Where There is Nothing Part 17

_Colman._ [_Coming over to him._] He is running hard! He must be in some danger----

_Enter_ BARTLEY _out of breath_.

_Bartley._ Run, run, come away, there's not a minute to lose.

_Colman._ What is the matter? what has happened?

_Bartley._ The people are coming up the road! They attacked me in the market! They followed me, they are on the road. I slipped away across the fields. Run, run!

_Colman._ What is it? What are they going to do to us?

_Bartley._ You would know that if you saw them! They have stones and sticks. Raging they are, and calling for our lives. They say we brought witchcraft and ill-luck on the place! Come to the boat, it's in the rushes; they won't see us, we'll get to the island. Hurry, hurry! [_He runs out._

_Aloysius._ Come, Brother Paul, hurry, hurry!

_Paul Ruttledge._ I am going to stay.

_Bartley._ They will kill us if we stay! Brother Colman said they have stones and sticks; I think I hear them!

_Paul Ruttledge._ You are afraid because you have been shut up so long.

I am not afraid because I have lived upon the roads, where one is ready for anything that may happen. One has to learn that, like any other thing. I will stay.

_Aloysius._ He wants the crown!

_Paul Ruttledge._ Where is Bartley?

_Colman._ He is gone. Come, you must go too, we can't leave you here.

You have too much to do to throw your life away, we have all too much to do.

_Paul Ruttledge._ No, no. There is nothing to do; I am going to stay.

_Aloysius._ I will stay with you. [_Takes his hand._

_Paul Ruttledge._ Death is the last adventure, the first perfect joy, for at death the soul comes into possession of itself, and returns to the joy that made it. [_A great shout outside._

_Colman._ [_Seizing ALOYSIUS._] Come, come, Aloysius! come, Paul! We haven't a moment, here they are. [_Drags_ ALOYSIUS _away_.

_Paul Ruttledge._ Good-bye, Aloysius, good-bye, Colman. Keep a pick going at the foundations of the world.

[COLMAN _and_ ALOYSIUS _run on_.

_One of the Mob outside._ They are here in the ruins!

_Another Voice._ This way! This way!

_Paul Ruttledge._ I will not go. I have a little reason for staying, but no reason is too little to be the foundation of martyrdom. People have been martyred for all kinds of reasons, and my reason that is not worth a rush will do as well as any other. [_Looks round._] Ah! they are gone.

A little reason, a little reason. I have entered into the second freedom--the irresponsibility of the saints.

_Sings._

Parasti in conspectu meo mensam Adversus eos qui tribulant me.

Impinguasti in oleo caput meum, Et calix meus inebrians quam praeclarus est.

[People _rush in with sticks uplifted._

_One of the Mob._ Where are the heretics?

_Another._ We'll make an end of their witchcraft!

_Another._ Here is the worst of them!

_Another._ Give me back my cattle you put the sickness on!

_Another._ We'll have no witchcraft here! Drive away the unfrocked priest!

_Another._ Make an end of him when we have the chance!

_Paul Ruttledge._ Yes, make an end of me. I have tried hard to live a good life; give me a good death now.

_One of the Crowd._ Quick, don't give him time to put the evil eye on us!

[_They rush at him. His hands are seen swaying about above the crowd._

_Paul Ruttledge._ I go to the invisible heart of flame!

_One of the Crowd._ Throw him there now! Where are the others?

_Another._ They must be among the rocks.

_Another._ They are not; they are gone down the road!

_Another._ I tell you it's in the rocks they are! It's in the rocks they're hiding!

_Another._ They are not; they couldn't run in the rocks; they're running down the road.

_Several Voices._ They're on the road; they're on the road.

[_They all rush out, leaving_ PAUL RUTTLEDGE _lying on the ground. It grows darker_. FATHERS COLMAN _and_ ALOYSIUS _creep up_.

_Colman._ Paul, Paul, come; we have still time to get to the boat.

_Aloysius._ Oh! they have killed him; there is a wound in his neck! Oh!

he has been the first of us to get the crown!

_Colman._ There are voices! They must be coming back! Come to the boat, maybe we can bury him to-morrow!

[_They go out._ PAUL RUTTLEDGE _half rises and sinks back_.