God said, “That another may not eat.”
I said to God, “But if they poison all then none dare eat; what do they
gain?”
God said, “Nothing.”
I said, “Are they not afraid they themselves may bite where another has
bitten?”
God said, “They are afraid. In Hell all men fear.”
He called me further. And the water of the lake seemed less blue.
Then, to the right among the trees were men working. And I said to God,
“I should like to go and work with them. Hell must be a very fruitful
place, the grass is so green.”
God said, “Nothing grows in the garden they are making.”
We stood looking; and I saw them working among the bushes, digging
holes, but in them they set nothing; and when they had covered them with
sticks and earth each went a way off and sat behind the bushes watching;
and I noticed that as each walked he set his foot down carefully looking
where he trod. I said to God, “What are they doing?”
God said, “Making pitfalls into which their fellows may sink.”