A translation from Tomáš Hausmann (Germany)

I am an expert, yes an expert

I have an expertise which

I exer­cise

ruthlessly

 

I have studied my art for many years.

It is my hobby, my work, my obsession, my life

and it is very secret

dangerous

- thrilling even

It is very satisfying

 

I choose my basic ingredients with extreme care,
acquiring them from reliable, tested, trusted sources
Everything else I do myself

 

You could call me a master craftsman

even the most insignificant ingredient

I use, I treat with respect and

uttermost care

I create each and every part

and hone it

with the tenderness of love

I piece each element and

combination of elements together

constantly checking and rechecking

building and rebuilding

The comple­ted whole is always as perfect

and as pleasing as I can make it

 

If you watched me working it would

probably drive you to distrac­tion

I work so slowly and methodically

Every device is designed to work to its optimum potential

and it must work to my exact specification

It must work!

It must work the first and only time

Yes! The first and only time

it has to

 

Once a device is completed

it becomes redundant to me

I pass it on

All my interest is transferred

to my next task.

You will say I am a monster

You will say I am an appalling

individual

You will say I am not a human being

with any feeling for his fellows

 

I watch the news and read about the horror and carnage

and it touches me like any other onlooker

but it doesn't seem to con­nect with my work at all

 

Like you

I would no doubt be shocked and horrified

if I ever had to confront the result of my work

in the hard light of the by­stander

or even, God forbid,

the victim

I would cry out in anger

genuine rage

about the abomination

that has been committed

The maiming and the needless

slaughter

of the innocent.

 

If you shook me

pointed out the detritus

of my perfect devices

and the havoc that they cause, then...

then perhaps I could truly understand

my complicity

my culpability

But until such a time

I feel no responsibility

and continue with my work.