“Exactly,” said Steam. “I am neither bad nor good. It is just as the wind said. Didn’t you see, at the time, that the wind was right?”
“Yes,” said Two-Legs, quietly.
“Didn’t you take the wind into your service?” asked Steam. “You caught him and put him to your boat and your mill. You watched him and learnt to know his ways, so that you could use him as he came. Am I not right?”
“Aye,” said Two-Legs. “I became the wind’s master. But I do not understand how I am to conquer you, who are mightier than the wind, or how to employ your formidable power in my service.”
“Catch me, use me!” said Steam. “I serve the strongest.”
5
Two-Legs sat and gazed and thought. He looked at the ruined land, at the sun, which shone as mildly as though nothing had happened, at Steam, who floated quietly over the wilderness. There was not a house left standing, not a tree; and not a bird was singing.
Once, he turned round and looked after his kinsmen. He saw them far away on the horizon, but still it did not occur to him to follow them. Then he said to Steam:
“Who are you? Tell me something about yourself.”
“I am like this at present,” said Steam. “You see me now and you saw me a little while ago. Look out across the sea and you shall see me there, too.”