The Essential Russian Plays & Short Stories. Максим Горький
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(eyeing him)
Well?
FRIAR
That's all.
SAVVA
What do they say?
FRIAR
They say they'll do penance and stop sinning. They hug each other and behave as if they were drunk.
SAVVA (walking up and down, stroking his forehead with his hand) Yes, hm. So that's the way! Yes.
LIPA (following him with her eyes)
Go away from here, Savva. You are not wanted here.
SAVVA
What?
LIPA (reluctantly)
They may recognize you and then—Why don't you put on a hat at least?
You look like—
FRIAR
Yes, go—please go—dear Mr. Savva. Why, they—why, they might kill you!
SAVVA (in a sudden outburst of anger)
Leave me alone! No one will kill me. It's bosh! (Pause. Sits down) I wish I could get a drink of water or something. I am very thirsty. Isn't there a pool or something of the kind around here?
FRIAR (looking in terror at Savva)
No, it's all dried up.
SAVVA (frowning)
Sorry.
FRIAR
Oh, that woman there has a jug of water. (Gleefully) I'll go and ask her for it. (Runs)
LIPA
You ought not to have that water. Go away from here, Savva, go away. Look what gladness there is all around you. Everybody, everything rejoices. The earth is glad. The sun is glad. You are the only one who is not—you alone. I still can't forget that you are my brother. Go. But wherever you go, bear with you the memory of this day always. Remember that the same fate awaits you everywhere. The earth will not surrender her God to you; the people will not surrender to you that whereby they live and breathe. Yesterday I still feared you. To-day I regard you with pity. You are pitiful, Savva! Go! Why are you laughing?
SAVVA (smiling)
Isn't it a little premature, sister, for you to be delivering my funeral oration?
LIPA
Aren't you frightened yet?
SAVVA
Why should I be frightened? At your tricks and jugglery? I am used to the lies and frauds, Lipa. You can't frighten me with them. I still have a lot of stupid confidence left. It will help. It will come in handy the next time.
LIPA
Savva!
FRIAR (bringing the jug of water)
I had the hardest time getting it from her. She was like flint. She said she needed it herself. She was a hard case.
SAVVA
Thank you, boy. (Drinks with avidity) Fine! (Drinks the last drop) That was fine water. Take it back and tell the woman her water was fine and that there is none like it in all the world.
FRIAR (merrily)
All right, I'll tell her. (Goes off)
LIPA (in a whisper)
You are the enemy of the human race.
SAVVA (smacking his lips)
Very well, very well. Just wait. We'll hear what Kondraty has to say.
The blackguard! I'll give it to him!
LIPA (with emphasis, but still in a whisper as before)
You are the enemy of the human race! You are the enemy of the human race!
SAVVA
Louder! No one hears you. It's a spicy bit of information.
LIPA
Go away from here.
[The Friar returns.
SAVVA (looking into the distance with narrowed eyes)
It's nice out there, isn't it, Vassya? Whose woods are they?
Vazykin's? Have I ever been there with you?
FRIAR (gleefully)
Yes, they're Vazykin's. I was there yesterday, Mr. Savva. I caught a whole handful of fireflies, but as I ran—(He grows sorrowful at the memory) My, how they are shouting! What are they up to anyway? Did you say they killed three, Mr. Tropinin? Was that what you said?
SAVVA (coolly)
Yes, three.
FRIAR
What are they pushing and jostling for anyhow? He'll be carried in the procession and they can all see Him.
SAVVA
When will they carry Him?
FRIAR (looking up)
It won't be long now.
LIPA
They'll sing "Christ is Arisen" to-day.
SAVVA (smiling)
Is that so? Didn't I arrange a feast-day for them though?
[Tony and Speransky appear.
FRIAR
Are these fellows here too? For goodness' sake, what do they want? What are they looking for? I don't like it. Mr. Tropinin, come; let's go away from here.
SAVVA
Why?
FRIAR
They are coming this way, Speransky—
SAVVA
Aha! The "Tramp of Death" is approaching.
[Lipa looks at him in astonishment. The Friar presses his hand to his bosom in a state of agitation.
FRIAR (plaintively)
What are you saying? Oh, God! Why did you say that? You mustn't do it.
This is no tramp of death, nothing of the kind.
SAVVA
It's a kind of story he has written—Good morning, good morning. What can I do for you?
SPERANSKY
Mr. Anthony Tropinin is looking for you, Mr. Savva.
SAVVA
What do you want?
TONY (very sadly, hiding a little behind Speransky)
Nothing.
FRIAR (listening attentively and then speaking with passion) What are you running around for then, and whom are you hunting? If you want nothing, do nothing. But you are running around and hunting, hunting. It isn't nice, I tell you!
TONY (after a passing glance at the Friar he fixes his gaze on Savva) Savva.
SAVVA (irritated)
What do you want?
[Tony makes no answer, but hides behind Speransky, looking over his shoulder. In the course of what follows he keeps steadily looking at Savva. His lips and eyebrows twitch, and at times he presses both his hands hard against his mouth.
SPERANSKY
The crowd is in a state of great agitation, Miss Olympiada. They broke the old gate opening on the other side of the woods