took pleasure in their antics and could not help thinking （it is an idea that kept coming back to her during her two years in the country） that man is as much a parasite on the cow as the tapeworm is on man： We have sucked their udders like leeches。 Man the cow parasite is probably how non…man defines man in his zoology books。
Now； we may treat this definition as a joke and dismiss it with a condescending laugh。 But since Tereza took it seriously； she found herself in a precarious position： her ideas were dangerous and distanced her from the rest of mankind。 Even though Genesis says that God gave man dominion over all animals； we can also construe it to mean that He merely entrusted them to man's care。 Man was not the planet's master； merely its administrator； and therefore eventually responsible for his administration。 Descartes took a decisive step forward： he made man maitre et proprietaire de la nature。 And surely there is a deep connection between that step and the fact that he was also the one who point…blank denied animals a soul。 Man is master and proprietor； says Descartes； whereas the beast is merely an automaton； an animated machine； a machina animata。 When an animal laments； it is not a lament； it is merely the rasp of a poorly functioning mechanism。 When a wagon wheel grates； the wagon is not in pain； it simply needs oiling。 Thus； we have no reason to grieve for a dog being carved up alive in the laboratory。
While the heifers grazed； Tereza sat on a stump with Karenin at her side； his head resting in her lap。 She recalled reading a two…line filler in the papers ten or so years ago about how all the dogs in a certain Russian city had been summarily shot。 It was that inconspicuous and seemingly insignificant little article that had brought home to her for the first time the sheer horror of her country's oversized neighbor。
That little article was a premonition of things to come。 The first years following the Russian invasion could not yet be characterized as a reign of terror。 Because practically no one in the entire nation agreed with the occupation regime； the Russians had to ferret out the few exceptions and push them into power。 But where could they look？ All faith in Communism and love for Russia was dead。 So they sought people who wished to get back at life for something； people with revenge on the brain。 Then they had to focus； cultivate； and maintain those people's aggressiveness； give them a temporary substitute to practice on。
The substitute they lit upon was animals。
All at once the papers started coming out with cycles of features and organized letters…to…the…editor campaigns demanding； for example； the extermination of all pigeons within city limits。 And the pigeons would be exterminated。 But the major drive was directed against dogs。 People were still disconsolate over the catastrophe of the occupation； but radio； television； and the press went on and on about dogs： how they soil our streets and parks； endanger our children's health； fulfill no useful function； yet must be fed。 They whipped up such a psychotic fever that Tereza had been afraid that the crazed mob would do harm to Karenin。 Only after a year did the accumulated malice （which until then had been vented； for the sake of training； on animals） find its true goal： people。 People started being removed from their jobs； arrested； put on trial。 At last the animals could breathe freely。
Tereza kept stroking Karenin's head； which was quietly resting in her lap； while something like the following ran through her mind： There's no particular merit in being nice to one's fellow man。 She had to treat the other villagers decently； because otherwise she couldn't live there。 Even with Tomas； she was obliged to behave lovingly because she needed him。 We can never establish with certainty what part of our relations with others is the result of our emotions—love； antipathy； charity； or malice—and what part is predetermined by the constant power play among individuals。
True human goodness； in all its purity and freedom； can come to the fore only when its recipient has no power。 Mankind's true moral test； its fundamental test （which lies deeply buried from view）； consists of its attitude towards those who are at its mercy： animals。 And in this respect mankind has suffered a fundamental debacle； a debacle so fundamental that all others stem from it。
One of the heifers had made friends with Tereza。 The heifer would stop and stare at her with her big brown eyes。 Tereza knew her。 She called her Marketa。 She would have been happy to give all her heifers names； but she was unable to。 There were too many of them。 Not so long before； forty years or so； all the cows in the village had names。 （And if having a name is a sign of having a soul； I can say that they had souls despite Descartes。） But then the villages were turned into a large collective factory； and the cows began spending all their lives in the five square feet set aside for them in their cow sheds。 From that time on； they have had no names and become mere machinae animatae。 The world has proved Descartes correct。
Tereza keeps appearing before my eyes。 I see her sitting on the stump petting Karenin's head and ruminating on mankind's debacles。 Another image also comes to mind： Nietzsche leaving his hotel in Turin。 Seeing a horse and a coachman beating it with a whip； Nietzsche went up to the horse and； before the coachman's very eyes； put his arms around the horse's neck and burst into tears。
That took place in 1889； when Nietzsche； too； had removed himself from the world of people。 In other words； it was at the time when his mental illness had just erupted。 But for that very reason I feel his gesture has broad implications：
Nietzsche was trying to apologize to the horse for Descartes。 His lunacy （that is； his final break with mankind） began at the very moment he burst into tears over the horse。
And that is the Nietzsche I love； just as I love Tereza with the mortally ill dog resting his head in her lap。 I see them one next to the other： both stepping down from the road along which mankind； the master and proprietor of nature； marches onward。
3
Karenin gave birth to two rolls and a bee。 He stared； amazed； at his own progeny。 The rolls were utterly serene； but the bee staggered about as if drugged； then flew up and away。
Or so it happened in Tereza's dream。 She told it to Tomas the minute he woke up； and they both found a certain consolation in it。 It transformed Karenin's illness into a pregnancy and the drama of giving birth into something both laughable and touching： two rolls and a bee。
She again fell prey to illogical hopes。 She got out of bed and put on her clothes。 Here； too； her day began with a trip to the shop for milk； bread； rolls。 But when she called Karenin for his walk that morning； he barely raised his head。 It was the first time that he had refused to take part in the ritual he himself had forced upon them。
She went off without him。 Where's Karenin？ asked the woman behind the counter； who had Karenin's roll ready as usual。 Tereza carried it home herself in her bag； She pulled it out and showed it to him while still in the doorway。 She wanted him to come and fetch it。 But he just lay there motionless。
Tomas saw how unhappy Tereza was。 He put the roll in his mouth and dropped down on all fours opposite Karenin。 Then he slowly crawled up to him。
Karenin followed him with his eyes； which seemed to show a glimmer of interest； but he did not pick himself up。 Tomas brought his face right up to his muzzle。 Without moving his body； the dog took the end of the roll sticking out of Tomas's mouth into his own。 Then Tomas let go of his end so that Karenin could eat it all。
Still on all fours； Tomas retreated a little； arched his back； and started yelping； making believe he wanted to fight over the roll。 After a short while； the dog responded with some yelps of his own。 At last！ What they were hoping for！ Karenin feels like playing！ Karenin hasn't lost the will to live！
Those yelps were Karenin's smile； and they wanted it to last as long as possible。 So Tomas crawled back to him and tore off the end of the roll sticking out of Karenin's mouth。 Their faces were so close that Tomas could smell