MET Rap a LIS back into the chest. Obediently, eagerly, worked the little machine which drove the PaterMnoster of the New Tower of Babel. A little glimmering light played upon the more delicate joints almost on the top of the machine, like a small malicious eye. . The machine had plenty of time. Many hours would pass before the Master of Metropolis, before Joh Fredersen would tear the food which his machines were chewing up from the teeth of his mighty machines. Quite softly, abuost smilingly, the gleaming eye, tbe malicious eye, of the delicate machine looked down upon Joh Fredersen's son, who was standing before it. . . . • Georgi had left the New Tower of Babel unchallenged, through various doors and the city received him, the great Metropolis which swayed in the dance of light and which was a dancer. He stood in the street, drinking ·in the drunken air. He felt white silk on his body. On his feet he felt shoes which were soft and .upple. He breathed deeply and the fullness of his own breath filled him with the most high intoxicating intoxication. He saw a city which he had never seen. He saw it as a man he had never been. He ,did not walk in a stream of others: a stream twelve Bles deep.... He wore no blue linen, no hard -shoes, no cap. He was not going tq work. Work was put away, another man was doing his work for him. A man had come to him and had said: "We shall now exchange lives, Georgi; you take mine and I your's ..." "'When you reach the street, take a car." "You will nnd more than enough money in my pockets... .n "You will Bnd more than enough money in my pockets..• :' "'You will Bnd more than enough money in my pockets
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Georgi looked at the city which he had never seen . Ahl The inloxicatiOI1 of the lights. Ecstasy of Brightnessl -Ahl Thousand-limbed city, built up of blocks of light. Towers of brilliancel Steep mountains of splendour! From the velvety sky above you showers golden rain, inexhaustibly, as into the open lap of the Danae. 40
