“When things turn really desperate,” Tlön said as if to himself, “everyone swiftly turns against the last remaining hope for righting things again.” He looks around the smoldering fire before continuing: “It is as though everyone wants to strangle the last hope with their own bare hands.” “Let me ask you,” sighs one of the elders after a long silence and turns his piercing gaze toward him, “are you only guessing about such calamities, or have you perhaps witnessed them somewhere else already?” Tlön knew at once that he had gone too far. It was high time for him to return to his travels.