Savva and the Life of Man Part 40

LIPA

Oh, don't talk about him. He'll have to answer to G.o.d. Are they going to sing "Christ is arisen" instead of the usual hymn when they carry the ikon in the procession to-day? Va.s.sya, do you hear? I am asking you a question.

FRIAR

Yes, they say that they are. Go home, Miss Olympiada, won't you?

LIPA

You can go, if you like.

FRIAR

But how can I leave you alone? They'll come tearing down here soon.

For heaven's sake, there is Mr. Savva!

_[Savva comes in hatless. His face is dark and stormy. There are lines under his eyes. He looks sideways with a steady stare. Frequently he glances around and seems to be listening to something. His gait is heavy, but quick. Noticing Lipa and the Friar, he turns and walks toward them. At his approach Lipa rises and turns away._

SAVVA

Have you seen Kondraty?

FRIAR

No, he is in the monastery.

_[Savva remains standing in silence. The noise in the monastery has subsided and the sad, pitiful singing of the blind is heard._

FRIAR

Mr. Savva.

SAVVA

Have you got a cigarette?

FRIAR

No, I don't smoke. _(Plaintively)_ Come to the woods, Mr. Savva.

_(Savva remains immovable and silent)_ They'll kill you, Mr. Tropinin.

Come to the woods--please come! _(Savva looks fixedly at him, then silently turns and walks away)_ Mr. Tropinin, on my word you had better come with me to the woods.

LIPA

Leave him alone. He is like Cain. He can't find a place on the earth.

Everybody is rejoicing, and he--

FRIAR

His face is black. I am sorry for him.

LIPA

He is black all through. You had better keep away from him, Va.s.sya.

You don't know whom you are pitying. You are too young. I am his sister. I love him, but if he is killed, it will be a benefit to the whole world. You don't know what he wanted to do. The very thought of it is terrible. He is a madman, Va.s.sya, a fearful lunatic. Or else he is--I don't know what.

FRIAR _(waving his hand)_

You needn't tell me all that. I know. Of course I know. Don't I see?

But I am sorry for him all the same, and I am disgusted too. Why did he do it? Why? What stupid things people will do! Oh, my!

LIPA

I have only one hope--that he has understood at last. But if--

FRIAR

Well, what's the "if"?

LIPA

Oh, nothing, but--When he came here, it was as if a cloud had pa.s.sed across the sun.

FRIAR

There you go also! You should be happy--Why don't you rejoice? Don't be "iffing" and "b.u.t.ting."

_[A crowd begins to collect gradually. Two wagons with cripples stop on the road. A paralytic has been sitting for some time under a tree, crying and blowing his nose and wiping it with his sleeve. A Man in Peasant Overcoat appears from the direction of the monastery._

MAN IN OVERCOAT _(officiously)_

We must get the cripples over to Him, to the ikon--we must get them over there. What's the matter, women, are you asleep? Come on, move along. You'll get your rest over there. What's the matter with you, gran'pa? Why aren't you moving along? You ought to be there with your legs. Go on, old man, go on.

PARALYTIC _(crying)_

I can't walk.

MAN IN OVERCOAT _(fussily)_

Oh, that's it? That's what's the matter with you, eh? Come, I'll give you a lift. Get up.

PARALYTIC

I can't.

Pa.s.sER-BY

Won't his legs work? What you want to do is to put him on his feet, and then he'll hop away by himself. Isn't that right, old man?