Citizen:
No, it wasn’t him.
Second Disabled Soldier:
Was it a bullet?
Citizen:
No.
Third Soldier:
A knife, then?
Citizen:
It wasn’t a knife either. Vandergold was torn in pieces—Vandergold and his car with him. And now Dollarson’s top dog—only Dollarson, Dollarson and nobody else. Oh, strange things have been happening. We’ve had war here, too. So for those of us who’re alive to tell the tale the only thing left is to beg for peace again.
[The sound of a horn. A Herald runs in before a projected image of “The Dollarson News.” A Crowd collects.]
Herald:
Oyez! oyez! oyez! The war is ended; the fight is won! The New Continent is opened to us. The Land of Hopes is in our possession as far as the frontiers marked out by us. Our flags are flying upon our territory to the full extent of our claims. Thus has it been sealed by fire, blood and the sword. So to them who have perished let there be grateful memory and renown. However, it is sweet to lay down one’s life for the benefit of days yet to be. Our share in the Land of Hopes comprises over 5,000,000 square kilometres. Its maximum width is
