The Melancholy of Resistance

Name?

What’s that to you?

Tell me your name!

Forget my name.

Place of residence?

You don’t want my mother’s name by any chance?

Answer the question I asked you.

Drop it, redshank.

It’s not me you are insulting, but the authorities.

Fuck the authorities.

We agreed that you should answer, but if you go on like this I’m not giving you a gun, I shall have your tongue cut out instead. I’m not joking. Stand up straight. What objective did you have in coming to town?

To have a good time. I like circuses. I’ve always liked them.

Who is The Prince?

I don’t know any princes. I don’t know anyone.

Don’t lie to me.

Why not?

Because it’s a waste of time. I’ve met people like you before.

Well, if you say so. Let’s go on. Is that gun in your holster the one you’re going to give me?

No. Did The Prince tell you to shoot yourselves in the head if the rebellion was put down?

The Prince never commands.

Then what did he do?

What do you mean? It’s nothing to do with you.

Answer me.

Why? You wouldn’t understand anything anyway.

I’d like to warn you that you will not be able to irritate me however hard you try. When did you first begin to follow the fate of the circus?

I don’t give a shit for your warning.

When did you first see The Prince?

I only saw his face once. They always wrap him in a fur coat when they bring him out of the truck for us.

Why do they have to wrap him up?

Because he’s cold.

You said you saw his face once. Describe it!

Describe it! You are not just an idiot, you bore me.

Where is his third eye? At the back? On his brow?

Why don’t you bring him here, if you dare. Then I’ll show you.

Why should I be afraid of him? Do you think he’ll turn me into a frog?

What’s the point, you’re already a toad.

I might change my mind and dash your brains out on the floor.

Try it, redshank.

Just you wait. At what time did The Prince emerge from the truck yesterday?

What time? I’m telling you, you don’t understand anything.

Did you personally hear what he said?

Only those who were standing close to him heard him.

Then how do you know what he said?

The general factotum understands him. He always interprets nice and loud.

What did he say yesterday evening, for example?

That toads like you are no use to anyone.

He commanded you to ‘tear down everything’. Correct?

The Prince never commands.

He said, ‘Build a new world upon the ruins!’ Correct?

You’re pretty well informed, redshank.

What does it mean? Explain it to me: build a new world upon the ruins.

Explain it to you? Pointless.

All right. What’s your job? You don’t look like a tramp.

Why? Do you think you look any better? What are those baubles on your chest? I wouldn’t go round dressed like that.

I asked you what your job was.

I dug the soil for you lot.

You’re not a peasant.

No, but you are.

You speak as if you had some education.

You’re on the wrong trail. You really are a small-time operator.

It’s all the same to you if I shoot you like some filthy stray dog then?

Brilliant guesswork.

Why?

Because I don’t want to dig soil for you any more.

What do you mean by that?

You’re an earth shifter yourself. Like a bloody earth-worm. You dig and dig — and you enjoy it too. Not me.

Is that some kind of code you’re talking in?

Sure. I’m an educated man, remember? Yes, code …

Answer me: when they put The Prince back in the truck you all left the square. Under whose orders? Describe them. Who told you what to do? When you got to the post office, whose idea was it that you should split into smaller groups?

What an imaginaton you have!

Give me the name of the man in command.

We only have one leader. And you’ll not catch him.

How do you know he has escaped? Did he tell you? Did he tell you where?

You will never catch him!

Is The Prince some devil out of hell?

Oh, it’s not as simple as that. He’s flesh and blood, but his flesh and blood are different.

If nothing matters to you, explain to me how he got you all under his spell? Does your Prince exist at all? Why attack the town? Why did you come here? To lay it waste? With your bare hands? What do you want? I don’t understand you.

I can’t answer so many questions at once.

Then tell me this: were you involved in the murders?

Yes. But not enough.

What?

I told you. Not enough.

You killed a child at the station and I am asking you, not as your interrogator but as man to man: is there nothing sacred to you?

Man to man, I’ll tell you: nothing. When are you going to give me that gun?

I think I’d rather wring your neck. Very slowly.

I had nothing to do with the child. But go on, wring it.

Are all those people in the square, those hundreds, are they all like you?

How should I know?

I feel like vomiting.

You seem to have lost your patience after all. Why is your whole face twitching? Where’s your military discipline?

Stand to attention!

I already am. You’ve handcuffed me, I’ve got an itchy nose.

Interrogation over. I’ll hand you over to the military tribunal! Get over to the door!

You said you’d give me a gun.

To the door with you!!!