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METROPOLIS The aeroplane hovered homelessly above a strange earth, like a bird not able to find its nest. Suddenly, amid the thunder of the air, .the pilot heard a voice at his left ear saying, almost softly: "Turn back. .. ." The head in the airman's cap was about to bend backwards. But at the first attempt to do so it came in contact with an object of resistance, which rested exactly on the top of his skull. This object of resistance was small, apparently angular and extraordinarily hard. "Don't movel" said the voice at his left ear, which was so soft, yet making itself understood through the thunder of the air. "Don't look round, eitherl I have no revolver with me. Had I had one handy I should probably not be here. What I have in my hand is an implement the name and purpose of which are unknown to me.. But it is made of solid steel and I quite sufficient to smash in your skull with should you not obey me immediately.... Turn backl" The bull-like shoulders under the airman's cap raised themselves in a sholt, impatient shrug. The glowing ball of the sun touched the horizon with an inexpressibly light hovering movement. For a few seconds it seemed to dance along it in soft, blazing rhythm. The nose of the aeroplane was turned towards it and did not alter its course by a hand's breadth. "You do not seem to have understood me," said the voice behind the pilot. "Turn backl I wish to return to Metropolis, do you hear? I must be there before nightfall.... well?" "Shut your mouth," said the pilot. "For the last time, will you obey or will you not-P" "Sit down and keep quiet, back there ..•. damn it all, what do you mean by it-r' "You won't obey-P" "What the hell...." A young girl, turning the hay in a wide, undulating field, by the last light of the setting sun, had sighted the rushing bird above her, in the evening sky and was watching it with eyes heated by work and tired by the summer. How strangely the aeroplane was rising and falling I It was making jumps like a horse that wants to shake off its rider.
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