On the Wings of Hope: Prose (Recognized)

Whisper

"Sh-sh-sh-sh. N-n-o-o-i-i-s-s-e-e!"

"Stand where you are!" the Warrior was disturbed. "Name yourself!"

"I am the W-h-i-i-s-s-s-p-p-e-e-r-r!" whispered the mind. "Whisper of mind – n-n-o-o-i-i-s-s-e-e!"

"I know no such ones!"

"Sh-sh-sh-sh! Let me pass!"

"Unknown ones are not allowed here!"

"And what if I a-a-s-s-k-k you?"

"To whom are you going?" questioned the Warrior.

"To you," answered the Whisper.

"To me? What for?"

"To distu-r-r-b-b you, of course!" rustled the Whisper. "Noise, prank... such a little thing!"

"No pranking over here!"

"No-n-n-s-s-e-e-n-n-s-s-e-e! I will whisper to you of the most important things!" promised the Whisper. "About what is most necessary, what is most valuable! You will appreciate me for my mind. N-n-o-o-i-i-s-s-e-e!"

"About what, for instance?" the Warrior inquired skeptically.

"About everything you de-s-s-i-i-r-r-e-e! I can argue about everything, I feel no fatigue! I am an invaluable partner! I will lead you as far as you ever want it!"

"You don't experience fatigue?"

"I whisper, and whisper, and whisper... about this, about that... about all imaginable things! People love me – I give them food for their minds. To chew – yet not to do! I am persistent, very insisting... very convincing. I lead many, lots of people... where they belong. Do you want me to... lead you there as well?"

"Where are you calling me to go?"

"Into my... domain. Whisper of mind... the darkness of reason! Infinite, senseless, unstoppable process... perfectly thrown out time. I know all your most secret wh-i-i-s-s-h-h-e-e-s-s... I can wh-i-i-s-s-p-p-e-e-r-r to you how to make them come true! You only need to li-s-s-t-t-e-e-n-n to me attentively!"

"You are trying to hide away something, Whisper!"

"Do you desire... power? Riches? Fame? Comfort and dolce vita? I have already helped so many to carry out their most innocent... wh-i-i-s-s-h-h-e-e-s-s! Small p-p-r-r-a-a-n-n-k-k!"

"It's not a prank at all..."

"Small thing! Everything begins with small thingies... once there were only pranks. But I know no such thing as stopping... I desire more, and more, and more... of everything!"

"It's that too much for you?"

"There is never too much of me... there is either I or despised Silence! No silence! Wh-i-i-s-s-p-p-e-e-r-r!"

"Trying to distract me from duties?"

"And from thoughts... necessary thoughts... clear thoughts. I keep whispering to men constantly, I don't allow them to think clearly. I disturb nasty feelings inside them so that these th-o-o-u-u-g-g-h-h-t-t-s-s never reach their minds. There is no way for clear thoughts in unclear feelings... Wh-i-i-s-s-p-p-e-e-r-r!"

"You hiss almost like a snake!"

"I creep, I crawl, I lure inside. Not at once, not instantly... I find cracks and holes, locate openings. I am very resourceful, very flexible. And then I bite... my poison is extremely dangerous. Suspiciousness – that's my shelter from clear thoughts!"

"It turns out that you are a viper!"

"Muck... is my joy. Noise... subordinates mind. People consider me important... useful, their friend. For the time being... until I sting. Sh-sh-sh-sh! I am capable of poisoning even the best of feelings... except for the strongest ones."

"It means that intellectual whisper is a darkener of reason!"

"Clear thoughts... are short-term. Short living. They come and go, like guests. And I am... a permanent resident of your minds. Sh-sh-sh-sh! If only it will not be transformed by hated S-s-i-i-l-l-e-e-n-n-c-c-e-e!"

"There can't be noise in a silence!"

"But you aren't able... to be in s-s-i-i-l-l-e-e-n-n-c-c-e-e. They... didn't teach you in school, huh! Therefore, I... will undermine your good feelings... will whisper without ceasing... and you will believe once... so many of you have already believed me... believed to mind, not heart! Believed some Whisper! Sh-sh-sh-sh!"

"Go away from me, you viper!"

"N-n-o-o! I will just creep up... B-b-i-i-t-t-e-e! You will become mine! Sh-sh-sh-sh! Sh-sh-sh-sh! W-w... w-w-a-a-t-t that?! Where did these warriors come from?! Clear thoughts?! You... were alone! How... could you? You are... one of them? They are... your protection? N...no!"

"Somewhat talkative sort of Whispers is being encountered as of lately," smiled Warrior – Clear Thought, wiping out the edge of his sword. "Hiss without stopping! Well, brothers," he addressed colleagues standing behind him, "whose else mind are we going to visit today?"