Rossum´s Universal Robots

Read Rossum´s Universal Robots for Free Online Page A

Book: Read Rossum´s Universal Robots for Free Online
Authors: Karel Čapek
on. I’m so worried. You’re a builder-what do builders do when they’re worried?
    Alquist What I do is I build a wall. I take off my director of construction’s hat and get out there on the scaffolding.
    Helena It’s years since you’ve been anywhere but out there on the scaffolding.
    Alquist That’s because it’s years since I haven’t been worried.
    Helena Worried about what?
    Alquist About all this course of events. It makes me dizzy.
    Helena Doesn’t it make you dizzy being out on the scaffolding.
    Alquist No. You don’t know how good it is to feel the weight of a brick in you hand, slap in into place and tap it down to just where it should be...
    Helena Is that all?
    Alquist Well, it does your soul good too. There’s something more decent about laying just one brick than drawing up plans that are too big. I’m an old man, Helena, I’ve got my funny ways.
    Helena There’s nothing funny about that, Alquist.
    Alquist You’re right. But I’m very old fashioned. I really don’t like this progress that’s going on around us.
    Helena You’re like Nana.
    Alquist Yes, just like Nana. Does Nana ever pray?
    Helena She never stops.
    Alquist Does she have prayers for the different things that can happen in a life; prayers against hard times, prayers against illness?
    Helena Prayers against temptation, prayers against floods,...
    Alquist No prayers against progress though, eh?
    Helena No, I don’t think so.
    Alquist That’s a pity.
    Helena Do you want to pray?
    Alquist I do pray.
    Helena How do you pray?
    Alquist Something like this: “Dear God, thank you for giving me tiredness. Dear God, help Domin and all those who stray to see the error of their ways; destroy their works and help all the people to return to work and anxiety; don’t let mankind perish; don’t let them damage their bodies or their souls; free us from the robots, and protect Helena. Amen”.
    Helena Alquist, are you really a believer?
    Alquist I don’t know; I’m not really sure about anything.
    Helena But you pray anyway.
    Alquist Yes. It’s better than thinking too much.
    Helena And is that enough for you?
    Alquist For the peace of your soul-that can be enough.
    Helena And if you saw the destruction of mankind...
    Alquist I’m seeing it now.
    Helena ... then you’d get out on the scaffolding and lay some more bricks; is that it?
    Alquist Then I’d lay some more bricks, say a prayer, and wait for a miracle. There’s not much more you can do, is there.
    Helena To save mankind?
    Alquist For the peace of my soul.
    Helena Well that’s certainly brutally honest of you, Alquist, but...
    Alquist But?
    Helena ... what about the rest of us, what about the whole world becoming sterile.
    Alquist Sterility, Helena, is man’s last achievement.
    Helena Oh, Alquist, tell me why, why?
    Alquist You think I know?
    Helena ( quietly ) Why have women stopped having children?
    Alquist Because there’s no need for them. Because we’ve entered into paradise. Do you understand what I mean?
    Helena No.
    Alquist Because there’s no need for anyone to work, no need for pain. No-one needs to do anything, anything at all except enjoy himself. This paradise, it’s just a curse! ( jumping up ) Helena, there’s nothing more terrible than giving everyone Heaven on Earth! You want to know why women have stopped having children? Because the whole world has become Harry Domin’s Sodom!
    Helena ( standing ) Alquist!
    Alquist It has! It has! The whole world, all the continents, all of mankind, all of it’s just become one bestial orgy! No-one ever has to reach out his hand for food; he just stuffs it straight in his mouth without even needing to stand up. Haha, Domin’s robots, they always take care of everything! And us human beings, the pinnacle of creation, we don’t have to take care of work, we don’t have to take care of children, we don’t have to take care of the poor! Bring in all the fun, quick! Quick! I want it now! And

Similar Books

Gagged & Bound

Natasha Cooper

God Save the Queen

Amanda Dacyczyn

Quatre

Em Petrova

What's a Girl Gotta Do

Sparkle Hayter

Amish White Christmas Pie

Wanda E Brunstetter