Page:The life of the insects by Čapek brothers.pdf/53

 Tramp. Stranger in these parts!

2nd Engineer. Where from?

Chief Engineer. From the humans—Where ’s the Human Ant Heap?

Tramp. What?

Chief Engineer. Where ’s the Human Ant Heap?

Tramp. Oh, over there, and over there. Everywhere.

2nd Engineer. Ha, ha! Everywhere! Fool!

Chief Engineer. Are there any humans?

Tramp. Yes. They’re called the lords of creation, that ’s what they’re called.

2nd Engineer. Ha, ha! Lords of creation!

Chief Engineer. We are the lords of creation.

2nd Engineer. Ha, ha! Masters of the world!

Chief Engineer. We’re the masters of the world.

2nd Engineer. The Ant Realm!

Chief Engineer. The largest Ant State!

2nd Engineer. A World Power!

Chief Engineer. The largest Democracy!

Tramp. What ’s that?

Chief Engineer. The world must obey us!

2nd Engineer. All have to work—all for Her.

Chief Engineer. As She orders.

Tramp. Who ’s Her?

Chief Engineer. The whole of the State. The Nation!

Tramp. Why, that ’s just the same as us! M.P.’s we ’ave and Boro’ Councillors, that ’s democracy—’Ave yer got Boro’ Councillors?

Chief Engineer. No, we have the whole.

Tramp. And who speaks for the whole?

2nd Engineer. Ha, ha! He knows nothing.

Chief Engineer. The one who orders. She who only issues commands.