"There is a law against machines. They interfere with simplicity."
"But doesn't anyone ever have an idea for a machine so brilliant that he simply has to make it in spite of the law?"
"How could he? It is against the law."
"Do you mean that the law here is always obeyed?"
"Always. That is the superiority of Tolstoia to all other peoples. Those who come to our happy country by accident never wish to leave when they find that through the doctrines of the Master we have established the brotherhood of men."
Ann gave a little giggle. "I know," said Heidekopfer rapidly in English, "I think we can take that with a cellar full of salt." He switched to Russian; "Then you have no crime?"
"In our happy country?" said Behrmann. "No. Look how beautiful is the arrangement of the cows in that field?"
Heidekopfer sighed. Then he said, "Tell me something about the government of your country. I don't want to be too inquisitive, but I have to report on these things when I get back."
Behrmann's face flashed a frown. "It is hard to explain this to an outsider, but we know of what you call government only from the works of the Master, who spoke of it as it was in the old days, in the old Russia, the holy Russia." He lifted a hand to his face, and Heidekopfer was dumbfounded to see the man was wiping away a tear. "There is the patriarch, but he is only the general secretary of the Supreme Soviet."
"Well, who makes the laws?"