The New Austerities [antikvár]

In latter days, with time winding down, he used to rise up after each ten thousand years and offer praises to the sun. Now, lifting both arms, once more he pronounced the old phrases, and then sent them off on their long journey through nights and days. He was in a city, to judge by many things: smoke rising from the avenues, and flat clay roofs as far as eye could see. "Hmmm," said he, nodding wisely. ''Sumer this is, famous for its honey. Yea, and Akkadfor the bees!" And that, of course, was when an airplane crossed overhead. Too amazed to scream, he leapt to the balustrade (but why was he naked?) and stood gazing down into the late modern crevices ofa city more familiar to him than his own.