Savva and the Life of Man Part 49

KONDRATY

It's beginning to get you, is it? That's right, that's right.

LIPA

Antichrist!

TONY _(shouting)_

Savva, Savva!

SAVVA _(sinking for a moment into profound, terrible meditation; then he straightens himself suddenly and seems to grow in stature; he cries out with a wild joy as if speaking above the heads of all to reach somebody far off)_ I am right! Therefore I am right! It was all necessary! All! All! _(He stands as if petrified in an upward-striving posture)_

KONDRATY

Boys, it's he who did it. That's the fellow.

MAN IN OVERCOAT _(pus.h.i.+ng himself forward, officiously)_

What's the matter, boys? Aha! He is caught! Which one? This one? Come on with you! _(Takes hold of Savva by the sleeve)_

SAVVA _(shaking him off with such violence that the man falls down)_ Get away from me!

VOICES

Don't let him go!

KONDRATY

Hold him!

FRIAR _(crying)_

Run, Mr. Savva, run.

_[During the following scene Lipa prays. Speransky looks on with keen curiosity, while Tony stares over his shoulder. All the voices become blended into one raging, frightened, savage roar._

CROWD

Get at him from that side! Yes, go yourself! You have a stick! Oh, hang it, there isn't a single stone around! Hold him, hold him, he'll escape!

MAN IN OVERCOAT _(getting to his feet again and a.s.suming the leaders.h.i.+p)_ Surround him, boys, surround him! Block the way to the river! Don't let him run away! Well, now, get a move on you!

CROWD

Go yourself--I've tried once! Push that way! Get hold of him! Grab him! Aha!

KONDRATY _(shouting at the top of his voice)_

Beat him! Beat the Antichrist! Beat him!

SAVVA _(the danger brings him back to his senses. He looks around, takes in the path to the river with a quick glance, and gray as dust with rage, he makes for it with a single abrupt movement)_ Get out of the way, you monsters!

CROWD

He is getting away! He is getting away! Hold him! Boys, he is getting away! He is getting away!

_[As Savva advances, the crowd falls back in a semicircle, tumbling against one another. Kondraty begins to make the sign of the cross at Savva and continues to do so throughout the remaining scene._

SAVVA _(advancing)_

Get out of the way! Get out of the way! So you're scared now, you dogs? You've pulled in your tails? Get out of the way! Go on!

CROWD

He is getting away.

_[King Herod issues from the crowd, and plants himself in front of Savva so as to obstruct his way. There is a terrible look on his face.

Savva comes up close to him and stops._

SAVVA

Well?

_[A brief pause. The conversation is carried on in a sort of undertone, almost calmly._

KING HEROD

Is that you?

SAVVA

Is that you? Let me go.

KING HEROD

A man?

SAVVA

Yes, let me go.

KING HEROD

Did you want the Saviour? Christ?

SAVVA