Free eBooks at Planet eBook.com Why was it I dreamed of that ‘babe’ at such a moment? ‘Why
is the babe so poor?’ That was a sign to me at that moment.
It’s for the babe I’m going. Because we are all responsible for
all. For all the ‘babes,’ for there are big children as well as
little children All are ‘babes.’ I go for all, because someone
must go for all. I didn’t kill father, but I’ve got to go. I ac-
cept it. It’s all come to me here, here, within these peeling
walls. There are numbers of them there, hundreds of them
underground, with hammers in their hands. Oh, yes, we
shall be in chains and there will be no freedom, but then, in
our great sorrow, we shall rise again to joy, without which
man cannot live nor God exist, for God gives joy: it’s His
privilege — a grand one. Ah, man should be dissolved in
prayer! What should I be underground there without God?
Rakitin’s laughing! If they drive God from the earth, we
shall shelter Him underground. One cannot exist in prison
without God; it’s even more impossible than out of prison.
And then we men underground will sing from the bowels of
the earth a glorious hymn to God, with Whom is joy. Hail
to God and His joy! I love Him!’
Mitya was almost gasping for breath as he uttered his
wild speech. He turned pale, his lips quivered, and tears
rolled down his cheeks.
‘Yes, life is full, there is life even underground,’ he began
again. ‘You wouldn’t believe, Alexey, how I want to live now,
what a thirst for existence and consciousness has sprung up
in me within these peeling walls. Rakitin doesn’t under-
stand that; all he cares about is building a house and letting
flats. But I’ve been longing for you. And what is suffering? I