METROPOLIS
known Maohee-drugged beings to have fancied themselves Kin~s, Gods, Fire, and Stonn-and to have forced others to feel themselves Kings, Cods, Fire, and Storm, I have known those in the ecstasy of desire to have forced women down to them from the highest part of the shell's wall, that they. diving, like seagulls, with out-spread hands, have swooped to his feet, without injuring a limb, while others have faBen to their death. That man there was no God, no Storm, no Fire, and his drunkenness most certainly inspired him with no desire. It seems to me that he had come up from hell and is roaring in the intoxication of damnation. He did not know that the ecstasy for men who are damned is also damnation.... The fooll The prayer he is praying will not redeem him. He believes himself to be a machine and is praying to himself. He has forced the others to pray to him. Be has ground them down. Be has pounded them to a powder. There are many dragging th~mselves around Metropolis to-day who cannot comprehend why their limbs are as jf broken .. ,» "Be quiet, September'» said Slim hoarsely, His hand flew to his throat which felt like a glowing cork, like smouldering charcoal. September fell silent, shrugging his shoulders. Words seethed up from the depths like lava. "I am the Three-in-one-Lucifer-Belial-Satan-I I am the everlasting Deathl I am the everlasting Nowayl Come unto me-I In my hell there are many mansionsl I shall assign them to youl I am the great king of all the damned-I I am a machinel I am the tower above you aUl I am a hammer, a fly-wheel. a fiery ovenl I am a murderer and of what I murder I make no use, I want victims and victims do not appease mel Pray to me and know: I do not hear youl Shout at me: Pater~nosterl Know: I am deafl" Slim turned around; he saw September's face as a chalky mask at his sh01llder. Maybe that, among September's ancestresses there was one who hailed hom an isle in the South sea, where gods mean little-spirits everything, 'That's no more a man.... he whispered with ashen lips, "A man would have died of it long ago...• Do you see his
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