Page:Thea von Harbou Metropolis eng 1927.pdf/22

 METROPOLIS That was synonymous with the obligation to perfortn eight times as much. To me. Not to himself. TOMrnOlTOW the fifth secretary will be in his place. In a week he will have rendered four of the others superfluous. I have use for that man." . «Because he saves four others,"

<eNo, FredeI'. Because he takes delight in the work of four others. Because he throws himself entirely into his workthrows himself as desiringly as if it were a woman." FredeI' was silent. Joh Fredersen looked at his son. He looked at him carefully. "You have had some experience?" he asked. The eyes of the boy, beautiful and sad, slipped past him, out into space. Wild, white light frothed against the windows, and', in going out, left the sky behind,' as a black velvet cloth over Metropolis.

"I have had no experience," said Freder. tentatively, "ex.. cept that I believe for the first time in my life to have comprehended the being of a machine ....» "That should mean a great deal," replied the Master over Metropolis. «But you are probably wrong, FredeI'. If .you had really comprehended the being of a machine you would not be so perturbed:' .Slowly the son turned his eyes and the helplessness of his incomprehension to his father. "How can one but be perturbed," he said, '<if one comes to you, -as I did, through the machine~rooms. Through the glorious rooms of your glorious machines . . . and sees the creatures who are fettered to them by laws of eternal watchfulness ... lidless eyes ..." He paused. His lips were dryas dust. . Joh Fredersen leant back. He had not taken his gaze from his son, and still held it fast. «Why did you come to me through the machine-rooms," he asked quietly. "It is neither the best, nor the most convenient way." eel wished," said the son, picking his words carefully, «Just once to look the men in the face-whose little children are my brothers-my sisters. , :' _ eeH'm," said the other with very tight lips. The pencil which

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