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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 the dog's breath； feel the long hairs on Karenin's muzzle tickling him。 The dog gave out another yelp and his mouth twitched； now they each had half a roll between their teeth。 Then Karenin made an old tactical error： he dropped his half in the hope of seizing the half in his master's mouth； forgetting； as always； that Tomas was not a dog and had hands。 Without letting his half of the roll out of his mouth； Tomas picked up the other half from the floor。
Tomas！ Tereza cried。 You're not going to take his roll away from him； are you？
Tomas laid both halves on the floor in front of Karenin； who quickly gulped down the first and held the second in his mouth for an ostentatiously long time； flaunting his victory over the two of them。
Standing there watching him； they thought once more that he was smiling and that as long as he kept smiling he had a motive to keep living despite his death sentence。
The next day his condition actually appeared to have improved。 They had lunch。 It was the time of day when they normally took him out for a walk。 His habit was to start running back and forth between them restlessly。 On that day； however； Tereza picked up the leash and collar only to be stared at dully。 They tried to look cheerful （for and about him） and pep him up a bit； and after a long wait he took pity on them； tottered over on his three legs； and let her put on the collar。
I know you hate the camera； Tereza； said Tomas； but take it along today； will you？
Tereza went and opened the cupboard to rummage for the long…abandoned； long…forgotten camera。 One day we'll be glad to have the pictures； Tomas went on。 Karenin has been an important part of our life。
What do you mean； 'has been'？ said Tereza as if she had been bitten by a snake。 The camera lay directly in front of her on the cupboard floor； but she would not bend to pick it up。 I won't take it along。 I refuse to think about losing Karenin。 And you refer to him in the past tense！ I'm sorry； said Tomas。
That's all right； said Tereza mildly。 I catch myself thinking about him in the past tense all the time。 I keep having to push it out of my mind。 That's why I won't take the camera。
They walked along in silence。 Silence was the only way of not thinking about Karenin in the past tense。 They did not let him out of their sight； they were with him constantly； waiting for him to smile。 But he did not smile； he merely walked with them； limping along on his three legs。
He's just doing it for us； said Tereza。 He didn't want to go for a walk。 He's just doing it to make us happy。
It was sad； what she said； yet without realizing it they were happy。 They were happy not in spite of their sadness but thanks to it。 They were holding hands and both had the same image in their eyes： a limping dog who represented ten years of their lives。
They walked a bit farther。 Then； to their great disappointment； Karenin stopped and turned。 They had to go back。
Perhaps that day or perhaps the next Tereza walked i