human
You are Ostrog?
gpt
I am Ostrog.
human
The Boss?
gpt
So I am called.
human
I have to thank you chiefly, I understand, for my safety,
gpt
We were afraid you were killed, said Ostrog.
human
Or sent to sleep again--for ever. We have been doing everything to keep our secret--the secret of your disappearance. Where have you been? How did you get here?
gpt
Do you know what I was doing when they came to tell me you had come?
human
How can I guess?
gpt
Preparing your double.
human
My double?
gpt
A man as like you as we could find. We were going to hypnotise him, to save him the difficulty of acting. It was imperative. The whole of this revolt depends on the idea that you are awake, alive, and with us. Even now a great multitude of people has gathered in the theatre clamouring to see you. They do not trust.... You know, of course--something of your position?
human
Very little,
gpt
It is like this. Ostrog walked a pace or two into the room and turned.
human
You are absolute owner, he said,
gpt
I have heard the vague outline of these things.
human
I wondered.
gpt
I came upon a garrulous old man.
human
I see.... Our masses--the word comes from your days--you know, of course, that we still have masses--regard you as our actual ruler. Just as a great number of people in your days regarded the Crown as the ruler. They are discontented--the masses all over the earth--with the rule of your Trustees. For the most part it is the old discontent, the old quarrel of the common man with his commonness--the misery of work and discipline and unfitness. But your Trustees have ruled ill. In certain matters, in the administration of the Labour Companies, for example, they have been unwise. They have given endless opportunities. Already we of the popular party were agitating for reforms--when your waking came. Came! If it had been contrived it could not have come more opportunely. He smiled.
gpt
The public mind, making no allowance for your years of quiescence, had already hit on the thought of waking you and appealing to you, and--Flash!
human
The Council muddled--quarrelled. They always do. They could not decide what to do with you. You know how they imprisoned you?
gpt
I see. I see. And now--we win?
human
We win. Indeed we win. To-night, in five swift hours. Suddenly we struck everywhere. The wind-vane people, the Labour Company and its millions, burst the bonds. We got the pull of the aeroplanes.
gpt
Yes,