Liber Lunae - Chapter 26

Verses

Verse 15

At the seventh gate the soul presented its name. The lunar clerk asked, Which one?

Verse 16

The soul recited the name given by its mother. Rejected.

Verse 17

It recited the name earned in war. Rejected.

Verse 18

It recited the secret name purchased from a prophet. The clerk laughed and stamped the form twice.

Verse 19

Behind the counter hung a crescent with the words: ALL LIGHT DECLARED AT ENTRY.

Verse 20

The soul said, I carry nothing. The clerk pointed to memory.

Verse 21

Confiscate it, said the soul.

Verse 22

Cannot, said the clerk. It has grown around the contraband.

Verse 23

What contraband?

Verse 24

The belief that you were ever born.

Verse 25

The soul looked back toward Earth and saw a million lives queued beneath the same sign.

Verse 26

Then it understood why the gate had no lock.