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?