I just came across this Hungarian novel written by Istvan Orkeny in 1966.

I only changed the names, the story seems timeless.

“Doc, have you noticed? The third dog isn’t pulling.”

“My whip can’t reach her.”

“In fact, it looks to me like she is limping.”

“Of course she is limping. She’s got only three legs!”

“Isn’t it ill advised to put a three-legged dog at the head of the team?”

“Have another look. All twelve dogs are three-legged.”

“Poor things. I feel sorry for them!”

“You should be feeling sorry for me. Have you any idea how hard it was to find twelve three-legged dogs?”

“I am no expert, but I’d have thought that a normal dog would pull this thing better.”

“Of course it would. But I’m a city boy. What would I do with twelve four legged dogs?”

“Are you afraid of them?”

“I’m even afraid of a mosquito. Nature must be treated with due respect. Let’s assume, just for the sake of argument, that these dogs have four legs. Let’s further assume that something suddenly drives them mad and they tear the reins from my hand…But it’s best not even to consider that.”

“I still don’t get it. If you are afraid of dogs, why do you have them pull your car?”

“Because I am a bad driver.”

“With a bit of practice you’d improve.”

“To a degree. But man and automobile are not equal partners.”

“Look around us. We’re the only car being pulled by a team of dogs!”

“So much the worse for the other cars! Man can’t keep pace with technology, no matter how hard he tries. He uses it, but deep down, he is terrified.”

“I’m not afraid of cars at all.”

“But this car can do a hundred and eighty kilometers an hour!”

“I love speeding cars. Please. Couldn’t we go faster?”

“Why are you so impatient? We left Vanilla two weeks ago, and we are already in Sonic Ray.” *

“Considering the twelve dogs, that’s not a big deal.”

“Oh, yes, it is. I pulled in the hand break before we set off.”

“Aren’t you overly cautious?”

“This is the speed we were created for.”

“But everybody’s staring at us!”

“Of course they’re staring. They’re jealous.”

“Their eyes are popping out of their heads!”

“No wonder, when they see that even our wildest dreams can come true.”

* The distance between Vanilla and Sonic Ray is approximately the same as the distance between Manila and Subic Bay, relatively short but takes some time.

Happy New Year to everyone!