Page:The life of the insects by Čapek brothers.pdf/52

 one, two, three, four. Like machines—Bah, it makes my head swim.

Blind Ant. One, two, three, four—

Chief Engineer. Quicker, quicker, one, two, three, four—

Blind Ant. (More quickly) One, two, three, four—one, two, three, four.

[They all move more quickly.

Tramp. What ’s that? I'm asking yer, sir, what ’s this ’ere factory?

Chief Engineer. What ’s your business?

Tramp. Business?

Chief Engineer. From which of the Ants?

Tramp. I’m a human man, that ’s what I am. Ants indeed!

Chief Engineer. This is an Ant realm. What do you want here?

Tramp. ’Avin’ a look.

Chief Engineer. Do you want work?

Tramp. Shouldn’t mind.

2nd Engineer. A discovery! A discovery!

Chief Engineer. What is it?

2nd Engineer. A new method of speeding up. Don’t count one, two, three, four—count blank, two, three, four—blind fellow, hullo!

Blind Ant. One, two, three, four—

2nd Engineer. Wrong: Blank, two, three, four.

Blind Ant. Blank, two, three, four. Blank, two, three, four—( move more quickly).

Tramp. Not so fast—Makes me feel giddy.

2nd Engineer. Who are you?