[crows cawing]
[Preacher] Blessed are the words of the Emperor!
For it is He who lights our way!
In His beneficence, He has bestowed upon us
His great librarium, so that lowly servants
such as I might share His word!
Know then, that in the time before,
when the stars were but young...
...and the galaxy steeped in darkness...
...it was the Emperor who first brought light!
[footsteps]
[Prefect] Counting is your duty.
Nine thousand, nine hundred and ninety-three,
nine thousand, nine hundred and ninety-four...
my counting is my duty.
[Prefect] There shall be no thinking.
[sludging]
[Prefect] To reason is to consider lies.
[Prefect] There shall be no reading.
[snoring]
Nine thousand, nine hundred and ninety-six...
[sludge]
Nine thousand, nine hundred and ninety-six...
...nine hundred and ninety-six...
[Prefect] There shall be no talking.
Knowledge corrupts.
It is a dangerous thing.
Do you understand this, Adept Neath?
I do, Prefect.
Nine thousand, nine hundred and ninety-seven,
nine thousand, nine hundred and ninety-eight.
The Emperor's light is the only light.
Nine thousand, nine hundred and ninety-nine... [gasps]
[ominous music]
Ten thousand.
Ten thousand and one, ten thousand and two...
[Prefect] There shall be no talking.
Have you ever noticed that sometimes
there are the wrong number of books?
No.
[footsteps]
[Prefect] To contemplate is to invite treachery.
[Prefect] Counting is your duty.
[footsteps]
Nine thousand, nine hundred and ninety-six,
my counting is my duty.
Nine thousand, nine hundred and ninety-seven...
[footsteps approaching]
Nine thousand, nine hundred and ninety-eight,
the Emperor's light is my only light.
Nine thousand, nine hundred and ninety-nine... [gasps]
[Prefect] There shall be no reading.
[eerie sounds]
[Demonic voices] Do it. Embrace your hunger.
Feel how it gnaws at you.
How you long to run your eyes across those pages,
feel its knowledge seep into your mind.
Take the book. Show us, Neath.
Let us see.
[gasps]
[heavy breathing]
[sighs]
Ten thousand,
ten thousand and one,
ten thousand and two...
[Prefect] To reason is to consider lies.
[Preacher] The importance of these books cannot be understated.
[Preacher 2] Why are we kept waiting?
[Preacher] They should be here!
[Preacher 2] This is testing my patience.
[Preacher] I can't preach without books.
[Preacher 2] These books had better be worth it!
Welcome, welcome!
Once again, we are most honoured to receive such auspicious guests.
Quite so, Prefect.
You are blessed indeed to serve the Emperor through our patronage.
That I am.
Are the new volumes ready?
They are.
Good.
All is as it should be.
Through us, the Emperor's grace will inspire thousands.
Have the next batch ready early.
Of course.
Blessing of the Emperor upon you.
Our fate is in His hands.
[ominous noise]
[gasps]
[heavy breathing]
Ten thousand and one, my counting is my duty.
[Prefect] There shall be no thinking.
[Prefect] There shall be no talking.
What? What is it?
A book.
An extra book. You were right.
I found one, there on the shelf.
You did?
Did you read it?
No.
Tell me, where did you find it?
Section twelve, seventy-one A, where I count.
Who are you?
My name is Bole.
[whimpering]
[Prefect] Counting is your duty.
[heavy breathing]
No...
That can't be...
[Prefect] To contemplate is to invite treachery.
Bole? Bole?
Bole?
[gasping]
There shall be no talking!
It seems I must remind you of the rules, Adept Neath.
I'm sorry, Prefect.
It's just... the extra book.
Extra books?
Have you failed in your counting duties?
I was trying to find Adept Bole.
He knows all about it.
There is no Adept Bole.
But... Prefect,
I spoke with him.
You are mistaken.
There has never been an adept here with that name.
Then perhaps I misheard his name.
He had a marking, a scar on the side of his neck.
To question is to undermine authority.
There shall be no more talking.
Yes, Prefect.
[Prefect] Now go.
And do not allow your thoughts to betray you.
[screeching]
[heavy breathing]
[Prefect] There shall be no reading.
[intense build-up]
Agh!
[panting]
[shaking]
[screeches]
Look. Look. Look...
[Demonic voices] Let us see...
Look. Look.
[Demonic voices] Embrace the change...
[panting and screaming]
[roaring]
[screaming]
Greetings, most auspicious...
Yes, yes!
- Are they ready? - Of course.
Just as you required.
Good.
Yes...
Come along. Hurry!
There's work to be done.
[eerie sounds]
We shall return tomorrow, Prefect.
Be ready.
Of course.
[Cawing]
[Priest] Gather round!
Lend me your ears and listen well
for I bear words of loving enlightenment...
...and of the brilliance...
...that shines upon the darkest corners of our galaxy...
...and in its magnificence, brings forth
the gift of change!
[cheering]
Knowledge corrupts.
It is a dangerous thing...
[snarling]