"What makes you ask such a thing? You
really are . . fond of a joke. . . . It is very fine today."
"It is fine, and the moon is very bright.
But I want to ask you: Is it right?"
He looked disconcerted, and muttered: "No...."
"No? Then why do they still do it?"
"What are you talking about?"
"What am I talking about? They are
eating men now in Wolf Cub Village, and you can see it written
all over the books, in fresh red ink."
His expression changed, and he grew ghastly
pale. "It may be so," he said, staring at me.
"It has always been like that. . . ."
"Is it right because it has always
been like that?"
"I refuse to discuss these things with
you. Anyway, you shouldn't talk about it. Whoever talks
about it is in the wrong!"
I leaped up and opened my eyes wide, but
the man had vanished. I was soaked with perspiration. He
was much younger than my elder brother, but even so he was
in it. He must have been taught by his parents. And I am
afraid he has already taught his son: that is why even the
children look at me so fiercely.
IX
Wanting to eat men, at the same time afraid of being eaten
themselves, they all look at each other with the deepest
suspicion. . . .
How comfortable life would be for them if
they could rid themselves of such obsessions and go to work,
walk, eat and sleep at ease. They have only this one step
to take. Yet fathers and sons, husbands and wives, brothers,
friends, teachers and students, sworn enemies and even strangers,
have all joined in this conspiracy, discouraging and preventing
each other from taking this step.
