The monster finished his story. He looked at me and waited for an answer. I was confused. I could not think clearly. The monster spoke again.
"You must make a female for me," the monster said. "I need a companion to live with. I need someone to share my feelings. You must do this for me. It is my right."
I became very angry. I remembered that the monster had killed my brother, William. "I refuse!" I said. "I will never make another creature like you. You will both be wicked. You will destroy the world together. Go away!"
"You are wrong," the monster replied. "I am mean because I am unhappy. All men hate me. You, my creator, want to kill me. Why should I be kind to men? If men are kind to me, I will be kind to them."
The monster looked very scary. "If I cannot have love, I will cause fear," the monster said. "I will hate you most of all. I will destroy your life. You will be sorry that you were born."
Then the monster became calm again. "If I have a companion, I will be good," he said. "I want a creature of the other sex. She must be as ugly as me. We will be monsters, but we will have each other. We will not hurt anyone."
I listened. I felt that the monster was right about some things. I was the person who had made the monster. I thought I should try to make him happy.
"If you do this, I will leave Europe," the monster promised. "I will go to South America. I will live in the wilds (places where no people live and nature grows freely). I will not eat meat. I will eat berries and nuts. No human will ever see us again."
I was not sure. "You want love from people," I said. "But you will be far away. You will come back and ask for kindness again. People will hate you. Then you and your companion will kill more people."
"No," the monster said. "I swear by the earth and the sky. If I have a companion, I will leave people forever. I will not be angry anymore. I will live a quiet life. I will not hate you when I die."
I looked at the monster. I saw his ugly face and body. I felt sick and afraid. But I wanted the monster to stop killing people.
I thought for a long time. The monster was very strong. He could live on a glacier (a very large area of ice on a mountain) and hide from everyone. Finally, I made a decision.
"I agree," I said. "But you must swear to leave Europe forever. You must leave as soon as I make the female creature."
"I swear!" the monster cried. "I swear by the sun and the blue sky. You will never see me again. Go home now and start your work. I will watch you. I will appear when you are ready."
The monster ran away very fast. He ran down the mountain and over the ice. I watched him. The sun was going down. I was alone.
I began to walk down to the valley. I felt very sad. It was late at night when I reached a resting place. I looked at the stars and the trees. I cried because I was very unhappy.
The next morning, I arrived at a small village. I did not rest. I went back to the city of Geneva immediately. I could not tell anyone about my feelings. My heart felt very heavy.
I went into our house. I saw Elizabeth and my father. I looked very tired and sick. My family was worried, but I did not answer their questions.
I felt I had no right to be happy with my family. I had to start my terrible work. I had to make another monster to save the people I loved. This was now the only thing in my life.