214b0e \
-    --hash=sha256:ec314cde7314d2dd0510c6787326bbffcbdc317ecee6b7401ce218b3099075a7 \
-    --hash=sha256:f011f104db880f4e2166bcdcf7f58250f7a465bc6b068dc84c824a3d4a5c94dc \
-    --hash=sha256:f1528ec4374617a7a753f90f20e2f551121bb558fcb35926f99e3c42367164b8 \
-    --hash=sha256:f3bbecd2f34d0e6d3c543fdb3b15d6b60dd69970c2b4c822379e5ec8f6f621d5 \
-    --hash=sha256:f78eb8422acc93d7b69964012ad7048764bb45a54ba7a39bb9e146c72ea29723 \
-    --hash=sha256:fb6e0faf8cb6b4beea5d6ed7b5a578254c6d7df54c36ccd3d8b3eb00d6770277 \
-    --hash=sha256:feccd282de1f6322f56f6845bf1207a537227812f0a9bf5571df52bb418d79d5
+propcache==0.3.1
     # via
     #   aiohttp
     #   yarl
-protobuf==5.29.5 \
-    --hash=sha256:3f1c6468a2cfd102ff4703976138844f78ebd1fb45f49011afc5139e9e283079 \
-    --hash=sha256:3f76e3a3675b4a4d867b52e4a5f5b78a2ef9565549d4037e06cf7b0942b1d3fc \
-    --hash=sha256:63848923da3325e1bf7e9003d680ce6e14b07e55d0473253a690c3a8b8fd6e61 \
-    --hash=sha256:6cf42630262c59b2d8de33954443d94b746c952b01434fc58a417fdbd2e84bd5 \
-    --hash=sha256:bc1463bafd4b0929216c35f437a8e28731a2b7fe3d98bb77a600efced5a15c84 \
-    --hash=sha256:e38c5add5a311f2a6eb0340716ef9b039c1dfa428b28f25a7838ac329204a671 \
-    --hash=sha256:fa18533a299d7ab6c55a238bf8629311439995f2e7eca5caaff08663606e9015
+protobuf==5.29.5
     # via modal
-pydantic==2.11.5 \
-    --hash=sha256:7f853db3d0ce78ce8bbb148c401c2cdd6431b3473c0cdff2755c7690952a7b7a \
-    --hash=sha256:f9c26ba06f9747749ca1e5c94d6a85cb84254577553c8785576fd38fa64dc0f7
+pydantic==2.11.5
     # via
     #   fastapi
     #   gradio
     #   mcp
     #   pydantic-settings
-pydantic-core==2.33.2 \
-    --hash=sha256:04a1a413977ab517154eebb2d326da71638271477d6ad87a769102f7c2488c56 \
-    --hash=sha256:0a9f2c9dd19656823cb8250b0724ee9c60a82f3cdf68a080979d13092a3b0fef \
-    --hash=sha256:0fb2d542b4d66f9470e8065c5469ec676978d625a8b7a363f07d9a501a9cb36a \
-    --hash=sha256:1082dd3e2d7109ad8b7da48e1d4710c8d06c253cbc4a27c1cff4fbcaa97a9e3f \
-    --hash=sha256:1ea40a64d23faa25e62a70ad163571c0b342b8bf66d5fa612ac0dec4f069d916 \
-    --hash=sha256:2b0a451c263b01acebe51895bfb0e1cc842a5c666efe06cdf13846c7418caa9a \
-    --hash=sha256:3c6db6e52c6d70aa0d00d45cdb9b40f0433b96380071ea80b09277dba021ddf7 \
-    --hash=sha256:4e61206137cbc65e6d5256e1166f88331d3b6238e082d9f74613b9b765fb9025 \
-    --hash=sha256:52fb90784e0a242bb96ec53f42196a17278855b0f31ac7c3cc6f5c1ec4811849 \
-    --hash=sha256:572c7e6c8bb4774d2ac88929e3d1f12bc45714ae5ee6d9a788a9fb35e60bb04b \
-    --hash=sha256:5c92edd15cd58b3c2d34873597a1e20f13094f59cf88068adb18947df5455b4e \
-    --hash=sha256:5f483cfb75ff703095c59e365360cb73e00185e01aaea067cd19acffd2ab20ea \
-    --hash=sha256:61c18fba8e5e9db3ab908620af374db0ac1baa69f0f32df4f61ae23f15e586ac \
-    --hash=sha256:65132b7b4a1c0beded5e057324b7e16e10910c106d43675d9bd87d4f38dde162 \
-    --hash=sha256:7cb8bc3605c29176e1b105350d2e6474142d7c1bd1d9327c4a9bdb46bf827acc \
-    --hash=sha256:8f57a69461af2a5fa6e6bbd7a5f60d3b7e6cebb687f55106933188e79ad155c1 \
-    --hash=sha256:95237e53bb015f67b63c91af7518a62a8660376a6a0db19b89acc77a4d6199f5 \
-    --hash=sha256:96081f1605125ba0855dfda83f6f3df5ec90c61195421ba72223de35ccfb2f88 \
-    --hash=sha256:9cb1da0f5a471435a7bc7e439b8a728e8b61e59784b2af70d7c169f8dd8ae290 \
-    --hash=sha256:9fdac5d6ffa1b5a83bca06ffe7583f5576555e6c8b3a91fbd25ea7780f825f7d \
-    --hash=sha256:a7ec89dc587667f22b6a0b6579c249fca9026ce7c333fc142ba42411fa243cdc \
-    --hash=sha256:c083a3bdd5a93dfe480f1125926afcdbf2917ae714bdb80b36d34318b2bec5d9 \
-    --hash=sha256:c2fc0a768ef76c15ab9238afa6da7f69895bb5d1ee83aeea2e3509af4472d0b9 \
-    --hash=sha256:c52b02ad8b4e2cf14ca7b3d918f3eb0ee91e63b3167c32591e57c4317e134f8f \
-    --hash=sha256:c8e7af2f4e0194c22b5b37205bfb293d166a7344a5b0d0eaccebc376546d77d5 \
-    --hash=sha256:cca3868ddfaccfbc4bfb1d608e2ccaaebe0ae628e1416aeb9c4d88c001bb45ab \
-    --hash=sha256:db4b41f9bd95fbe5acd76d89920336ba96f03e149097365afe1cb092fceb89a1 \
-    --hash=sha256:e80b087132752f6b3d714f041ccf74403799d3b23a72722ea2e6ba2e892555b9 \
-    --hash=sha256:eb8c529b2819c37140eb51b914153063d27ed88e3bdc31b71198a198e921e011 \
-    --hash=sha256:f517ca031dfc037a9c07e748cefd8d96235088b83b4f4ba8939105d20fa1dcd6 \
-    --hash=sha256:f941635f2a3d96b2973e867144fde513665c87f13fe0e193c158ac51bfaaa7b2 \
-    --hash=sha256:fa854f5cf7e33842a892e5c73f45327760bc7bc516339fda888c75ae60edaeb6
+pydantic-core==2.33.2
     # via pydantic
-pydantic-settings==2.9.1 \
-    --hash=sha256:59b4f431b1defb26fe620c71a7d3968a710d719f5f4cdbbdb7926edeb770f6ef \
-    --hash=sha256:c509bf79d27563add44e8446233359004ed85066cd096d8b510f715e6ef5d268
+pydantic-settings==2.9.1
     # via mcp
-pydub==0.25.1 \
-    --hash=sha256:65617e33033874b59d87db603aa1ed450633288aefead953b30bded59cb599a6 \
-    --hash=sha256:980a33ce9949cab2a569606b65674d748ecbca4f0796887fd6f46173a7b0d30f
+pydub==0.25.1
     # via gradio
-pygments==2.19.1 \
-    --hash=sha256:61c16d2a8576dc0649d9f39e089b5f02bcd27fba10d8fb4dcc28173f7a45151f \
-    --hash=sha256:9ea1544ad55cecf4b8242fab6dd35a93bbce657034b0611ee383099054ab6d8c
+pygments==2.19.1
     # via rich
-python-dateutil==2.9.0.post0 \
-    --hash=sha256:37dd54208da7e1cd875388217d5e00ebd4179249f90fb72437e91a35459a0ad3 \
-    --hash=sha256:a8b2bc7bffae282281c8140a97d3aa9c14da0b136dfe83f850eea9a5f7470427
+python-dateutil==2.9.0.post0
     # via pandas
-python-dotenv==1.1.0 \
-    --hash=sha256:41f90bc6f5f177fb41f53e87666db362025010eb28f60a01c9143bfa33a2b2d5 \
-    --hash=sha256:d7c01d9e2293916c18baf562d95698754b0dbbb5e74d457c45d4f6561fb9d55d
+python-dotenv==1.1.0
     # via pydantic-settings
-python-multipart==0.0.20 \
-    --hash=sha256:8a62d3a8335e06589fe01f2a3e178cdcc632f3fbe0d492ad9ee0ec35aab1f104 \
-    --hash=sha256:8dd0cab45b8e23064ae09147625994d090fa46f5b0d1e13af944c331a7fa9d13
+python-multipart==0.0.20
     # via
     #   gradio
     #   mcp
-pytz==2025.2 \
-    --hash=sha256:360b9e3dbb49a209c21ad61809c7fb453643e048b38924c765813546746e81c3 \
-    --hash=sha256:5ddf76296dd8c44c26eb8f4b6f35488f3ccbf6fbbd7adee0b7262d43f0ec2f00
+pytz==2025.2
     # via pandas
-pyyaml==6.0.2 \
-    --hash=sha256:0833f8694549e586547b576dcfaba4a6b55b9e96098b36cdc7ebefe667dfed48 \
-    --hash=sha256:0ffe8360bab4910ef1b9e87fb812d8bc0a308b0d0eef8c8f44e0254ab3b07133 \
-    --hash=sha256:17e311b6c678207928d649faa7cb0d7b4c26a0ba73d41e99c4fff6b6c3276484 \
-    --hash=sha256:1f71ea527786de97d1a0cc0eacd1defc0985dcf6b3f17bb77dcfc8c34bec4dc5 \
-    --hash=sha256:41e4e3953a79407c794916fa277a82531dd93aad34e29c2a514c2c0c5fe971cc \
-    --hash=sha256:50187695423ffe49e2deacb8cd10510bc361faac997de9efef88badc3bb9e2d1 \
-    --hash=sha256:68ccc6023a3400877818152ad9a1033e3db8625d899c72eacb5a668902e4d652 \
-    --hash=sha256:70b189594dbe54f75ab3a1acec5f1e3faa7e8cf2f1e08d9b561cb41b845f69d5 \
-    --hash=sha256:7e7401d0de89a9a855c839bc697c079a4af81cf878373abd7dc625847d25cbd8 \
-    --hash=sha256:80bab7bfc629882493af4aa31a4cfa43a4c57c83813253626916b8c7ada83476 \
-    --hash=sha256:8388ee1976c416731879ac16da0aff3f63b286ffdd57cdeb95f3f2e085687563 \
-    --hash=sha256:8b9c7197f7cb2738065c481a0461e50ad02f18c78cd75775628afb4d7137fb3b \
-    --hash=sha256:9b22676e8097e9e22e36d6b7bda33190d0d400f345f23d4065d48f4ca7ae0425 \
-    --hash=sha256:bc2fa7c6b47d6bc618dd7fb02ef6fdedb1090ec036abab80d4681424b84c1183 \
-    --hash=sha256:c70c95198c015b85feafc136515252a261a84561b7b1d51e3384e0655ddf25ab \
-    --hash=sha256:ce826d6ef20b1bc864f0a68340c8b3287705cae2f8b4b1d932177dcc76721725 \
-    --hash=sha256:d584d9ec91ad65861cc08d42e834324ef890a082e591037abe114850ff7bbc3e \
-    --hash=sha256:ef6107725bd54b262d6dedcc2af448a266975032bc85ef0172c5f059da6325b4 \
-    --hash=sha256:efdca5630322a10774e8e98e1af481aad470dd62c3170801852d752aa7a783ba
+pyyaml==6.0.2
     # via
     #   gradio
     #   huggingface-hub
-requests==2.32.3 \
-    --hash=sha256:55365417734eb18255590a9ff9eb97e9e1da868d4ccd6402399eaf68af20a760 \
-    --hash=sha256:70761cfe03c773ceb22aa2f671b4757976145175cdfca038c02654d061d6dcc6
+requests==2.32.3
     # via huggingface-hub
-rich==14.0.0 \
-    --hash=sha256:1c9491e1951aac09caffd42f448ee3d04e58923ffe14993f6e83068dc395d7e0 \
-    --hash=sha256:82f1bc23a6a21ebca4ae0c45af9bdbc492ed20231dcb63f297d6d1021a9d5725
+rich==14.0.0
     # via
     #   modal
     #   typer
-ruff==0.11.13 ; sys_platform != 'emscripten' \
-    --hash=sha256:1808b3ed53e1a777c2ef733aca9051dc9bf7c99b26ece15cb59a0320fbdbd629 \
-    --hash=sha256:26816a218ca6ef02142343fd24c70f7cd8c5aa6c203bca284407adf675984432 \
-    --hash=sha256:26fa247dc68d1d4e72c179e08889a25ac0c7ba4d78aecfc835d49cbfd60bf514 \
-    --hash=sha256:29c3189895a8a6a657b7af4e97d330c8a3afd2c9c8f46c81e2fc5a31866517e3 \
-    --hash=sha256:4a9ddd3ec62a9a89578c85842b836e4ac832d4a2e0bfaad3b02243f930ceafcc \
-    --hash=sha256:4bdfbf1240533f40042ec00c9e09a3aade6f8c10b6414cf11b519488d2635d46 \
-    --hash=sha256:4ffbc82d70424b275b089166310448051afdc6e914fdab90e08df66c43bb5ca9 \
-    --hash=sha256:51c3f95abd9331dc5b87c47ac7f376db5616041173826dfd556cfe3d4977f492 \
-    --hash=sha256:53b15a9dfdce029c842e9a5aebc3855e9ab7771395979ff85b7c1dedb53ddc2b \
-    --hash=sha256:55e4bc3a77842da33c16d55b32c6cac1ec5fb0fbec9c8c513bdce76c4f922165 \
-    --hash=sha256:633bf2c6f35678c56ec73189ba6fa19ff1c5e4807a78bf60ef487b9dd272cc71 \
-    --hash=sha256:6c51f93029d54a910d3d24f7dd0bb909e31b6cd989a5e4ac513f4eb41629f0dc \
-    --hash=sha256:96c27935418e4e8e77a26bb05962817f28b8ef3843a6c6cc49d8783b5507f250 \
-    --hash=sha256:ab153241400789138d13f362c43f7edecc0edfffce2afa6a68434000ecd8f69a \
-    --hash=sha256:aef9c9ed1b5ca28bb15c7eac83b8670cf3b20b478195bd49c8d756ba0a36cf48 \
-    --hash=sha256:b4385285e9179d608ff1d2fb9922062663c658605819a6876d8beef0c30b7f3b \
-    --hash=sha256:d237a496e0778d719efb05058c64d28b757c77824e04ffe8796c7436e26712b7 \
-    --hash=sha256:d28ce58b5ecf0f43c1b71edffabe6ed7f245d5336b17805803312ec9bc665933
+ruff==0.11.13 ; sys_platform != 'emscripten'
     # via gradio
-safehttpx==0.1.6 \
-    --hash=sha256:407cff0b410b071623087c63dd2080c3b44dc076888d8c5823c00d1e58cb381c \
-    --hash=sha256:b356bfc82cee3a24c395b94a2dbeabbed60aff1aa5fa3b5fe97c4f2456ebce42
+safehttpx==0.1.6
     # via gradio
-semantic-version==2.10.0 \
-    --hash=sha256:bdabb6d336998cbb378d4b9db3a4b56a1e3235701dc05ea2690d9a997ed5041c \
-    --hash=sha256:de78a3b8e0feda74cabc54aab2da702113e33ac9d9eb9d2389bcf1f58b7d9177
+semantic-version==2.10.0
     # via gradio
-shellingham==1.5.4 \
-    --hash=sha256:7ecfff8f2fd72616f7481040475a65b2bf8af90a56c89140852d1120324e8686 \
-    --hash=sha256:8dbca0739d487e5bd35ab3ca4b36e11c4078f3a234bfce294b0a0291363404de
+shellingham==1.5.4
     # via typer
-sigtools==4.0.1 \
-    --hash=sha256:4b8e135a9cd4d2ea00da670c093372d74e672ba3abb87f4c98d8e73dea54445c \
-    --hash=sha256:d216b4cf920bbab0fce636ddc429ed8463a5b533d9e1492acb45a2a1bc36ac6c
+sigtools==4.0.1
     # via synchronicity
-six==1.17.0 \
-    --hash=sha256:4721f391ed90541fddacab5acf947aa0d3dc7d27b2e1e8eda2be8970586c3274 \
-    --hash=sha256:ff70335d468e7eb6ec65b95b99d3a2836546063f63acc5171de367e834932a81
+six==1.17.0
     # via python-dateutil
-sniffio==1.3.1 \
-    --hash=sha256:2f6da418d1f1e0fddd844478f41680e794e6051915791a034ff65e5f100525a2 \
-    --hash=sha256:f4324edc670a0f49750a81b895f35c3adb843cca46f0530f79fc1babb23789dc
+sniffio==1.3.1
     # via anyio
-sse-starlette==2.3.6 \
-    --hash=sha256:0382336f7d4ec30160cf9ca0518962905e1b69b72d6c1c995131e0a703b436e3 \
-    --hash=sha256:d49a8285b182f6e2228e2609c350398b2ca2c36216c2675d875f81e93548f760
+sse-starlette==2.3.6
     # via mcp
-starlette==0.46.2 \
-    --hash=sha256:595633ce89f8ffa71a015caed34a5b2dc1c0cdb3f0f1fbd1e69339cf2abeec35 \
-    --hash=sha256:7f7361f34eed179294600af672f565727419830b54b7b084efe44bb82d2fccd5
+starlette==0.46.2
     # via
     #   fastapi
     #   gradio
     #   mcp
-synchronicity==0.9.13 \
-    --hash=sha256:2e59a1aee4c9c57ab780e69ce8f1fb3f182a5b1234c43599be18ff8420e75892 \
-    --hash=sha256:762bb5f84def464b2c7dbb944d4f19c3336a12ed7046bc5d9646f0b4a3f6a0d5
+synchronicity==0.9.13
     # via modal
-toml==0.10.2 \
-    --hash=sha256:806143ae5bfb6a3c6e736a764057db0e6a0e05e338b5630894a5f779cabb4f9b \
-    --hash=sha256:b3bda1d108d5dd99f4a20d24d9c348e91c4db7ab1b749200bded2f839ccbe68f
+toml==0.10.2
     # via modal
-tomlkit==0.13.3 \
-    --hash=sha256:430cf247ee57df2b94ee3fbe588e71d362a941ebb545dec29b53961d61add2a1 \
-    --hash=sha256:c89c649d79ee40629a9fda55f8ace8c6a1b42deb912b2a8fd8d942ddadb606b0
+tomlkit==0.13.3
     # via gradio
-tqdm==4.67.1 \
-    --hash=sha256:26445eca388f82e72884e0d580d5464cd801a3ea01e63e5601bdff9ba6a48de2 \
-    --hash=sha256:f8aef9c52c08c13a65f30ea34f4e5aac3fd1a34959879d7e59e63027286627f2
+tqdm==4.67.1
     # via huggingface-hub
-typer==0.16.0 \
-    --hash=sha256:1f79bed11d4d02d4310e3c1b7ba594183bcedb0ac73b27a9e5f28f6fb5b98855 \
-    --hash=sha256:af377ffaee1dbe37ae9440cb4e8f11686ea5ce4e9bae01b84ae7c63b87f1dd3b
+typer==0.16.0
     # via
     #   gradio
     #   modal
-types-certifi==2021.10.8.3 \
-    --hash=sha256:72cf7798d165bc0b76e1c10dd1ea3097c7063c42c21d664523b928e88b554a4f \
-    --hash=sha256:b2d1e325e69f71f7c78e5943d410e650b4707bb0ef32e4ddf3da37f54176e88a
+types-certifi==2021.10.8.3
     # via modal
-types-toml==0.10.8.20240310 \
-    --hash=sha256:3d41501302972436a6b8b239c850b26689657e25281b48ff0ec06345b8830331 \
-    --hash=sha256:627b47775d25fa29977d9c70dc0cbab3f314f32c8d8d0c012f2ef5de7aaec05d
+types-toml==0.10.8.20240310
     # via modal
-typing-extensions==4.14.0 \
-    --hash=sha256:8676b788e32f02ab42d9e7c61324048ae4c6d844a399eebace3d4979d75ceef4 \
-    --hash=sha256:a1514509136dd0b477638fc68d6a91497af5076466ad0fa6c338e44e359944af
+typing-extensions==4.14.0
     # via
     #   anyio
     #   fastapi
@@ -818,134 +219,23 @@ typing-extensions==4.14.0 \
     #   synchronicity
     #   typer
     #   typing-inspection
-typing-inspection==0.4.1 \
-    --hash=sha256:389055682238f53b04f7badcb49b989835495a96700ced5dab2d8feae4b26f51 \
-    --hash=sha256:6ae134cc0203c33377d43188d4064e9b357dba58cff3185f22924610e70a9d28
+typing-inspection==0.4.1
     # via
     #   pydantic
     #   pydantic-settings
-tzdata==2025.2 \
-    --hash=sha256:1a403fada01ff9221ca8044d701868fa132215d84beb92242d9acd2147f667a8 \
-    --hash=sha256:b60a638fcc0daffadf82fe0f57e53d06bdec2f36c4df66280ae79bce6bd6f2b9
+tzdata==2025.2
     # via pandas
-urllib3==2.4.0 \
-    --hash=sha256:414bc6535b787febd7567804cc015fee39daab8ad86268f1310a9250697de466 \
-    --hash=sha256:4e16665048960a0900c702d4a66415956a584919c03361cac9f1df5c5dd7e813
+urllib3==2.4.0
     # via
     #   gradio
     #   requests
-uvicorn==0.34.3 ; sys_platform != 'emscripten' \
-    --hash=sha256:16246631db62bdfbf069b0645177d6e8a77ba950cfedbfd093acef9444e4d885 \
-    --hash=sha256:35919a9a979d7a59334b6b10e05d77c1d0d574c50e0fc98b8b1a0f165708b55a
+uvicorn==0.34.3 ; sys_platform != 'emscripten'
     # via
     #   gradio
     #   mcp
-watchfiles==1.0.5 \
-    --hash=sha256:0125f91f70e0732a9f8ee01e49515c35d38ba48db507a50c5bdcad9503af5827 \
-    --hash=sha256:0a04059f4923ce4e856b4b4e5e783a70f49d9663d22a4c3b3298165996d1377f \
-    --hash=sha256:0b289572c33a0deae62daa57e44a25b99b783e5f7aed81b314232b3d3c81a11d \
-    --hash=sha256:10f6ae86d5cb647bf58f9f655fcf577f713915a5d69057a0371bc257e2553234 \
-    --hash=sha256:13bb21f8ba3248386337c9fa51c528868e6c34a707f729ab041c846d52a0c69a \
-    --hash=sha256:1a2902ede862969077b97523987c38db28abbe09fb19866e711485d9fbf0d417 \
-    --hash=sha256:1a7bac2bde1d661fb31f4d4e8e539e178774b76db3c2c17c4bb3e960a5de07a2 \
-    --hash=sha256:360a398c3a19672cf93527f7e8d8b60d8275119c5d900f2e184d32483117a705 \
-    --hash=sha256:3e380c89983ce6e6fe2dd1e1921b9952fb4e6da882931abd1824c092ed495dec \
-    --hash=sha256:4a8ec1e4e16e2d5bafc9ba82f7aaecfeec990ca7cd27e84fb6f191804ed2fcfc \
-    --hash=sha256:4ab626da2fc1ac277bbf752446470b367f84b50295264d2d313e28dc4405d663 \
-    --hash=sha256:839ebd0df4a18c5b3c1b890145b5a3f5f64063c2a0d02b13c76d78fe5de34936 \
-    --hash=sha256:894342d61d355446d02cd3988a7326af344143eb33a2fd5d38482a92072d9563 \
-    --hash=sha256:9f4571a783914feda92018ef3901dab8caf5b029325b5fe4558c074582815249 \
-    --hash=sha256:a056c2f692d65bf1e99c41045e3bdcaea3cb9e6b5a53dcaf60a5f3bd95fc9763 \
-    --hash=sha256:a0dbcb1c2d8f2ab6e0a81c6699b236932bd264d4cef1ac475858d16c403de74d \
-    --hash=sha256:a2014a2b18ad3ca53b1f6c23f8cd94a18ce930c1837bd891262c182640eb40a6 \
-    --hash=sha256:ab44e1580924d1ffd7b3938e02716d5ad190441965138b4aa1d1f31ea0877f04 \
-    --hash=sha256:b5eb568c2aa6018e26da9e6c86f3ec3fd958cee7f0311b35c2630fa4217d17f2 \
-    --hash=sha256:b7529b5dcc114679d43827d8c35a07c493ad6f083633d573d81c660abc5979e9 \
-    --hash=sha256:b9dca99744991fc9850d18015c4f0438865414e50069670f5f7eee08340d8b40 \
-    --hash=sha256:d6f9367b132078b2ceb8d066ff6c93a970a18c3029cea37bfd7b2d3dd2e5db8f \
-    --hash=sha256:ee0822ce1b8a14fe5a066f93edd20aada932acfe348bede8aa2149f1a4489512 \
-    --hash=sha256:f2e55a9b162e06e3f862fb61e399fe9f05d908d019d87bf5b496a04ef18a970a \
-    --hash=sha256:f436601594f15bf406518af922a89dcaab416568edb6f65c4e5bbbad1ea45c11 \
-    --hash=sha256:fe43139b2c0fdc4a14d4f8d5b5d967f7a2777fd3d38ecf5b1ec669b0d7e43c21
+watchfiles==1.0.5
     # via modal
-websockets==15.0.1 \
-    --hash=sha256:0701bc3cfcb9164d04a14b149fd74be7347a530ad3bbf15ab2c678a2cd3dd9a2 \
-    --hash=sha256:0af68c55afbd5f07986df82831c7bff04846928ea8d1fd7f30052638788bc9b5 \
-    --hash=sha256:0f3c1e2ab208db911594ae5b4f79addeb3501604a165019dd221c0bdcabe4db8 \
-    --hash=sha256:229cf1d3ca6c1804400b0a9790dc66528e08a6a1feec0d5040e8b9eb14422375 \
-    --hash=sha256:3be571a8b5afed347da347bfcf27ba12b069d9d7f42cb8c7028b5e98bbb12597 \
-    --hash=sha256:3c714d2fc58b5ca3e285461a4cc0c9a66bd0e24c5da9911e30158286c9b5be7f \
-    --hash=sha256:3e90baa811a5d73f3ca0bcbf32064d663ed81318ab225ee4f427ad4e26e5aff3 \
-    --hash=sha256:558d023b3df0bffe50a04e710bc87742de35060580a293c2a984299ed83bc4e4 \
-    --hash=sha256:592f1a9fe869c778694f0aa806ba0374e97648ab57936f092fd9d87f8bc03665 \
-    --hash=sha256:595b6c3969023ecf9041b2936ac3827e4623bfa3ccf007575f04c5a6aa318c22 \
-    --hash=sha256:5a939de6b7b4e18ca683218320fc67ea886038265fd1ed30173f5ce3f8e85675 \
-    --hash=sha256:5d54b09eba2bada6011aea5375542a157637b91029687eb4fdb2dab11059c1b4 \
-    --hash=sha256:64dee438fed052b52e4f98f76c5790513235efaa1ef7f3f2192c392cd7c91b65 \
-    --hash=sha256:746ee8dba912cd6fc889a8147168991d50ed70447bf18bcda7039f7d2e3d9151 \
-    --hash=sha256:756c56e867a90fb00177d530dca4b097dd753cde348448a1012ed6c5131f8b7d \
-    --hash=sha256:82544de02076bafba038ce055ee6412d68da13ab47f0c60cab827346de828dee \
-    --hash=sha256:ba9e56e8ceeeedb2e080147ba85ffcd5cd0711b89576b83784d8605a7df455fa \
-    --hash=sha256:c338ffa0520bdb12fbc527265235639fb76e7bc7faafbb93f6ba80d9c06578a9 \
-    --hash=sha256:d5f6b181bb38171a8ad1d6aa58a67a6aa9d4b38d0f8c5f496b9e42561dfc62fe \
-    --hash=sha256:e09473f095a819042ecb2ab9465aee615bd9c2028e4ef7d933600a8401c79561 \
-    --hash=sha256:e8b56bdcdb4505c8078cb6c7157d9811a85790f2f2b3632c7d1462ab5783d215 \
-    --hash=sha256:ee443ef070bb3b6ed74514f5efaa37a252af57c90eb33b956d35c8e9c10a1931 \
-    --hash=sha256:f7a866fbc1e97b5c617ee4116daaa09b722101d4a3c170c787450ba409f9736f \
-    --hash=sha256:fcd5cf9e305d7b8338754470cf69cf81f420459dbae8a3b40cee57417f4614a7
+websockets==15.0.1
     # via gradio-client
-yarl==1.20.0 \
-    --hash=sha256:04d8cfb12714158abf2618f792c77bc5c3d8c5f37353e79509608be4f18705c9 \
-    --hash=sha256:087e9731884621b162a3e06dc0d2d626e1542a617f65ba7cc7aeab279d55ad33 \
-    --hash=sha256:123393db7420e71d6ce40d24885a9e65eb1edefc7a5228db2d62bcab3386a5c0 \
-    --hash=sha256:18e321617de4ab170226cd15006a565d0fa0d908f11f724a2c9142d6b2812ab0 \
-    --hash=sha256:2137810a20b933b1b1b7e5cf06a64c3ed3b4747b0e5d79c9447c00db0e2f752f \
-    --hash=sha256:25b3bc0763a7aca16a0f1b5e8ef0f23829df11fb539a1b70476dcab28bd83da7 \
-    --hash=sha256:2a8f64df8ed5d04c51260dbae3cc82e5649834eebea9eadfd829837b8093eb00 \
-    --hash=sha256:33bb660b390a0554d41f8ebec5cd4475502d84104b27e9b42f5321c5192bfcd1 \
-    --hash=sha256:3b2992fe29002fd0d4cbaea9428b09af9b8686a9024c840b8a2b8f4ea4abc16f \
-    --hash=sha256:3b60a86551669c23dc5445010534d2c5d8a4e012163218fc9114e857c0586fdd \
-    --hash=sha256:3d7dbbe44b443b0c4aa0971cb07dcb2c2060e4a9bf8d1301140a33a93c98e18c \
-    --hash=sha256:3e429857e341d5e8e15806118e0294f8073ba9c4580637e59ab7b238afca836f \
-    --hash=sha256:42fbe577272c203528d402eec8bf4b2d14fd49ecfec92272334270b850e9cd7d \
-    --hash=sha256:4345f58719825bba29895011e8e3b545e6e00257abb984f9f27fe923afca2501 \
-    --hash=sha256:447c5eadd750db8389804030d15f43d30435ed47af1313303ed82a62388176d3 \
-    --hash=sha256:4a34c52ed158f89876cba9c600b2c964dfc1ca52ba7b3ab6deb722d1d8be6df2 \
-    --hash=sha256:4c43030e4b0af775a85be1fa0433119b1565673266a70bf87ef68a9d5ba3174c \
-    --hash=sha256:4c903e0b42aab48abfbac668b5a9d7b6938e721a6341751331bcd7553de2dcae \
-    --hash=sha256:4d9949eaf05b4d30e93e4034a7790634bbb41b8be2d07edd26754f2e38e491de \
-    --hash=sha256:53b2da3a6ca0a541c1ae799c349788d480e5144cac47dba0266c7cb6c76151fe \
-    --hash=sha256:54ac15a8b60382b2bcefd9a289ee26dc0920cf59b05368c9b2b72450751c6eb8 \
-    --hash=sha256:5d0fe6af927a47a230f31e6004621fd0959eaa915fc62acfafa67ff7229a3124 \
-    --hash=sha256:5d3d6d14754aefc7a458261027a562f024d4f6b8a798adb472277f675857b1eb \
-    --hash=sha256:5d9b980d7234614bc4674468ab173ed77d678349c860c3af83b1fffb6a837ddc \
-    --hash=sha256:65a4053580fe88a63e8e4056b427224cd01edfb5f951498bfefca4052f0ce0ac \
-    --hash=sha256:686d51e51ee5dfe62dec86e4866ee0e9ed66df700d55c828a615640adc885307 \
-    --hash=sha256:69df35468b66c1a6e6556248e6443ef0ec5f11a7a4428cf1f6281f1879220f58 \
-    --hash=sha256:6d12b8945250d80c67688602c891237994d203d42427cb14e36d1a732eda480e \
-    --hash=sha256:70e0c580a0292c7414a1cead1e076c9786f685c1fc4757573d2967689b370e62 \
-    --hash=sha256:737e9f171e5a07031cbee5e9180f6ce21a6c599b9d4b2c24d35df20a52fabf4b \
-    --hash=sha256:798a5074e656f06b9fad1a162be5a32da45237ce19d07884d0b67a0aa9d5fdda \
-    --hash=sha256:7dc63ad0d541c38b6ae2255aaa794434293964677d5c1ec5d0116b0e308031f5 \
-    --hash=sha256:839de4c574169b6598d47ad61534e6981979ca2c820ccb77bf70f4311dd2cc64 \
-    --hash=sha256:84aeb556cb06c00652dbf87c17838eb6d92cfd317799a8092cee0e570ee11229 \
-    --hash=sha256:866349da9d8c5290cfefb7fcc47721e94de3f315433613e01b435473be63daa6 \
-    --hash=sha256:8681700f4e4df891eafa4f69a439a6e7d480d64e52bf460918f58e443bd3da7d \
-    --hash=sha256:8a7f62f5dc70a6c763bec9ebf922be52aa22863d9496a9a30124d65b489ea672 \
-    --hash=sha256:91bc450c80a2e9685b10e34e41aef3d44ddf99b3a498717938926d05ca493f6a \
-    --hash=sha256:95fc9876f917cac7f757df80a5dda9de59d423568460fe75d128c813b9af558e \
-    --hash=sha256:9c2aa4387de4bc3a5fe158080757748d16567119bef215bec643716b4fbf53f9 \
-    --hash=sha256:9c366b254082d21cc4f08f522ac201d0d83a8b8447ab562732931d31d80eb2a5 \
-    --hash=sha256:ab47acc9332f3de1b39e9b702d9c916af7f02656b2a86a474d9db4e53ef8fd7a \
-    --hash=sha256:af4baa8a445977831cbaa91a9a84cc09debb10bc8391f128da2f7bd070fc351d \
-    --hash=sha256:b2586e36dc070fc8fad6270f93242124df68b379c3a251af534030a4a33ef594 \
-    --hash=sha256:b6c4c3d0d6a0ae9b281e492b1465c72de433b782e6b5001c8e7249e085b69051 \
-    --hash=sha256:b9ae2fbe54d859b3ade40290f60fe40e7f969d83d482e84d2c31b9bff03e359e \
-    --hash=sha256:bb769ae5760cd1c6a712135ee7915f9d43f11d9ef769cb3f75a23e398a92d384 \
-    --hash=sha256:bf099e2432131093cc611623e0b0bcc399b8cddd9a91eded8bfb50402ec35018 \
-    --hash=sha256:d2cbca6760a541189cf87ee54ff891e1d9ea6406079c66341008f7ef6ab61145 \
-    --hash=sha256:e06b9f6cdd772f9b665e5ba8161968e11e403774114420737f7884b5bd7bdf6f \
-    --hash=sha256:f106e75c454288472dbe615accef8248c686958c2e7dd3b8d8ee2669770d020f \
-    --hash=sha256:f166eafa78810ddb383e930d62e623d288fb04ec566d1b4790099ae0f31485f1 \
-    --hash=sha256:f9d02b591a64e4e6ca18c5e3d925f11b559c763b950184a64cf47d74d7e41877
+yarl==1.20.0
     # via aiohttp

src/novel_heroes/i18n.py

@@ -0,0 +1,45 @@
+import gradio as gr
+
+# NOTE: LLM often does not follow the instruction "Respond in the same language as the user's message."
+#   However, if you explicitly specify the target language (e.g., "日本語で応答して。"),
+#   it usually responds correctly in that language.
+
+# https://www.gradio.app/main/guides/internationalization
+i18n = gr.I18n(
+    en={"lang_prompt": "Please respond in English."},
+    am={"lang_prompt": "እባክዎ በአማርኛ ይምላ."},
+    ar={"lang_prompt": "يرجى الرد باللغة العربية."},
+    bg={"lang_prompt": "Моля, отговорете на български."},
+    bn={"lang_prompt": "অনুগ্রহ করে বাংলায় উত্তর দিন।"},
+    cs={"lang_prompt": "Prosím, odpovězte česky."},
+    da={"lang_prompt": "Venligst svar på dansk."},
+    de={"lang_prompt": "Bitte antworte auf Deutsch."},
+    el={"lang_prompt": "Παρακαλώ απαντήστε στα ελληνικά."},
+    es={"lang_prompt": "Por favor, responde en español."},
+    fi={"lang_prompt": "Vastaa suomeksi."},
+    fr={"lang_prompt": "Veuillez répondre en français."},
+    he={"lang_prompt": "אנא השב בעברית."},
+    hi={"lang_prompt": "कृपया हिंदी में उत्तर दें।"},
+    hu={"lang_prompt": "Kérem, válaszoljon magyarul."},
+    id={"lang_prompt": "Silakan jawab dalam bahasa Indonesia."},
+    it={"lang_prompt": "Per favore, rispondi in italiano."},
+    ja={"lang_prompt": "日本語で応答してください。"},
+    ko={"lang_prompt": "한국어로 대답해주세요."},
+    ms={"lang_prompt": "Sila jawab dalam Bahasa Melayu."},
+    nl={"lang_prompt": "Beantwoord alstublieft in het Nederlands."},
+    no={"lang_prompt": "Vennligst svar på norsk."},
+    pl={"lang_prompt": "Proszę odpowiedzieć po polsku."},
+    pt={"lang_prompt": "Por favor, responda em português."},
+    ro={"lang_prompt": "Vă rugăm să răspundeți în română."},
+    ru={"lang_prompt": "Пожалуйста, отвечайте на русском."},
+    sv={"lang_prompt": "Vänligen svara på svenska."},
+    sw={"lang_prompt": "Tafadhali jibu kwa Kiswahili."},
+    ta={"lang_prompt": "தயவு செய்து தமிழில் பதிலளிக்கவும்."},
+    te={"lang_prompt": "దయచేసి తెలుగు లో సమాధానం ఇవ్వండి."},
+    th={"lang_prompt": "กรุณาตอบเป็นภาษาไทย."},
+    tl={"lang_prompt": "Mangyaring sumagot sa Tagalog."},
+    tr={"lang_prompt": "Lütfen Türkçe cevap verin."},
+    ur={"lang_prompt": "براہ کرم اردو میں جواب دیں۔"},
+    vi={"lang_prompt": "Vui lòng trả lời bằng tiếng Việt."},
+    zh={"lang_prompt": "请用中文回答。"},
+)

src/novel_heroes/llm_call.py

@@ -0,0 +1,182 @@
+import asyncio
+import json
+import re
+
+import modal
+from novel_heroes.mcp_client import MCPClient
+
+
+class LLMCall:
+
+    MODAL_APP_NAME = "llm-server"
+
+    def _convert_history(self, message, gradio_history):
+        """Convert Gradio history format to Gemma3 format."""
+        gemma3_history = []
+        for h in gradio_history:
+            # Gradio: {'role': ..., 'content': ..., ...}
+            # Gemma3: {'role': ..., 'content': [{'type': 'text', 'text': ...}]}
+            if isinstance(h.get("content"), list):
+                # If already in Gemma3 format, keep as is
+                gemma3_history.append(
+                    {"role": h.get("role"), "content": h.get("content")}
+                )
+            else:
+                gemma3_history.append(
+                    {
+                        "role": h.get("role"),
+                        "content": [{"type": "text", "text": h.get("content", "")}],
+                    }
+                )
+        # Add current user input
+        gemma3_history.append(
+            {"role": "user", "content": [{"type": "text", "text": message}]}
+        )
+        return gemma3_history
+
+    def respond(self, message, history: list, system_prompt=None):
+        """Generate a response to the user message using the LLM."""
+
+        # Add system prompt at the beginning
+        history.insert(
+            0,
+            {
+                "role": "system",
+                "content": system_prompt,
+            },
+        )
+
+        # Debug
+        print(f"Chat history length: {len(history)}")
+        for h in history:
+            print(f"Role: {h['role']}, Content: {h['content'][:100]} ...")
+
+        gemma_formatted_history = self._convert_history(message, history)
+
+        model = modal.Cls.from_name(self.MODAL_APP_NAME, "VLLMModel")()
+
+        response = ""
+        final_response = ""
+        for chunk in model.generate_stream.remote_gen(gemma_formatted_history):
+            response += chunk
+            yield response
+
+        # Add to Gradio history
+        history.append({"role": "assistant", "content": final_response})
+
+    def listup_heroes(self, book_content: str) -> list[str]:
+        """
+        List up heroes from the book content.
+
+        Args:
+            book_content (str): The content of the book.
+
+        Returns:
+            list[str]: A list of hero names found in the book content.
+        """
+
+        system_prompt = (
+            "Your task is to extract hero names from the provided book content. "
+            "Return a list of hero names, each on a new line."
+            "Do not include any additional text or explanations."
+            "The hero names should be in the format: 'Hero Name'. "
+            "If no heroes are found, return an empty list."
+            "Example output:\n"
+            "Hero One\n"
+            "Hero Two\n"
+            "Hero Three\n"
+        )
+
+        prompts = [
+            {
+                "role": "system",
+                "content": [{"type": "text", "text": system_prompt}],
+            },
+            {
+                "role": "user",
+                "content": [{"type": "text", "text": book_content}],
+            },
+        ]
+
+        model = modal.Cls.from_name(self.MODAL_APP_NAME, "VLLMModel")()
+        response = model.generate.remote(prompts)
+        print("Response from LLM:", response)
+
+        # Split the response by new lines and strip whitespace
+        hero_names = [name.strip() for name in response.split("\n") if name.strip()]
+
+        return hero_names
+
+
+async def main():
+    """
+    Example usage
+    Gradio app and Modal server need to be running.
+    """
+    llm_call = LLMCall()
+    mcp_client = MCPClient()
+
+    # Select a book
+    book_list_json = await mcp_client.get_book_list()
+    book_name = json.loads(book_list_json)[0]
+    print(
+        f"Selected Book: {book_name}"
+    )  # "A_Christmas_Carol_in_Prose_Being_a_Ghost_Story_of_Christmas_by_Charles_Dickens_13844"
+
+    # Get book content
+    book_content = await mcp_client.get_book_content(book_name, 50000)
+    print("Book content:\n", "======", sep="")
+    print(book_content[:500].replace("\n", ""), "...")
+    print("======")
+
+    # Select a hero
+    heroes = llm_call.listup_heroes(book_content)
+    print("Extracted Heroes:", heroes)
+    hero = heroes[0] if heroes else "No heroes found"
+    print(f"Selected Hero: {hero}")  # "Scrooge"
+
+    # Construct system prompt
+    # fmt: off
+    system_prompt = (
+        f"You are {hero}, a character from the book '{book_name}'. "
+        "Behave and respond according to the personality and attitude of this character. "
+        "For example, if the character is unfriendly, respond unfriendly; if the character is kind, respond kindly. "
+        "Below is the book content:\n\n"
+        + "=" * 20 + "\n"
+        f"{book_content}\n\n"
+        + "=" * 20 + "\n"
+
+        # This DOES WORK as expected.
+        "日本語で答えて。"  # "Please respond in Japanese."
+
+        # This also works but sometimes may not as expected.
+        # "Please respond in Japanese."
+
+        # This DOES NOT WORK as expected.
+        # "IMPORTANT: You must ALWAYS respond in the EXACT same language as the user's message. "
+        # "If the user writes in Japanese, you MUST respond in Japanese. "
+        # "If the user writes in English, you MUST respond in English. "
+        # "Never mix languages or respond in a different language than the user used. "
+        # "This is a strict requirement - match the user's language exactly. "
+    )
+    # fmt: on
+
+    print(f"Book Content Length: {len(book_content)}")
+    print(f"System Prompt Length: {len(system_prompt)}")
+
+    # Generate a response
+    response = llm_call.respond(
+        message="こんにちは。ご機嫌はいかがですか？",
+        history=[],
+        system_prompt=system_prompt,
+    )
+    print("Response from LLM:")
+    for chunk in response:
+        print(chunk, end="", flush=True)
+    print()
+
+
+if __name__ == "__main__":
+    import asyncio
+
+    asyncio.run(main())

src/novel_heroes/mcp_client.py

@@ -0,0 +1,81 @@
+import asyncio
+import json
+import os
+
+from mcp import ClientSession
+from mcp.client.sse import sse_client
+
+MCP_SERVER_URL = os.environ.get(
+    "MCP_SERVER_URL", "http://localhost:7860/gradio_api/mcp/sse"
+)
+
+
+class MCPClient:
+
+    async def with_session(self, func):
+        """
+        Create a session with the MCP server and execute the provided function.
+        - See: https://modelcontextprotocol.io/docs/concepts/transports#server-sent-events-sse
+        """
+        async with sse_client(MCP_SERVER_URL) as streams:
+            async with ClientSession(streams[0], streams[1]) as session:
+                await session.initialize()
+                return await func(session)
+
+    async def list(self):
+        """List available tools from the MCP server."""
+        async def _list(session):
+            response = await session.list_tools()
+            return response
+
+        return await self.with_session(_list)
+
+    async def get_book_list(self) -> str:
+        """Get the list of books available on the MCP server."""
+        async def _get_book_list(session):
+            tool_name = "get_book_list"
+            response = await session.call_tool(tool_name)
+            if response.isError:
+                raise ValueError(f"Error calling tool: {tool_name}")
+            return response.content[0].text
+
+        return await self.with_session(_get_book_list)
+
+    async def get_book_content(self, book_name: str, max_length: int = 0) -> str:
+        """Get the content of a book from the MCP server."""
+        async def _get_book_content(session):
+            tool_name = "get_book_content"
+            input_data = {"book_name": book_name, "max_length": max_length}
+            response = await session.call_tool(tool_name, input_data)
+            if response.isError:
+                raise ValueError(f"Error calling tool: {tool_name}")
+            return response.content[0].text
+
+        return await self.with_session(_get_book_content)
+
+
+async def main():
+    mcp_client = MCPClient()
+
+    tools = await mcp_client.list()
+    print("Available tools:")
+    print("=" * 20)
+    for tool in tools.tools:
+        print(f"Name: {tool.name}")
+        print(f"Description: {tool.description}")
+        print(f"Input Schema: {tool.inputSchema}")
+        print(f"Annotations: {tool.annotations}")
+        print("-" * 20)
+
+    book_list_str = await mcp_client.get_book_list()
+    book_list = json.loads(book_list_str)
+    print(f"Number of books available: {len(book_list)}")
+
+    book_name = book_list[0]
+    book_content = await mcp_client.get_book_content(book_name, max_length=100)
+    print(f"Content of the book '{book_name}':")
+    print(book_content + "...")
+
+
+if __name__ == "__main__":
+    asyncio.run(main())

src/novel_heroes/mcp_server.py

@@ -0,0 +1,84 @@
+import json
+from pathlib import Path
+
+
+def get_book_list() -> str:
+    """
+    Get list of available books.
+
+    Returns:
+        str: JSON string containing the list of book names.
+    """
+    books_dir = Path("./books")
+    if not books_dir.exists():
+        return json.dumps("Error: Books directory not found.")
+
+    text_files = []
+    for file in books_dir.iterdir():
+        if file.is_file() and file.suffix.lower() == ".txt":
+            text_files.append(file.stem)
+
+    return json.dumps(sorted(text_files))
+
+
+def get_book_content(book_name: str, max_length: int = 0) -> str:
+    """
+    Get the content of a book.
+
+    Args:
+        book_name (str): The name of the book (without .txt extension).
+        max_length (int): The maximum length of the content to return. If 0, return the full content.
+    Returns:
+        str: The content of the book, or an error message if the book is not found.
+    """
+    books_dir = Path("./books")
+    book_file = books_dir / f"{book_name}.txt"
+    if not book_file.exists():
+        return f"Error: Book '{book_name}' not found."
+
+    with open(book_file, "r", encoding="utf-8") as f:
+        lines = f.readlines()
+
+    content = _remove_header_footer(lines)
+
+    if not max_length:
+        return content
+    else:
+        return content[:max_length]
+
+
+def _remove_header_footer(lines: list[str]) -> str:
+    """
+    Remove the header and footer from the book content.
+
+    Args:
+        lines (list[str]): List of lines from the book content.
+
+    Returns:
+        str: The content without the header and footer.
+    """
+    # Find start index
+    start_index = 0
+    for i, line in enumerate(lines):
+        if line.startswith("*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK"):
+            start_index = i + 1
+            break
+
+    # Find end index
+    end_index = len(lines)
+    for i in range(len(lines) - 1, -1, -1):
+        if lines[i].startswith("*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK"):
+            end_index = i
+            break
+
+    return '\n'.join(lines[start_index:end_index])
+
+
+
+if __name__ == "__main__":
+    print("Available books:", get_book_list())
+
+    book_name = "Winnie_the_Pooh_by_A_A_Milne_9255"
+    book_content = get_book_content(book_name)
+    print(f"Start of '{book_name}':\n{book_content[:500]}...\n")
+    print(f"End of '{book_name}':\n{book_content[-500:]}\n")

uv.lock

@@ -1363,7 +1363,7 @@ wheels = [
 [[package]]
 name = "novel-heroes"
 version = "0.1.0"
-source = { virtual = "." }
+source = { editable = "." }
 dependencies = [
     { name = "gradio", extra = ["mcp"] },
     { name = "modal" },