Babel

by R.F. Kuang

‘She wants you,’ Robin said. He’d only just realized this, and now that he said it out loud, it seemed so obvious that he felt stupid for not seeing it earlier. ‘Very badly. So why—’ ‘Don’t you know why?’

I know why

Lie, Ramiz. This was the lesson, the most important lesson he’d ever been taught. Hide, Ramiz. Show the world what they want; contort yourself into the image they want to see, because seizing control of the story is how you in turn control them. Hide your faith, hide your prayers, for Allah will still know your heart.

You’ll learn that Chinese society remains quite backwards and unjust.’

Can this mf stop?😭🙏

‘Don’t be ridiculous.’ Mr Baylis smiled a wide, practised smile. ‘Smoking opium is the safest and most gentleman-like speculation I am aware of.’

White people is a plague

‘A curious defence,’ said Ramy, ‘to justify a vice with virtue.’

That’s the white’s field

‘I don’t—’ Suddenly the words failed Robin. He could understand Cantonese, but he couldn’t speak it.

Fuck… me

‘Do you go to Sunday services?’ ‘Of course.’ Ramy did not miss a beat. ‘I go because I’m forced, where I mumble apologies to Allah whenever possible.’

bye😭 this crack me up

Letty was not here to rescue them. She lifted the revolver, aimed at each one of them in turn.

Wtf letty…

Ramy was dead.

Bro I didn’t prepare for this. He can’t just die OH MY LORD

The Greeks loved parricide,

I wonder why

They would obey because he threatened violence.

So Griffin was right. This was what it took: a show of force. If the people could not be won over by words, they would be persuaded by destruction.

‘And did Pharaoh let them go?’ Robin asked. ‘He did,’ said Victoire. ‘But only after the tenth plague. Only after he had suffered the death of his firstborn son.’

after violence