Once upon a time, in the present moment, in a world of papers and booklets, there were letters dancing to the tunes of texts, building their words and sentences, and guiding their reality with great wisdom and adherence to grammatical rules.
144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7OiFvHBhPH
From A to Z, and even to the vowel markers, they harmonized and formed their world.
144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeSn98ljB9q
Here comes the train: the letters C and T joined together, along with A and R, to build it and ride along the streets shaped by their own letters.
144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5T9PQq3XxM
A complete world inhabited by the letters in a state of perfect tranquility, building buildings, vehicles, squares, stadiums, and everything else that could be represented by spoken letters.
144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGldu66lcVb
But this world, which was merely a reflection of the colossal human efforts to find ways of expression and communication, was not limited to a few elements; numbers too had their share in these considerations.
144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFCk9W7krEJ
The invasion of the letter world by numerical symbols was uncommon, but wars were inevitable. As everyone knows, numbers are endless, which always motivates them to invade and conquer spaces.
144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSlWBKXNnDW
“Alas! Alas!”
144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm0iQwllUHr
The letter W cried out, its voice so loud that it woke up the sleepers, then it continued while fleeing:
144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcscoiIDYQc
“We are being invaded by monsters! We are being invaded by monsters! Wake up and save us, oh people!”
144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeUSpjy7gp0
What is this? Letters do not usually face such things; they are used to connecting and building their community structure, not to meeting strangers. In fact, they had never encountered outsiders throughout their existence, for they are writings isolated from the world in every case. This might be the reason why W called these numbers monsters, despite the possibility that they were friendly symbols.
144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwpIwkPKHlP
Just a few hours passed, and all the letters gathered (or so they thought) and gathered in the book square, looking like a crowd despite their small number.
144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4iCvuCLdMR
The letter W stepped forward and took the podium. As soon as it climbed it, it glared at the letters M, N, S, and T:
144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoyCr3Dim0m
“What are you doing here?! Join the rest so I can address you! We are in a state of emergency!”
144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnyn62G1R7G
The letters M, N, S, and T (in one voice):
144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxNf1VgbTk5
“But the podium…”
144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzqRNa1Yt2L
W: “Forget about that! I don’t need it. Quickly, go join the others so I can finish my speech!”
144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡckBCCKNwe0
(They joined the crowd, and before the leader could address the public without the podium, he turned to look behind him.)
144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMV1teFKSJb
W: “What’s going on? Why are you standing there motionless? Are you tourists or invaders?”
144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrza4olCqxY
(Realizing) No doubt, they cannot hear me.
144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5K6XruO1eM
“Loudspeaker! Come to me!”
144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6XAa0oCHce
(The letters that were called came to him and formed into a loudspeaker, which W used to repeat his question.)
144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8AQFaXEjBC
One of the numbers responded, looking over the entire book:
144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5LXvki5fSi
“We are neither tourists nor invaders, we are explorers.”
144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡO4w3hj1Dlf
“We are an endless series of ourselves, and there is no place left for us anywhere we’ve been, because places are limited, unlike us…”
144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH7SB8Yjjhd
W (interrupting):
144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡO6SJKcJlN3
“So, you came to examine the place?”
144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrDN9z6FGJ7
One of the numbers:
144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxyjSSAgS07
“That’s right.”
144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIszjOW4tc1
W: “Then go back! This place doesn’t accommodate anyone but us.”
144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXz0IcqSwT2
One of the numbers: “We thought it was abandoned, but it turns out it’s inhabited, so we might buy it if you’re selling.”
144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtCD57M0h0n
W: “Buying and selling?”
144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4zuQ0rWbKL
One of the numbers: “Yes! Buying and selling, is that so surprising?”
144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOvtM62CVXD
W: “I don’t even know what buying and selling means.”
144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡh5opbsCQNZ
One of the numbers: “What a shock! A society so prosperous yet unaware of trade?” (To himself: It seems these foolish beings lack much knowledge! Exploiting their ignorance of sciences would be to our advantage!)
144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpWuzUiOc6x
“Trade, my dear, is two things: buying and selling. You give me something, and I give you something else of equal value in return.”
144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjhMx71Euc5
W: “That doesn’t sound too complicated, but I refuse to hand over our land under any circumstances.”
144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPv7jKU6eLt
One of the numbers: “It seems we won’t get a satisfying result!”
144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1jRy3hUzNx
W: “Indeed. Leave.”
144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2oetTGacta
The number turned to its companion and ordered it to leave and continue the exploratory journey with all the newcomers. Then it took a final look at what it had hoped to steal.
144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpmITGRLeLb
This is how stability is achieved! This is how stability is achieved! All the letters cheered as they lifted their leader on their shoulders.
144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqLGIrRYsnY
But one dissenting letter stepped out of line and condemned the leader:
144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHJnndnMcdX
“We should have fortified the book with a wall! I’ve told you a million times that the book should be surrounded by a wall! Now, those numbers have found a place and will attack us with their massive numbers!”
144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL4GaYBypXn
The letter K responded: “A wall cannot be built. Letter G went on a journey long ago and hasn’t returned.”
144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8b2YpBXOgh
Suddenly, the letter D spoke with wisdom:
144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6RhlzCukDA
“It could have been better than it was. The book could have evolved by adding those numbers, and that would have been a beautiful step toward promoting diversity and co-existence, not to mention gaining new contributors to enrich our nation in ways we can’t even imagine!”
144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡO1LTwFGP39
Whispers and murmurs spread among the attendees:
144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnLoxl4eFn5
“A noble idea!... A symbol of love!... I agree... Beautiful!... Why not?... That would have been wonderful!”
144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDYdSBP9huC
The letter T responded:
144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv1ReCgmZ9G
“You are truly a misguided letter, and your error is your ignorance! The problem is adaptation. This environment is made for letters, not numbers. Besides, we are productive beings, while they are mere numerical values that will consume our products without giving anything in return.”
144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWQo7LcBx9V
Whispers continued:
144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNcgdKcyBbg
“That’s true!... Yes, adaptation… How did we not think of that?”
144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡECm93XBKNI
////////////////////////Meanwhile///////////////////////////
144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3iXhQ3mV8Q
On the fixed path of numbers, one blamed the leader:
144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBUI05aXzEg
“Why did we retreat? We could have crushed those worthless letters and destroyed their place, then occupied it! There were only 28 of them, while we are 280,000 or more!”
144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaCFbiK8qsC
The leader stopped, smiled, and patted his head:
144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgjq6LO6cPY
“The idea is not about aggression or recklessness, and there’s no need to take risks, even if our enemy is weak. Furthermore, a military success can be achieved with a single move, and the results would yield an economy and abundance of resources. Do you understand now?”
144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqIBaKPv9O7
The other number signaled yes and asked about the next step, to which the leader replied:
144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnO2uyciNhT
“These letters don’t understand trade, meaning they don’t understand goods, meaning they don’t understand the poisonous goods!”
144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoS1ekV49U6
The number stood frozen, stunned by the shock. Poisoning was possibly the most dangerous thing it had ever heard of before… Then, after the shock wore off, it added:
144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4QKvDRjC4a
“But you condemned aggression and recklessness!”
144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeekJdsDooX
The leader interrupted, laughing:
144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKVOT44GcyJ
“But not wise aggression or careful recklessness!”
144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwqcIPwniVx
The number praised the leader:
144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBUaCwh75oH
“What an impressive leader! You exploited their ignorance and proposed a solution that will annihilate them without any losses! But how will we give them the poison? As a gift?”
144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSb8DE3vpAl
The leader: “Yes, as a gift.”
144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBJ8UytUmRX
The number: “A gift for what?”
144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlmyKS3avpN
The leader: “As a token of gratitude and generosity.”
144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpF7w1JM8ac
The number: “Gratitude for what?”
144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCGEVf2Upic
The leader (with growing impatience): “For nothing! Just because! Be quiet and keep walking!”
144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVYe0bKLzMs
The number (apologetically): “As you wish, I apologize.”
144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7JiHHhHvPP
The numbers continued on their journey.
144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSzLDbeV18O
From nowhere, the absent letter G descended to the ground after many years. It had heard the wicked conversation. This conversation had taken place in a socially isolated area rich in inanimate objects, one of which was the "tractor" vehicle that letter G had made from metal, forming shapes similar to the letters R and A and moving ahead of the numbers for all that time.
144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzG6R9qjG00
Letter G realized that the numbers came from the place of its writing, so it rushed to it eagerly, warning them.
144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBrZ5JPgTNs
Upon reaching the book, the letters greeted it warmly, with longing suppressed in their hearts.
144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2k6VHfONUj
It sat down, and in awe and wonder, it spoke, expressed its feelings, and shared the conversation it had overheard, along with a solution that was not strange to its kind:
144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8PnTymMq4u
“The solution is to build the protective wall, and now its construction is easier than ever.”
144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPOVjMkfoiL
One of the letters screamed in fear:
144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR6xGoCDN7O
“Poison that kills! Is it directed at us?! Let’s build the wall!”
144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUwGHFBQKb3
The leader (proudly and arrogantly):
144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiKKZ8yjSLb
“You heard, my followers! Build the wall!”
144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKZGfUZD23e
The letters D, A, and R rushed to build the wall, and G remained silent, head bowed.
144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWavwcahc3h
All the letters (in one voice):
144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ22zldBS9FK
“What’s wrong? Why the bowing?”
144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiCEqzLrUgJ
Letter G replied:
144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF2SSBRaH3N
“Truthfully… the reality is that protection, despite its importance, should not be prioritized over prevention, which is the true priority.”
144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJh9fnL0YBv
Confusion spread across the faces of the letters from A to Z, and they exchanged quiet analyses.
144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv5anLc3l3Y
The leader stood from his seat and asked for more clarification, which was granted:
144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjU4LoZ8MNf
“I heard from one of the humans – I’ll tell you who humans are later – that an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.
144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3re0lAGVOa
This means that self-preservation is important, even more so than the means of protection itself, without diminishing its value. Therefore, it is crucial that we never fall prey to ignorance, which would allow the predators to devour us. This is a matter of extreme importance and should be considered a basic need for survival.”
144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiSY6KHmbX2
The message I want to convey is that we desperately need to study poison, sciences, history, and more in order to strengthen our existence. After building the wall, do we intend to build our future?”
144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPaUTXBbBr6
All the letters cheered joyfully and eagerly, united in a loud voice full of enthusiasm:
144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHONd5CWkmW
“Build the wall, build the future! We work and we learn!”
144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1TrSZmwi83
The leader promised letter G a prestigious position before they began building the wall that would keep the invaders away forever.
144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzip1cpZqmF
