We could make it all beautifully. We could bank up a valley in that

range of hills over there and make a nice reservoir, and we could make a

big place here to generate our electricity and have it all simply

lovely. Couldn't we, brother? And then perhaps they'd let us do some

other things."

Yes," said the elder brother, "we could do it very nice for them."

Then let's," said the second brother.

I don't mind," said the elder brother, and looked about for a handy

tool.

And that led to another dreadful bother.

Agitated multitudes were at them in no time, telling them for a thousand

reasons to stop, telling them to stop for no reason at all--babbling,

confused, and varied multitudes. The place they were building was too

high--it couldn't possibly be safe. It was ugly; it interfered with the

letting of proper-sized houses in the neighbourhood; it ruined the tone

of the neighbourhood; it was unneighbourly; it was contrary to the Local

Building Regulations; it infringed the right of the local authority to

muddle about with a minute expensive electric supply of its own; it

interfered with the concerns of the local water company.

245

The Food of the Gods and How It Came to Earth