Page:Thea von Harbou Metropolis eng 1927.pdf/145

 METROPOLIS were carried higher and higher by this trembling, though she did not move her feet. She said: "Come... .J Come... .J I will lead you... .J I will dance the dance of Death before you 1 I will dance the dance of the Murderers before you 1" The multitude moaned. The multitude'gasped. The multitude stretched out its hands. The multitude bowed head and neck low, as though its shoulders, its backs, should be a carpet for the girl The multitude fell on its knees with a groan, one single beast felled with the hatchet. The gil"! raised her foot and stepped upon the neck of the outstretched beast.... A voice shouted out, sobbing with rage and pain: "You arc not Maria-I" The multitude turned around. The multitude saw a man standing in the background of the arch, a man, from whose shoulders the coat had fallen. Under the coat he wore the white silk. The man was mOre ghastly to see than one who has bled to death. He stretched out his hand and pointed to the girl. He yelled out: "You are not MariaH No-If You are not Maria-II" The heads of the multitude stared at the man who was a stranger among them, who wore the white silk. ... "You are not Maria-I" he yelled. "Maria preaches peaceand not murder-I" The eyes of the multitude began to glare dangerously. The girl stood bolt upright in the neck of the multitude. She began to totter. It seemed as though she would fall-fall over on to her white face in which the blood-red mouththe mouth of deadly sin, flamed like hell-lire. But she did not fall. She held herself upright. She swayed slightly, but she held herself upright. She stretched out her ann and pointed at Freder, calling in a voice which sounded like glass: "Look-I Look-I The son of Joh Fredersen-l The son of Joh Fredersen is among you-I" The multitude shouted. The multitude hurIed itself around. The multitude mnde to lay hold or the son of Joh Fredersen. He did not· resist. He stood pressed against the wall. He

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