school.txt
                                             Ben Blumenberg
                                             Reality Software
                                             P.O. Box 105
                                             Waldoboro, Me 04572
                                             June 26, 1992
                          GOING TO SCHOOL



     Required study materials for Prehistory V: Spring Semester
Leadership Tutorial. A.K.V.U. 1/57/9988 675 0

    "A sword is for killing.
     
     A sword may be long.
     A sword may be short.

     A sword may shine.

     A sword may be for one hand.
     A sword may be for two hands.

     A sword may be thick.
     A sword may be thin.

     A sword may have jewels.
     A sword may lack gems.

     A sword is for killing.

     Give me back my sword!"



     This poem is an extremely interesting fragment discovered
last year by Professor T. during his expedition to X IV NN 9067. 
Professor T. believes the first eleven lines to be the legendary
"Litany of the Sword", the last line being a later addition. 
During the last few centuries of its existence, the Human Race
witnessed the development of a quasi-religous organization known
as the Sword Bearers.  They were an elite, commando force whose
members attached tremendous importance to various incantations
and litanies which were to be recited prior to battle.  Until the
discovery of this fragment at the lowest levels of the site on X
IV NN 9067, no actual examples of such "litanies" had been found.
Two others are known by title only. 

     What makes this find so unusual is the twelfth line quoted
above.  Historical references to the "Litany of the Swords"
mention only eleven lines.  Prof. T. has conducted a
spectographic analysis of the molecular structure of the ink and
finds significant differences between the ink used to write the
first eleven lines and that utilized in the twelfth.  Electron
disintegration analysis indicates the last line to have been
added to the page about two hundred years after the "Litany"
itself was composed.  Such a note of despair is evoked by the
entire poem that it comes very close to violating the Prime
Directive and is on display at the University for a limited time.
If the find had not been made by a senior staff member of
outstanding intergalactic reputation, I doubt the artefact would
have available for public exhibition.

     Prof. T.'s comparative analysis of the text suggests this
"litany" may have been used by one of the last surviving Human
armies.  Faced with imminent defeat and obliteration, they
acutely felt the loss of their "sword"; i.e. "power", "ability",
etc.  In utter despair, they seem to have resorted to a cult
ritual as means of recovering their lost strength.

     Students finding this material unfamiliar are advised to
read one of the standard reference works on Man which may be
obtained from the vault.  Remember, you are destined to lead this
civilization in the near future.  Ignorance of Prehistory in an
Administrator or Director is punishable by death!  I need only
remind you of the dismemberment of S 87603 last year following
his failure to pass the exams.

Notes:

Human: A term to be equated with "Man" and Homo sapiens. 

Religous: A religion is a system of "thought" (?) in whch a
supreme being or gods are thought to control the lives and
destinies of both large groups and individuals. 

Prayer: To be equated with incantation; a series of isolated
words or sentences used to summon or entreat the supreme deities
of a given religion.

Sword: A prehistoric weapon consisting of a metallic blade
sharpened on one or both sides and embedded in a handle.  The
sword is gripped in one or both hands and swung so that the blade
contacts the body of one's opponent.  The idiocy of such a device
leads Prof. T. to believe that humans had much slower reflexes
that ourselves.