Where There is Nothing Part 18

_Enter_ CHARLIE WARD _and_ SABINA SILVER.

_Charlie Ward._ They have done for him. I thought they would.

_Sabina Silver._ Oh, Paul, I never thought to find you like this! He's not dead; he'll come round yet.

_Charlie Ward._ [_Opens his s.h.i.+rt and puts in his hand on his heart._]

Paul!

_Paul Ruttledge._ Ah! Charlie, give me the soldering iron--no, bring me the lap anvil--I'm as good a tinker as any of you.

_Charlie Ward._ He thinks he's back on the roads with us! He is done for.

_Sabina Silver._ I knew he'd have to come back to me to die after all; it's a lonesome thing to die among strangers.

_Paul Ruttledge._ That is right, that is right, take me up in your brazen claws. But no--no--I will not go out beyond Saturn into the dark. Take me down--down to that field under the earth, under the roots of the grave.

_Sabina Silver._ I don't know what he is saying. I never could understand his talk.

_Paul Ruttledge._ O plunge me into the wine barrel, into the wine barrel of G.o.d.

_Sabina Silver._ Won't you speak to me, Paul? Don't you know me? I am Sibby; don't you remember me, Sibby, your wife?

_Charlie Ward._ He sees you now; I think he knows you.

[PAUL RUTTLEDGE _has raised himself on his elbow and is looking at_ SABINA SILVER.

_Sabina Silver._ He knows me. I was sure he would know me.

_Paul Ruttledge._ Colman, Colman, remember always where there is nothing there is G.o.d. [_He sinks down again._

_One of the Crowd._ [_Coming back with two or three others._] I knew they must be in the rocks.

_Charlie Ward._ Well, he's gone! There'll soon be none of us left at all. And I never knew what it was he did that brought him to us.

_Sabina Silver._ Oh, Paul, Paul!

[_Begins to keen very low, swaying herself to and fro._

_One of the Crowd._ [_To_ CHARLIE WARD.] Was he a friend of yours?

_Charlie Ward._ He was, indeed. I must do what I can for him now.

_One of the Crowd._ That's natural, that's natural. It's a pity they did it. They'd best have left him alone. We'd best be going back to the town.

[SABINA SILVER _raises the keen louder. The_ Strangers _and_ CHARLIE WARD _take off their hats._