human
The Emperor is the administrative head of the government and we intellectuals are merely his hirelings. We are merely the feathers of the Royal eagle, our colour is black, we have no part in the red blood of human brotherhood, we are outcasts from the socialistic labour world--for we receive money compensation to which labourers would not stoop. But labour owns the state. This roof of Berlin over our heads and all that is therein contained, is the property of the workers who produced it.
gpt
And who, asked Hellar,
human
Few of our intellectual class have ever thought of that, replied Hellar,
gpt
How is it then that labour is so powerless, since you say that it owns the state, and even the Emperor rules by its permission?
human
Napoleon--have you ever heard of him?
gpt
Yes, I admitted--and then recalling my rôle as a German chemist I hastened to add--
human
Napoleon was a directing chemist who achieved a plan for increasing the food supply in his day by establishing the sugar beet industry.
gpt
Is that so? exclaimed Hellar.
human
I didn't know that. I thought he was only an Emperor--anyway, Napoleon said that if you tell men they are equal you can do as you please with them. So when William III was elected to the throne by labour, he insisted that they retain the power and re-elect him every five years. He was very popular because he invented the armoured city--our new Berlin--some day I will tell you of that--and so of course he was re-elected, and his son after him. Though most of the intellectuals do not know that it exists the ceremony of election is a great occasion on the labour levels. The Emperor speaks all day through the horns and on the picture screens. The workers think he is actually speaking, though of course it is a collection of old films and records of the Royal Voice. When they have seen and heard the speeches, the labourers vote, and then go back to their work and are very happy.
gpt
But suppose they should sometime fail to re-elect him?
human
No danger, said Hellar;
gpt
Most extraordinary,
human
Most ordinary, contradicted Hellar;
gpt
It is all very interesting, I said,
human
Ah, said Hellar,