“A country is considered the more civilised the more the wisdom and efficiency of its laws hinder a weak man from becoming too weak and a powerful one too powerful.”
Primo Levi
Section II begins by introducing a new series of characters into the story. These are the regulars who stay at the dosshouse. Each has a unique story. One of those mentioned is a boy that they called Kuvalda Meteor.
Here is an excerpt from his introduction to the story:
"Boy! What business have you here on this earth?"
The boy answered boldly and stoutly:
"I am a barefooted tramp. . . ."
"You are a fool!" decided Aristid Kuvalda. "what are you knocking about here for? You are of absolutely no use to us . . . Do you drink vodki? . . . No? . . . Well, then, can you steal?" Again, "No." "Go away, learn, and come back again when you know something, and are a man. . . ."
The youngster smiled. "No. I shall live with you."
"Why?"
"Just because. . . ."
After Gorky finished introducing the new cast of characters he notes:
“The above were the chief members of the Captain's company, and he called them with kind-hearted sarcasm "Creatures that once were Men." For though there were men who had experienced as much of the ...
