The Ghetto - BestLightNovel.com
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SACHEL.
She said--she said she hated our race--she hated you--she hated all of us; she was going away, out of the Ghetto, away, off there, there--[_He points away from the ca.n.a.l. The excitement at the ca.n.a.l wall increases. RAFAEL starts as if towards the wall._] Not there, not there, Rafael, my boy, my boy!
RAFAEL.
What's the matter down there? [_Two men bring ROSA up the steps; the crowd obscures her from RAFAEL._] Who is that? My G.o.d! Is it a woman?
A MAN.
Yes.
RAFAEL.
[_Pushes through the crowd._] Rosa, Rosa--Rosa! Oh! oh! oh!
SACHEL.
Oh, my boy!--oh, my boy! Rafael! Rafael! I couldn't stop her!
RAFAEL.
[_Turning on his father._] Ugh! Off from me--off! Oh, oh, d.a.m.nable, d.a.m.nable monster! Take him away!
AN OLD MAN.
He's your father! Shame! shame!
[_Hisses from crowd._
RAFAEL.
[_To SACHEL._] Keep your cursed talons off! Murderer! Murderer! You made her drown herself!
A SECOND MAN.
Leave him alone! Shame! This is the man who blasphemes G.o.d!
A THIRD MAN.
He profaned the synagogue--he curses his father!
[_RAFAEL meanwhile looks upon the body of ROSA._
THE SECOND MAN.
Shall he do all this--this--in our teeth? [_Hisses from the crowd._]
Hide your face! Hide your face!
[_Advances on RAFAEL._
RAFAEL.
Stand away from her! [_Throws him down, turns to his father._] O G.o.d, if I had not concealed your knavery from her, your holiest oath would not have moved her! And now must you live on, while she lies thus?
SACHEL.
[_To the crowd._] She poisoned my son; she took away his religion--she killed my son's love for his father! She deserves it--she deserves it!
RAFAEL.
Rosa, my Rosa, you shall not die! Life, life, freedom--the blue sweet sky, we two together singing in the sun--not the dead soul sighing through the trees--not the whisper of night--the sorrowful shade that pa.s.ses in the mist! No, no, you must feel my breath upon your cheek, you must feel my arms, you must live, live! [_ROSA stirs._] Live! She breathes--she breathes! Air--distance--distance, I say! Rosa, it is I, Rafael! You are safe! Not all the fiends in G.o.d's grey world shall thrust an arm between us. Rosa! Rosa!
ROSA.
[_Raising her head a little._] Rafael, forgive me----
SACHEL.
Rafael--Rafael--she means me. Forgive _me_--for G.o.d's sake--[_on his knees to RAFAEL, who turns his back_]--Rafael!
SECOND MAN.
Shame! shame! He hates his father!
THE CROWD.
Shame! shame! Punish him!
[_The crowd closes in on RAFAEL._
ROSA.
[_In fear._] Rafael!
RAFAEL.
Are you no better than a mob of Christians? Stand back! [_Pushes the crowd back violently._] Rosa, Rosa--away--out of the Ghetto--into the air! Rosa!
[_The crowd starts to close in again; he takes ROSA in his arms and rushes across the bridge. The crowd follows, walking rapidly. SACHEL is left solitary._
SACHEL.
Rafael! Raf---- [_He falls._
_Enter A WATCHMAN._
WATCHMAN.
Eleven o'clock, and all's--[_Stops and looks at SACHEL, who stirs and sobs._] Eleven o'clock!
